[ Curious ]

This is what Samsung wants you to replace the microSD card with...

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief August 17, 2015 · 3 min read

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A week before the official launch of the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge+, we were given a special exclusive preview of the two devices (we had to sign an NDA before we can see it).

The first feedback I gave to the Samsung executives was that Note fans would be disappointed with the non-removable battery and the absence of the microSD card.

They replied that the 90-minute fast charging would address the issue on the non-removable battery.

As for the lack of microSD card support, they pointed me to the dual-USB drive. Incidentally, we have been using dual USB drives for quite some time to transfer, back-up and copy files into all our smartphones and tablets regardless if they have a microSD card slot or not.

Here is the case for the dual-USB drive:

They are light and portable. We bought one from Sandisk and another from Sony and both drives support regular USB and micro USB ports.
Easy to copy and transfer from the smartphone to the PC/laptop. No need to turn off the phone, remove the back cover and battery and plug to a card reader in the laptop.
They are as fast as most high-end microSD card. And with USB 3.0 support, copying can be as fast as 130MB/s.
Dual USB drives are as affordable as their equivalent microSD cards.

This is the reason the Samsung executive told us they are contemplating on bundling a dual USB drive with a purchase of a new Galaxy Note 5 or Galaxy S6 Edge+ (along with the flip cover and fast wireless charger).

In our experience, we actually prefer a dual USB drive over a microSD in our coverage. We can take sample photos and videos, take screencaps and benchmarks of preview units during events and then copy then over to the dual USB drive. Easy, quick and painless. We don’t think we can do that with ease using a microSD card.

Not convinced? Read our “5 Reasons Why Companies Are Forgoing MicroSD Card Slots“.

We personally don’t agree with removing the microSD card. We argued with Samsung reps that some other phones are able to do it. Even the dual-SIM Galaxy S6 should have used the 2nd SIM card tray as an alternate SD card tray. OPPO and Huawei has done it many times with a lot of their handsets. Samsung was able to add a microSD card slot on the Galaxy A7 which is much thinner so not having it on the Note 5 still confuses us.

Then again, the iPhone has been around for 7 years without a microSD card and Apple has been able to sell hundreds of millions of units all these years. Go figure.

Why did Samsung remove the microSD card slot from the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+?

Samsung points to the dual-USB drive as a replacement for microSD card support.

What are the advantages of using a dual-USB drive over a microSD card?

Dual USB drives are light, portable, support regular USB and micro USB, and are as fast as high-end microSD cards.

Is Samsung planning to bundle a dual-USB drive with the new Galaxy devices?

Samsung is contemplating bundling a dual USB drive with a purchase of a new Galaxy Note 5 or Galaxy S6 Edge+.

React to this article:

dual usb drive no microsd card

Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and is considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines.

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36 Comments

Jeremy · 11 years ago

Lol. I use the wifi of my phone and wifi of my laptop to transfer files between them. No need of these usb otgs. They removed the card slots to milk customers who are simply not content with just 32gb memory which btw is used by stock apps as well. That would have around 24gb of memory left.

Lexty · 11 years ago

I prefer the 3-in-1 Micro USB/SD Card reader. something like this: Dash Micro: http://www.amazon.com/Dash-Micro-MicroSD-Android-USB-MicroUSB/dp/B00R0ZAMTM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1439969360&sr=8-1&keywords=dash+micro

Lalalalalala · 11 years ago

Mas okay na maglagay ka ng Card Slot. It’s better that it’s there when not everyone needs it, than not, if someone needs it. Isa to sa main selling point ng samsung phones. Personally, I am really excited for the note 5, then disappointed that there is no card slot. I’m hoping up to the last minute for it, despite all the rumors, but there was none. Because of that, I am contemplating buying a note 4, or a G4, rather than the note 5.

Also, a card slot is much more convenient. How many times do you transfer files from your computer to your phone? probably once or twice a day. and even then, there is a data Cable for that. Additionally, you can have BOTH a card slot and a USB slot for even easier copying, with storage to spare. Foregoing the card slot makes user transfer files from their PC to their Phone more often. How is that more convenient? All in all, offering a card slot allows users more freedom.

