Users, when choosing a car multimedia system, are often faced with a mysterious term iNAND in the technical specifications. Many people believe that this is some special brand or unique technology, available only in expensive models. In fact, everything is much simpler: this is the standardized name for the format of built-in flash memory, which is used in smartphones, tablets and, of course, in radios.
The type of this memory directly determines the loading speed of the operating system, the smooth operation of the interface and the durability of the device. If you buy a radio with a cheap type of chip, it may start to slow down after just six months of use. Let's look in detail at what is hidden behind this abbreviation and how it affects your experience of interacting with the gadget.
The technical essence of the term iNAND
The basis of any modern digital technology is non-volatile NAND Flash memory. The abbreviation iNAND comes from a combination of the words "integrated" and "NAND". This is a solution developed by SanDisk (now part of Western Digital), which consists of a controller and memory chips packaged in one package.
The main feature of this architecture is that the controller takes on all the complex work of data management. The radio processor does not waste its resources searching for free memory cells or correcting recording errors. It simply sends the “write file” command, and the controller built into iNAND performs it as efficiently as possible.
This is why Android Auto other heavy applications work more stably on devices with high-quality memory. In cheap analogs that use simple NAND memory without an advanced controller, the load falls on the central processor of the head unit, which causes overheating and freezes.
⚠️ Attention: Do not confuse iNAND with random access memory (RAM). iNAND is a read-only memory (ROM) where your photos, music, and the firmware itself are stored. RAM is responsible for the applications running right now.When choosing a radio, pay attention not only to the amount of memory (16, 32, 64 GB), but also to its type. A volume of 32 GB of fast memory will work faster than 64 GB of slow memory.
Differences between cell types: SLC, MLC, TLC, QLC
Inside the iNAND case there may be chips of different types. The difference lies in the number of bits of information that are stored in one memory cell. This parameter critically affects the read/write speed and service life of the drive.
The most reliable and fastest type is SLC (Single-Level Cell). One cell stores only one bit of data. Such chips are incredibly fast and can withstand hundreds of thousands of rewrite cycles. However, their cost is extremely high, so they are rarely found in mass-produced car radios, mainly in industrial solutions.
A more common option is MLC (Multi-Level Cell). Here two bits are stored in a cell. This is the “golden mean” in terms of price, speed and reliability. Many high-quality radios in the middle and high price segments are equipped with this type of memory.
In budget devices, TLC (Triple-Level Cell) and the latest QLCare widely used. TLC stores three bits, while QLC stores four. This makes it possible to reduce the cost of production and increase the amount of memory, but seriously reduces the resource and speed of operation when the drive is full.
- 🚀 SLC: Maximum speed and durability, but very expensive.
- ⚖️ MLC: Excellent balance, suitable for active navigation and DVR.
- 💰 TLC: Budget standard, acceptable for listening to music and radio.
- 🐢 QLC: Low price, but slow operation when the memory is fully loaded with files.
The influence of memory on the operation of Android Auto and navigation
Modern navigation systems such as Yandex.Navigator or Google Maps, constantly record map cache and movement logs. If your radio is equipped with a slow memory type TLC or QLC, this recording process can cause micro-slowdowns in the interface.
The influence of the type of memory is especially noticeable when using the DVR function built into the radio. Continuous loop recording of video requires high recording speed. Cheap memory may not have time to process the data stream, which will lead to dropped frames or file corruption.
When using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay the load on the system increases many times over. The smartphone transmits a video stream, and the radio must decode it and display it on the screen, while simultaneously reading data from the drive. The bottleneck here is often the iNAND read speed.
⚠️ Attention: If you plan to actively use the navigator and DVR at the same time, avoid models with QLC type memory. They may not be able to withstand double recording load.Why does the radio tape recorder slow down over time?
Over time, memory cells wear out and become fragmented. Cheap controllers do not have efficient garbage collection algorithms, so the speed drops. In high-quality iNAND, this process is automated and less noticeable.
How to check the type of memory in an already purchased device
Manufacturers often do not indicate the type of memory in the box, marketingly calling it simply “High Speed”. To find out the truth, you can use special utilities for Android. The most reliable way is to use benchmarking applications.
