eMMC vs SSD: Differences, Speed and What Is Worth It

What is eMMC?

According to JEDEC, eMMC is an embedded storage system made of flash memory and a flash controller in a small BGA package (ball grid array, a chip with solder balls on the underside). The controller handles flash management so the main processor does not have to. JEDEC names smartphones, handheld computers and consumer electronics as typical uses.

JEDEC is the body that sets standards for memory chips. The key versions of the eMMC standard:

Command Queueing means the device can collect several commands in a queue and execute them in an optimized order. According to JEDEC, version 5.1 replaced the earlier single thread protocol, where one command ran after another. The word "embedded" sums it up: eMMC is a chip on the main board, you do not plug it in like a drive. According to Chrome Computing, eMMC today is found mainly in budget Chromebooks, for example the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook with 128 GB, where it is soldered directly onto the motherboard. Another example is the 64 GB Steam Deck.

What is the difference between eMMC and SSD?

The main difference is the connection: eMMC is a chip with an interface of up to 400 MB/s, an SSD is a separate drive with SATA at up to about 600 MB/s or NVMe over PCIe at several GB/s. SSDs also come as plug-in cards or 2.5" drives that can be swapped. eMMC usually cannot.

Sources: JEDEC on e.MMC 5.0 via Design & Reuse, SATA-IO, Samsung 870 EVO data sheet, Samsung 990 PRO, Chrome Computing. PCIe values per lane are in the guide NVMe vs SATA.

Keep this in mind: 400 MB/s is the interface maximum. It is no measured speed of a specific device. How fast a laptop with eMMC really reads and writes depends on the chip inside and is rarely listed in the laptop's spec sheet.

How fast is eMMC compared with an SSD?

The interface alone separates eMMC and NVMe SSDs by a wide margin: at most 400 MB/s for eMMC in HS400 mode versus about 7,450 MB/s that Samsung quotes for its PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD 990 PRO. Valve gives a practical example: the 64 GB Steam Deck uses eMMC over PCIe 2.0 with 1 lane, the SSD models use NVMe over PCIe 3.0 with 4 lanes.

Valve lists these storage options in the Steam Deck spec sheet:

Source: Valve: Steam Deck tech specs (PDF). According to Tom's Hardware, all Steam Deck models have an M.2 2230 slot. That is why the 64 GB eMMC model in particular can be upgraded to an NVMe SSD, which is usually impossible on laptops with soldered eMMC. Which SSDs fit this slot is shown in the guide M.2 2230 SSD, the swap itself in Steam Deck SSD.

In daily use you notice the difference mostly when launching apps, installing updates and copying large files. For browsing, email and word processing, slower storage is enough in ratioDB's view, as long as there is enough free space. Low free space often slows eMMC devices more than raw speed, which is the topic of the next section.

Is 64 GB of eMMC enough for Windows 11?

Barely. Microsoft requires at least 64 GB of storage for Windows 11 and adds that more storage may be needed over time for updates and specific features. A laptop with 64 GB of eMMC meets the minimum, but leaves little room for apps and files.

Microsoft's overview states the minimum as "64 GB or greater available disk space". The next sentence is the important one for eMMC devices: more storage may be needed over time for updates and features. With 64 GB, little is left after Windows, drivers and your most important apps.

What helps when space is short:

1. Move files off the device: Put photos, videos and music on a microSD card, a USB flash drive or an external SSD.
2. Use the cloud: Keep documents in cloud storage and download them only when needed. Whether cloud or your own drive is cheaper is worked out in the guide Cloud storage vs hard drive.
3. Review apps: Remove apps you rarely use and turn on Storage Sense in the Windows settings.
4. Buy bigger next time: For Windows 11, ratioDB suggests a device with at least 256 GB, ideally as an SSD.

By the way, a 1 TB SSD showing only about 931 GB in File Explorer is not an error. Makers count in decimal, Windows in binary, details are in the guide TB vs TiB.

Can I replace eMMC with an SSD?

Usually not. According to JEDEC, eMMC sits on the board as a chip in a BGA package, and Chrome Computing describes it in Chromebooks as soldered directly onto the motherboard. A swap only works if the device has an extra SSD slot, or if the eMMC sits on its own M.2 card as in the 64 GB Steam Deck.

How to find out what your device allows:

1. Read the manual and spec sheet: If they mention an M.2 slot or a 2.5" bay, you can add an SSD. If they only say "eMMC", the storage is usually soldered.
2. Check the service guide: Some makers show in their service guides which parts can be replaced. Microsoft, for example, lists all Surface devices with a removable SSD in a dedicated overview.

