Global Data Drought Hits Full Gear: Microsd Card Shortage Sparks Panic Amid Pandemic-Driven Storage Surge

The world of storage is facing an unprecedented crisis, with large-capacity microSD cards and high-density hard disk drives (HDDs) being increasingly scarce. The situation has been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a surge in demand for data storage solutions across various industries.

In Japan, where technology is deeply ingrained into everyday life, customers are now turning to high-capacity microSD cards as an alternative to traditional storage methods. According to reports from IT Media, popular computer vendors such as Technohouse Toei are struggling to keep up with the demand for larger versions of their microSD cards, including 512 GB, 1TB, and 2TB models.

The shortage of microSD cards has led some vendors to explore alternative options, such as leveraging the PCIe interface and NVMe protocol with proper High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) support. This technology offers faster read and write speeds, making it an attractive option for data centers and other organizations.

In a related development, large-capacity HDDs are also vanishing from store shelves, leaving customers with limited options. Japanese retailers have reported that high-density HDDs are being rapidly consumed by businesses looking to upgrade their data storage infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) and other applications. As a result, prices for remaining stock are skyrocketing, making it difficult for consumers to access these devices.

The shortage of memory storage solutions has significant implications for various industries, including gaming, content creation, and artificial intelligence. As data centers continue to rely on flash memory to store vast amounts of information, the demand for high-capacity microSD cards is expected to increase exponentially. The AI boom has played a significant role in fueling this shortage, as businesses seek to expand their capabilities and improve efficiency.

The shortage of graphics cards, while relatively stable compared to memory storage solutions, also poses challenges for gamers and content creators. However, experts predict that the situation will worsen in 2026, with prices potentially skyrocketing due to increased demand.

Manufacturers have been working on developing new storage technologies that can meet the demands of emerging applications. The emergence of microSD Express, which leverages the PCIe interface and NVMe protocol with HBM support, has already shown promising results. This technology offers faster read and write speeds, making it an attractive option for data centers and other organizations.

To address the shortage, manufacturers are exploring alternative storage solutions, such as hybrid memory cubes (HMCs) and phase-change memory (PCM). These technologies offer improved performance, increased capacity, and reduced power consumption, making them more suitable for demanding applications.