NAND flash memory has a finite lifespan, measured in Program/Erase (P/E) cycles. If a drive repeatedly writes to the same physical block of memory, that block will die quickly, rendering the drive useless. Phison firmware employs sophisticated . It tracks the usage of every memory block and ensures that data is distributed evenly across the drive. By "spreading the pain," the firmware ensures the drive lasts for years rather than months.
Phison designs controllers that are highly versatile. A single Phison controller, such as the E18, might be used by a dozen different drive manufacturers (Adata, Corsair, Seagate, etc.). Each manufacturer might use different brands of NAND flash memory (Micron, Kioxia, Samsung) on their drives. The firmware acts as the translator, allowing the controller to communicate effectively with whatever specific NAND configuration is soldered onto the PCB. phison firmware
One of the most debated aspects of Phison firmware is its performance philosophy. Historically, Phison has favored over peak burst speeds. While a competing controller might achieve a spectacular 7,000 MB/s sequential read for the first few seconds, Phison firmware often employs a more conservative thermal throttling algorithm. This prevents the drive from "hitting a wall" during sustained writes—a scenario common when copying large video files or migrating virtual machines. NAND flash memory has a finite lifespan, measured
Early Phison E16 drives were not compatible because the firmware did not correctly report the "nominal power state." Phison released a mandatory firmware update (version EGFM15.2) that modified the drive’s response to the PS5’s initialization handshake. If you own an old E16 drive, you must update its firmware via a PC before installing it in a PS5. It tracks the usage of every memory block