Sony Memory Stick
Memory Cards · 7 specs
Direct Answer
Memory Stick is a proprietary removable solid-state flash memory card format introduced by Sony in 1998. Evolving across standard, PRO (expanded capacity), Duo (compact form factor), PRO-HG Duo (60 MB/s high-speed), and Micro M2 variants, it featured Sony's MagicGate hardware DRM copy protection across Cyber-shot cameras, Handycam camcorders, VAIO laptops, and the PlayStation Portable (PSP).
Source: Sony Corporation / SanDisk Memory Stick PRO Specifications · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Proprietary Standard | Sony Corporation (with SanDisk for PRO formats) |
| Standard Memory Stick Size | 50.0 mm × 21.5 mm × 2.8 mm (10-pin interface) |
| Memory Stick Duo Size | 31.0 mm × 20.0 mm × 1.6 mm (10-pin interface) |
| Memory Stick Micro (M2) Size | 15.0 mm × 12.5 mm × 1.2 mm (11-pin interface) |
| Key Format Generations | Original (up to 128MB), PRO (up to 32GB), PRO-HG Duo (8-bit parallel, up to 60 MB/s), Micro M2 |
| Hardware DRM Security | MagicGate (Cryptographic copy protection for ATRAC3 audio / secure media) |
| Operating Voltages | 2.7V–3.6V (Standard) / 1.8V (Dual-voltage M2) |
Form Factor Lineage and PSP Popularity
Sony designed Memory Stick to lock consumer electronics into a closed ecosystem:
- Original Memory Stick (1998): Gum-stick form factor capped at 128 MB due to 8-bit addressing.
- Memory Stick PRO (2003): Developed with SanDisk; expanded theoretical limits to 32 GB.
- Memory Stick Duo (2002): Scaled down to ~half size, famously becoming the mandatory storage medium for the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP).
- Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo (2007): Introduced an 8-bit parallel interface to boost data transfer speeds up to 60 MB/s for AVCHD camcorders.
MagicGate DRM and Format Demise
Every Memory Stick variant included Sony's MagicGate cryptographic system, which encrypted content on the card using dedicated hardware keys in the card controller and host device to enforce copyright on commercial ATRAC3 audio. Due to higher per-gigabyte licensing costs compared to open SD cards, Sony formally phased out Memory Stick in 2010, transitioning its camera and mobile lines to standard SD, microSD, and CFexpress.