Samsung SLC Flash Vs MLC Flash [Kingston Toshiba Hynix] Comparison

For all Flash Cards MERCURY is using Samsung Flash Chips and its Wafer is SLC. (Single Level Cell)
The newest MERCURY 1GB MMCmobile is also build with SLC Flash Chips.

For most Flash Cards Kingston is using Toshiba Flash Chips and its Wafer is MLC. The Kingston 1GB MMCmobile is build with MLC Flash Chips.(Multi Level Cell)

SLC Advantage

[What is SLC or MLC?]
Basically there are two different types of NAND flash.
The first is called SLC or single level cell flash while the second one is called MLC or multi level cell flash.
The main difference is that SLC stores a single bit of data per cell whereas MLC, by using a larger number of voltage levels, stores two bits of data per cell.

[What are the advantages of SLC?]
Unfortunately for the MLC flash, the ability to store more data per cell also came with reliability and performance disadvantages.

-Significantly slower read and write speeds.
-10x lower read/write lifetime (100,000 R/W -> SLC, 10,000 R/W -> MLC)
-Shorter data retention time.
-Thus SLC flash has much better performance, lifetime, and reliability properties than MLC.

[Conclusion]
MLC is used to reduce the cost for flash memory card production and is found in the majority of the lower speed generic cards.
SLC flash is used for higher performance flash memory and is only used by a few of the higher end flash card producers.
All MERCURY Flash cards use Samsung SLC NAND flash for maximum performance, reliability, and lifetime.