If your device has a free slot, an SSD is the most effective upgrade. Which form factor laptops use is explained in the guide Best SSD for laptop, the installation step by step in How to install an SSD.

How can I tell whether a laptop has eMMC before buying?

From the spec sheet: the storage line says eMMC, SSD, NVMe, PCIe or UFS. If it only gives a size like 64 GB without the storage type, ask the seller or read the maker's spec sheet. The storage type affects speed and upgradability more than the size.

How to read the specs:

Also look for a note about slots. Some makers mention a free M.2 slot for a second SSD, which keeps even a device with little storage useful for longer. If nothing is stated, plan to expand over USB or the card reader. For Chromebooks, Chrome Computing describes eMMC as a common choice in budget models, so the spec sheet is especially worth a look there.

What is the cheapest way to add storage to an eMMC device?

If the device has a card reader, a microSD card is the most convenient expansion because it stays in the device. For more space and more speed, an external SSD over USB-C is the better choice. A 1 TB external SSD currently starts at $129.99 on amazon.com.

The table shows the cheapest new offers from known brands per size. A USB flash drive is the on-the-go solution, an external SSD the one for large amounts of data.

Adding storage to eMMC devices: cheapest new offers from known brands on amazon.com, as of Nov 2, 2026 at 1:17 PM UTC

Per TB, a microSD card currently costs about $202 according to the index, or $0.202 per GB. USB flash drives come in at about $113 per TB. External SSDs cost $127.49 per TB according to the TB index. The price per TB column shows which option is cheapest at your size right now. Which card fits which device is covered in the guide microSD card, buying tips for flash drives in Best USB flash drive and for external SSDs in Best external SSD.

How much does an SSD cost if I can upgrade?

An M.2 NVMe SSD costs $133.85 per TB on amazon.com according to the ratioDB TB index, a 2.5" SATA SSD $125.47 (as of Nov 2, 2026 at 1:17 PM UTC). The cheapest 1 TB NVMe SSD from a known brand costs $146.99.

The TB index is the median of the 10 cheapest new offers of a product type. For small laptops, 500 GB or 1 TB is often worth it. The table shows the cheapest new single drives from known brands per size:

Cheapest SSD per size on amazon.com, as of Nov 2, 2026 at 1:17 PM UTC

At 500 GB, NVMe starts at $84.99 with Patriot P320 512 GB. At 1 TB, Adata Legend 710 1 TB leads. Whether your device needs NVMe or SATA is in the manual. An SSD that does not match the slot is no use, however cheap it is. All offers are under M.2 NVMe SSD and 2.5" SATA SSD.

What is the difference between eMMC and UFS?

UFS (Universal Flash Storage) is the faster successor to eMMC in smartphones and also a JEDEC standard. Samsung quotes up to 23.2 Gbps per lane, up to 4,200 MB/s read and up to 2,800 MB/s write for its UFS 4.0 storage. eMMC stays at 400 MB/s at the interface with HS400.

Today you find UFS mainly in smartphones and some tablets, eMMC in budget devices. For buyers this means: if a laptop or tablet spec sheet says UFS or SSD, the storage usually has a much faster connection than eMMC. The UFS 4.0 figures come from Samsung's announcement as reported by TweakTown. Measurements of individual devices may be lower.

When is eMMC enough and when do I need an SSD?

In ratioDB's view, eMMC is enough for simple tasks on budget devices: browsing, email, streaming and schoolwork, especially on Chromebooks and tablets. You need an SSD for Windows laptops you want to use for years, for games, photo editing and anything with large files.

The table is ratioDB's assessment based on the interface values and Microsoft's minimum requirement. We did not test the devices. How much RAM you need in addition is shown in the guide How much RAM do I need, the comparison with hard drives in SSD vs HDD.

How does ratioDB compare storage?

ratioDB checks the amazon.com prices of all listed SSDs, memory cards and USB flash drives regularly and converts them to price per TB or GB, with 1 TB equal to 1,000,000,000,000 bytes. The TB index is the median of the 10 cheapest new offers per product type. ratioDB does not list eMMC as a product type because it is usually built into the device.

The tables in this guide only show new single items from known brands. Used and refurbished offers are labeled in the lists and never count toward the index. The live boxes show external SSDs because they are the most versatile expansion for eMMC devices. We do not run our own measurements, speeds and interfaces are JEDEC and manufacturer specs. All rules are on the methodology page, all SSDs under SSD prices per TB, cards and flash drives under memory cards and USB.