Install the application
AIDA64orCPU-Zon the radio. In the "Devices" or "Memory" sections you can sometimes see the chip model. However, a speed test will provide more accurate information. Run a benchmark, for example AnTuTu or a specialized oneA1 SD Bench.Compare the obtained numbers with the reference values. If the sequential write speed is below 15-20 MB/s, most likely there is a cheap TLC or even eMMC 4.5 inside. A good indicator for a modern system is from 80-100 MB/s and higher.
Memory type Read speed (example) Write speed (example) Resource (cycles) SLC ~500 Mb/s ~400 Mb/s 100 000+ MLC ~300 Mb/s ~150 Mb/s 10 000 TLC ~150 Mb/s ~50 MB/s 3 000 QLC ~100 MB/s ~30 MB/s 1 000 High performance in tests on empty memory can be deceiving. Real speed is evident when the drive is more than 70% full.
eMMC and UFS standards: the evolution of drives
The concept of iNAND is closely intertwined with connection interface standards. For a long time, the standard eMMC (embedded Multi-Media Card) dominated in automotive electronics. This is a reliable, but already obsolete interface that operates in half-duplex mode (reading or writing, but not at the same time).
The standard UFS (Universal Flash Storage) is starting to be found in top-end radios of recent years. It operates on the full duplex principle, allowing data to be read and written simultaneously. The speed of UFS 2.1 or 3.0 can be several times higher than the capabilities of eMMC 5.1.
When choosing a device, it is important to look at the version of the standard. A radio with
eMMC 5.1will work noticeably faster than an analogue witheMMC 4.5, even if they have the same amount of memory. The difference in system loading can be from 10 to 30 seconds.The firmware update process also depends on the recording speed. On slow chips, installing new software can take 10-15 minutes, while on fast drives this process is completed in a couple of minutes. This reduces the risk of power failure during the update.
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Done: 0 / 4Problems of degradation and tips for extending life
Any flash memory has a limited write resource. Over time, the cells degrade and no longer hold a charge. In radios, this process is accelerated due to temperature differences in the car in summer and winter.
To extend the life of your iNAND drive, try not to fill the internal memory to capacity. Always leave at least 15-20% free space. This is necessary for the controller to carry out service operations to level out the wear of the cells.
Avoid frequent overwriting of large files unless absolutely necessary. To store a heavy media library, it is better to use an external USB flash drive or memory card, since replacing them in case of failure will cost less than repairing the head unit.
⚠️ Attention: Memory characteristics and controller operation algorithms may vary depending on the delivery batch. The same model range of radios in different months can be equipped with different memory chips.Is it possible to replace iNAND yourself?
Theoretically, yes, but in practice this is impossible without professional soldering equipment and a programmer. The chips are soldered directly to the board, and replacing them requires reflashing the identifiers.
Final choice: what to look for when buying
When choosing a radio, do not blindly chase a large amount of built-in memory. 64 GB on a slow TLC chip will perform worse than 32 GB on a fast MLC chip. Priority should be given to the quality of the controller and the type of cells.
If you plan to use the radio as a full-fledged on-board computer with navigation, music and a video recorder, look for models marked "High End" or check with the seller for the type of memory. Often, in the description of top-end models on processors Qualcomm Snapdragon or Rockchip PX6 a better memory connection is used.
Remember that Random Read speed linear speed is more important for the operation of the Android interface. It is this parameter that is responsible for how quickly application icons open and menus switch.
Does iNAND affect sound quality?
Indirectly. If the memory is slow, buffering of a high-resolution audio stream (for example, FLAC) may occur with delays, causing micro-interruptions in the sound when switching tracks or running a navigator at the same time.
Is it possible to increase iNAND memory by flashing it?
No, the physical size of the chip cannot be changed. Software methods can only hide some of the broken cells or optimize operation, but adding gigabytes without soldering a new chip is impossible.
Why is the actual memory less than the declared one?
Part of the space is reserved by the system for the service needs of the controller (wear leveling, cache). There is also a difference in calculation: manufacturers consider 1 GB = 1000 MB, and the Android system considers 1 GB = 1024 MB.
What to do if the memory is full?
You need to clear the application cache through the Android settings. It is also recommended to transfer large files (video, music) to an external USB drive or SD card, leaving the internal memory free for the system.