mPCIe vs. M.2: Selecting the Best IoT Data Card Form Factor
By The Telit Cinterion Team
August 21, 2025
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Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
The first laptop — introduced in 1981 — initiated a trend toward increasingly compact and powerful computing devices.
While screens have grown larger, computers have become slimmer. The form factors of internal components drive this transformation. Everything from layout to portability depends on the size of components. The dimensions of parts like processors and expansion cards directly shape the overall design of computing devices.
Wireless networking has advanced alongside hardware, with adapters becoming smaller and more capable to meet the demands of mobile professionals and enterprise IT.
Today, 5G technology increases peak data rates to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps), surpassing 4G’s maximum of 1 Gbps. This increased speed and capacity allow more devices to connect simultaneously.
As connectivity expands, the number of internet-connected devices continues to skyrocket. Research shows that global Internet of Things (IoT) connections will nearly double from 15.9 billion in 2023 to more than 32.1 billion IoT devices in 2030.
To meet diverse performance and design needs, most hardware — like industrial routers and gateways — contains one of two small form factor (SFF) multipurpose connectors:
- Mini Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (mPCIe)
- M.2, formerly known as Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF)
Meet the Demands of the 5G Era
Table of Contents
mPCIe vs. M.2 Explained
What Is mPCIe?
mPCIe evolved from the large desktop PC form factor PCIe in 2002. At first, mPCIe cards were plugged into laptop motherboards to save space. Today, mPCIes are commonly found in industrial devices, enterprise routers and gateways, where real estate isn’t as important.
While half the size of the format it replaced, mPCIe requires a slightly larger footprint than M.2. Today, many devices include an M.2 and mPCIe connector, allowing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to integrate either type of card.
What Is M.2?
M.2 emerged in late 2012 and early 2013, evolving from the NGFF internally mounted computer expansion cards. The M.2 standard includes power-saving protocols that help extend laptop battery life by eight to 10 hours and support thinner device designs.
Over the last five years, M.2 data cards have become the standard for most consumer and professional targeted laptops. Smaller than mPCIe, M.2 cards power sleek tablets and razor-thin laptops, giving users the freedom to stay productive wherever they are.
mPCIe vs. M.2: How Are They Different and Which Is Better?
mPCIe
Before M.2 came out, mPCIe was the go-to form factor for:
- Industrial use
- IT gateways
- Routers
mPCIe became an easy standard for wireless vendors to expand network adapter options because of the extra space to mount electronics and a simpler interface bus protocol. This made the standard popular among design engineers.
With the introduction of ultrahigh-speed LTE Advanced (LTE-A) Pro, mPCIe was a clear form factor choice.
LTE Cat 18 Gigabit technology can’t be placed in low-power mode. There are four or more individual antenna connectors that can be taxing on the small card and consume a lot of power. The thickness and rigidity of mPCIe cards can better accommodate LTE-A Pro’s thermal, space and rigidity requirements.
Benefits
- It is a legacy form factor that’s well understood and tested. As such, it’s a form factor mobile broadband companies prefer.
- More support is available for PCIe connectors across industrial applications.
- mPCIe effectively accommodates 4G thermal dissipation requirements (i.e., a single-sided card mounted on heat dissipation solutions for thermal stability in always-on use cases).
- This form factor covers mobile broadband and industrial applications.
- mPCIe integrates well with LTE and LTE-A Pro technologies, delivering performance and reliability in always-on applications.
M.2
With the arrival of 5G, M.2’s higher data transfer rate made it a better fit for laptops and personal computing. It also became more suitable for enterprise and industrial:
- Appliances
- Routers
- Gateways
Because it is a standard 10 years younger than mPCIe, its interface bus can accommodate much higher data transfer rates like those required for 5G. In addition, 5G’s reliance on massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) has led to a new generation of RF connectors compatible with M.2’s smaller, thinner design.
Benefits
- It comfortably accommodates the host device’s 5G data transfer rates (over PCIe x2, USB 3.0, I2C, or DisplayPort x4).
- 5G millimeter wave (mmWave) antenna arrays are off-board elements, reducing the RF complexity and heat inside the M.2 space.
- 5G 4 nanometer (nm) semiconductor technology is well-aligned electrically and thermally with M.2’s physical characteristics.
- M.2 is future-proof and integrates well with 5G and beyond, delivering the highest performance levels and reliability for all IoT applications.
Which Form Factor Is the Future of IoT?
Although mPCIe has endured as the preferred form factor for several years, M.2 has soared in popularity alongside 5G. Those wanting to capitalize on 5G’s benefits — whether reduced capability (RedCap) or high speed — must switch to M.2.
Redesigning a product from mPCIe to M.2 can be complicated, requiring development and hardware validation testing. These things take time. Any redesign will take at least one or two years, with the move from mPCIe to M.2 requiring at least a quarter of the development effort.
Nevertheless, M.2 is the future. It will replace mPCIe as the de facto standard for IoT, especially for compact industrial and embedded computing devices. With time constraints in mind, it is imperative to begin the transition sooner rather than later.
How to Select the Best Form Factor for Your Connectivity Needs
In the mPCIe vs. M.2 debate, M.2 will eventually be the preferred choice.
We recommend M.2 for all 5G applications and 4G on/off operations, like laptops and other mobile computing platforms. Our M.2 products offer comprehensive coverage for LTE and 5G.
For LTE Cat 6, 12 and 13, our LN920 LTE M.2 compact data card is precertified by Tier 1 operators and ideal for mobile computing and IIoT gateways and routers.
We also introduced the first industrial-grade 5G M.2 data card, the FN980m. This data card enables M.2 end products with 3G and 4G capabilities to easily migrate to 5G. It is suitable for industrial use cases, such as enterprise gateways and surveillance.
Additional M.2 solutions like the FN990, MV31 and MV32 are also perfect for emerging 5G use cases and applications. Our FN920 data card satisfies the 5G mid-speed connectivity of 3GPP Release 17 RedCap technology.
Despite M.2’s growing dominance, mPCIe remains a strong choice for always-on 4G LTE applications. We recommend mPCIe for enterprise cellular routers and appliances that require robust, full-size connectivity. Our LM960A18 Gigabit Class LTE Cat 18 data card is the world’s first global full-size mPCle solution. The 23-band card supports LTE Cat 18 and has download speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps. It supports CBRS and an integrated GNSS receiver.
Our LTE Cat 1 and 4 products include mPLS63 for global cellular connectivity and mPLS83 for high-bandwidth IoT connectivity. Also, our LE910Cx Linux mPCIe and LE910Cx ThreadX mPCIe series are ideal for ultracompact IoT devices with an extended operating temperature range.
Whether mPCIe or M.2, Telit Cinterion aims to maintain leadership in mobile broadband connectivity. We deliver the highest speeds cellular networks can support for all our solution providers and integrators.
Key Takeaways
- mPCIe handles heat and power demands better than M.2, making it more suitable for LTE-A Pro and always-on industrial use.
- M.2 is a strong fit for 5G and next-gen IoT deployments due to its faster data transfer speeds and smaller design.
- When considering mPCIe vs. M.2, device makers often support both standards, but M.2 is becoming the preferred choice.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published on 3 October 2018 and has since been updated.