In conclusion, the sad truth is, foregoing the card slot has almost no benefit to the consumer. Only to the manufacturer.
So that they can charge a higher price, easily, for a device with a bigger storage.

This is coming from a person, with an almost full internal storage with a full 128gb Micro SD card.

archie · 11 years ago

Kaya sulit pa rin ang note 4 sa mga power users kahit last year model pa ito. Kung di naman first adopter ang bibili, pwede na ang note 4, ascend mate 7 at lg g4 sa phablets. Madaming choices, di lang naman samsung ang android manufacturer sa mundo.

abuzalzal · 11 years ago

Doh!!!!!

Nangungumbinse si Mr. Abe that the Note 5 is still a good buy, may remedyo naman daw ahehehehehehehe

I dunno kung matatawag mong good substitute ang pen drive na nakalawit. Buwiset na SAMSUNG ito, …. and consumers na lang ang huhusga pag widely available na, kung flop eh di flop hahahaha

jp · 11 years ago

Korek! Let’s see pag labas na nito. Yung S6 ba sing dami ang bumili kagaya ng S5 or Note 4? This will be the start of their downfall

Alvin Santos · 11 years ago

The convenience of having a microSD card already inserted in your phone still trumps the fact that I am forced to bring with me a separate device (no matter how small) to store/access my media. Is it practical? No. Is it convenient? No. Will removing an external SD card make my phone faster? Probably.

But then again, performance is not only my main concern when buying phones. Accessibility, flexibility, and a good battery (which I can READILY replace) is my top consideration. Here’s to moving to another brand then.

Btw, I don’t believe in the Apple philosophy. “Premium” devices at very high prices are not everyone’s thing. If Samsung is following that route, they aren’t as innovative/revolutionary as I thought they were. They were supposed to be the alternative choice, the better choice. However, their new releases are very disappointing and I have a feeling such direction will not bode well with their sales.

daniel · 11 years ago

how apps installation? is this possible using otg?

sampple · 11 years ago

good try kids.. you’re trying too hard to convince everyone that the note5 is a good buy.. sponsored post i pressume?

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 11 years ago

We personally don’t agree with removing the microSD card. We argued with Samsung reps that some other phones are able to do it. Even the dual-SIM Galaxy S6 should have used the 2nd SIM card tray as an alternate SD card tray. Samsung was able to do it with the Galaxy A7 so not having it on the Note 5 still confuses us.

Then again, the iPhone has been around for 7 years without a microSD card and Apple has been able to sell hundreds of millions of units all these years. Go figure.

Manny · 11 years ago

Sir Abe, that was one of the major reasons why we bought Samsung Note series and not iphone.

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 11 years ago

This is what we told Samsung during our discussions. I personally do not agree with the move but it is their business and ultimately it is the people’s wallet that will determine if this is hot or not.

Micael Angeles · 11 years ago

Wow that’s a lame excuse for not including microsd slot :| goodbye galaxy note hello redmi note 2 :P

Andrew · 11 years ago

I have a Galaxy S6, but I’ll always miss the memory card slot. I only made the trade-off since I also have a Tab S 8.4 with a memory card slot, and I’ll be watching most of my storage consuming TV shows on it instead of my phone. The feeling of being able to store hundreds of HD episodes on your phone is very freeing. Remember, you can still use a dual USB drive whether your phone has or lacks a memory card slot. That option is always there. Besides, the cost of buying the same phone with higher internal memory is no different from stealing.

Rowena · 11 years ago

A microsd will not fall off or be accidentally misplaced unless they were removed from the device. Pwede mangyari both sa USB drive. Also, it will also look ridiculous – a sleek phone and this large dangling usb drive attached to it constantly.

One of the reasons I passed over so many good tablets is the lack of a microsd. The internal memory provided is not enough for my apps and files.

Popoy · 11 years ago

Pag mahalaga sa’yo , iingatan mo.

diego delos santos · 11 years ago

Im Using a similar device 32 gb king com memo with my s4 to transfer files to and from pc laptop and other android devices. hassle lng kc d kasya sa usb port pag iba ang ginamit ko n cover case and worried k p minsan n mawawala mo usb. Mas ok pa din me external drive at removable battery ang cp. Anyway padating na mga affordable at matibay na other cp brands.samsung made a very big mistake on this two items.