What's it like using a microSD card on Android in 2023?
https://www.androidauthority.com/using-microsd-card-android-3362538/
What can you do with a microSD card on Android? Can you store apps and games? What's the difference between internal and external storage? We answer all.
That was a good read with some helpful tips, but they didn't have a conclusion at the end so they never answered their own question!
I asked ChatGPT to provide a proper summary and conclusion:
Using a microSD card on Android in 2023 is somewhat different from the past. Here's a summary based on the provided article:
1. Availability: It's rare to find high-end Android phones with expandable storage in 2023. However, some midrange, budget phones, and a few high-end models like Sony’s Xperia still support it.
2. Basic Experience:
- Inserting a microSD prompts notifications for exploring or ejecting the card.
- Stock Android uses the Google Files app to view card contents.
3. Storage Type:
- Portable Storage:
- Treated as removable storage.
- Files can be freely transferred between devices.
- Not encrypted.
- Internal Storage:
- Treated as secondary internal storage.
- Files and apps appear as if they're stored internally.
- Encrypted, not easily transferable to another device.
- Requires a faster microSD card.
4. Storing Apps and Games:
- Can move some apps/games to the microSD card after installing them on internal storage.
- Depends on developer settings and phone's interface.
- For performance, demanding games should remain on internal storage.
5. Photos and Videos:
- Most phones allow saving directly to the microSD card.
- Third-party camera apps vary in this support.
6. Offline Storage in Streaming Apps:
- Many streaming apps let users save offline content to the microSD card.
7. File Systems:
- Android supports both FAT32 and exFAT.
- FAT32 is more universally compatible but has a 4GB file size limitation.
- exFAT supports larger files but might not be supported by all devices.
In conclusion, while using a microSD card on Android in 2023 remains fundamentally similar to past years, the nuances regarding formatting, app/game storage, and device compatibility have evolved. As always, it's essential to understand your phone's capabilities and needs before making decisions regarding microSD card usage.