Is the BIWIN CL100 Mini SSD Worth Picking Up?
The BIWIN CL100 is one of the more interesting storage products we have tested, primarily because of its remarkably small form factor. At roughly the size of a microSD card, it manages to offer the capacity and performance characteristics of an NVMe SSD while taking up far less internal space than even an M.2 2230 drive. The SIM card-like installation process also makes the CL100 easy to insert and remove, giving the format considerable potential for handheld gaming systems, compact laptops, tablets, and other space-constrained devices.
The biggest challenge facing the CL100 is device support. Only a handful of products currently include a compatible Mini SSD slot, and most of those are just portable gaming systems, meaning most users cannot install the drive directly into their existing systems. BIWIN addresses this limitation with the RD510 Mini SSD Reader, which turns the CL100 into a compact USB4 external drive and makes it accessible across a much wider range of devices. However, purchasing the reader adds to the overall cost and reduces some of the convenience offered by the drive’s incredibly small size. And as it stands right now I do not see Mini SSD slots being added to motherboards any time soon.
Performance through the RD510 was also somewhat disappointing compared with BIWIN’s rated figures. Across three different test systems, write speeds ranged between 2300 – 2700 MB/s, falling noticeably short of the advertised maximum. While that is still fast enough for large file transfers, game storage, and demanding portable workflows, the consistency of the result across multiple systems suggests that users may have difficulty reaching the drive’s rated write performance when using the RD510.
Ultimately, the BIWIN CL100 feels like an early look at what removable storage could become in the next generation of portable devices. Its tiny dimensions, high capacities, and NVMe-based performance make the Mini SSD form factor genuinely compelling, but its success will depend heavily on broader adoption by device manufacturers. For users who already own compatible hardware—or who want a distinctive high-speed portable storage solution when paired with the RD510—the CL100 remains an innovative product. Everyone else may want to wait and see whether Mini SSD support becomes more widespread. Overall ThinkComputers gives the BIWIN CL100 Mini SSD a 8 out of 10 score.
Pros:
– Extremely compact Mini SSD form factor
– Available in capacities up to 2TB
– Fast PCIe 4.0 NVMe performance
– Simple SIM card-style installation
– Well suited for handhelds and other compact devices
Cons:
– Very few devices currently support the Mini SSD format
– RD510 reader is required for use with most existing systems
– Tested write speeds fell short of the rated maximum
– Emerging ecosystem limits the drive’s overall versatility
BIWIN CL100 Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the BIWIN CL100 Mini SSD?
The BIWIN CL100 is an ultra-compact PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid-state drive designed for portable and space-constrained devices. It offers the performance and capacity of an internal SSD in a removable form factor roughly the size of a microSD card.
2. How small is the BIWIN CL100?
The CL100 measures just 15 × 17 × 1.4 mm and weighs no more than one gram. It is considerably smaller than an M.2 2230 SSD, making it suitable for handheld gaming systems, ultra-thin laptops, tablets, and other compact devices.
3. What capacities are available?
BIWIN offers the CL100 in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities. This gives users enough flexibility for operating systems, games, creative projects, media libraries, and general file storage.
4. Which devices support the BIWIN CL100?
Only a limited number of devices currently include a native Mini SSD slot, so buyers should confirm compatibility before purchasing the drive. The CL100 can also be used as external storage with the BIWIN RD510 Mini SSD Reader, which connects to compatible systems over USB Type-C.
5. How fast is the BIWIN CL100?
BIWIN rates the CL100 for sequential read speeds of up to 3,700 MB/s and write speeds of up to 3,400 MB/s, depending on capacity. During our testing with the RD510 reader, however, write performance reached approximately 2,300 MB/s across three different systems, which was below the advertised maximum.
6. How does the CL100 install in the RD510 reader?
The RD510 uses a removable tray similar to a smartphone SIM card tray. The CL100 sits inside the shaped recess, and the tray slides back into the reader until it is flush with the enclosure. This design makes installing or swapping drives quick and does not require any screws or tools.
7. Is the BIWIN CL100 worth buying?
The CL100 is worth considering if you own a device with a compatible Mini SSD slot or want an unusually compact external storage solution when paired with the RD510. Its tiny size, capacities of up to 2TB, and strong overall performance are appealing, but limited native device support and lower-than-rated write speeds through the RD510 prevent it from being a practical replacement for conventional SSDs for everyone.