When searching for SD cards or power banks on Amazon, you may have increasingly noticed the brand “GIGASTONE.”
“What country is GIGASTONE from?” “I’ve heard the name, but is it reliable?” “It’s cheap, but is the quality okay?”
Many of you likely have these same questions.
In this article, we have thoroughly investigated GIGASTONE, covering everything from the location of its headquarters to its corporate history, philosophy, and reliability.
What you will learn in this article:
- Which country GIGASTONE is from
- Its official company name and history of establishment
- Its listing on the Taiwan Emerging Stock Board
- The establishment of its Japanese subsidiary and domestic sales structure
- Its ISO certification status
- Objective assessments regarding GIGASTONE’s reliability
Conclusion: GIGASTONE is a Taiwanese company
GIGASTONE is a manufacturer of memory products and mobile accessories headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan.
The official company name is “Gigastone Corporation,” and it was established in 2010. Its core products include SD cards, USB flash drives, power banks, and chargers. Based in Taiwan, the company has expanded its sales bases to the United States, Japan, and China. It is listed on the Taiwan Emerging Stock Board (Stock Code: 5262), making it a brand with the transparency expected of a publicly traded company.
Ms.GadgetsI see GIGASTONE often when looking for SD cards on Amazon, but what country is the manufacturer from?
Mr.GadgetsGIGASTONE is a Taiwanese manufacturer. It is a brand developed by a publicly traded company called Gigastone Corporation, which has its headquarters in Taipei and a subsidiary in Japan. They sell digital accessories like SD cards and power banks around the world.
Below is the basic information for GIGASTONE.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Gigastone Corporation |
| Established | February 11, 2010 |
| Headquarters | 4F, No. 166, Xinhu 2nd Rd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City, Taiwan |
| Representative | Michael Wang |
| Capital | 506,985,820 New Taiwan Dollars (approx. 2.4 billion JPY) |
| Stock Market | Taiwan Emerging Stock Board (Stock Code: 5262, listed in October 2013) |
| Japanese Subsidiary | Gigastone Japan Inc. (Established August 2012, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) |
| Overseas Bases | USA (Irvine), Japan (Tokyo), China (Shenzhen) |
| Main Products | SD cards, USB memory, power banks, chargers, Bluetooth headsets |
Ms.GadgetsSo it’s a Taiwanese public company. That makes me feel more at ease.
Mr.GadgetsYes. The Emerging Stock Board is a public market operated by the Taiwan Stock Exchange, which requires the disclosure of financial information. Compared to private brands, it has a high level of corporate transparency.
GIGASTONE Company Overview
GIGASTONE is a manufacturer that develops products globally to support digital life, focusing on memory cards and mobile accessories. Here, we will confirm the company’s detailed information and business characteristics.
Basic Information on GIGASTONE
GIGASTONE’s official name is Gigastone Corporation, and it was established in Taiwan on February 11, 2010. Its headquarters is located in the Neihu District of Taipei—an area known as the “Neihu Technology Park,” where Taiwan’s technology companies are concentrated.
Since its inception, the company has focused on the development, manufacturing, and sale of NAND flash memory-related products. Under its own brand, “GIGASTONE,” it offers products such as memory cards, USB flash drives, power banks, chargers, and Bluetooth headsets.
In 2011, the company launched its own retail-packaged products in the Japanese market. In August 2012, it established the Japanese subsidiary “Gigastone Japan Inc.” in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, to build a domestic distribution foundation. It operates official stores on major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Rakuten Ichiba, and Yahoo! Shopping, and has established a support system tailored for the Japanese market.
Overseas bases include the USA (Gigastone America Corp. in Irvine, California, established in April 2013) and China (Shenzhen office, established in 2012), and their products are distributed worldwide.
Ms.GadgetsWhat kind of place is Neihu District?
Mr.GadgetsThe Neihu Technology Park in Taipei is a hub for technology companies, often called Taiwan’s “Silicon Valley.” It is an area where companies like BenQ, D-Link, Lite-On, and LINE Taiwan have established their bases.
GIGASTONE’s Corporate Philosophy and Strengths
GIGASTONE upholds four core values as its corporate philosophy: “Innovation,” “Vitality,” “Unity,” and “Sharing.”
The company’s main strengths are the following three points:
1. In-house Development Capability for NAND Flash Control ICs
GIGASTONE is not just an accessory brand; it is also involved in the development of NAND flash control ICs (controllers) and memory modules. In July 2013, the company began operating its own factory in Zhunan, Taiwan, complete with a chip division, giving it the structure to control product quality from the upstream process.
2. High Quality at an Affordable Price
GIGASTONE products are well-regarded for their balance of quality and price. They are often priced more affordably than comparable products from other companies, garnering support from users who prioritize cost-performance.
3. Quality Control via ISO Certification
In 2012, the company obtained ISO 9001 (Quality Management System) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) certifications. The fact that its products are manufactured under a quality control system based on international standards is one of the factors that supports its reliability.
Ms.GadgetsI didn’t realize they develop their own control ICs. That was surprising.
Mr.GadgetsYes. The performance and durability of a memory card depend heavily on the design of the controller, not just the NAND flash chip itself. Having the capability for in-house controller development is a point that sets them apart from typical OEM brands.
GIGASTONE’s History and Reliability
We will organize the journey GIGASTONE has taken from its establishment to the present in chronological order. We will also check third-party evaluations and its reputation in the Japanese market.
GIGASTONE History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Gigastone Corporation established in Taipei, Taiwan. Began global marketing of the GIGASTONE brand. Awarded the Golden Torch Award for “Top 10 Potential Enterprises” and “Top 10 Potential Managers” (awarded in 2011). |
| 2011 | Launched own brand retail packaging in the Japanese market. |
| 2012 | Obtained ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 certification. Established Japanese subsidiary Gigastone Japan Inc. (August). Opened office in Shenzhen, China. Ranked 320th in CommonWealth Magazine’s “Top 1000 Enterprises” manufacturing sector (9th fastest growth rate at 124%). |
| 2013 | Established US subsidiary Gigastone America Corp. (April). Zhunan factory began operations; Chip division established (July). Listed on the Taiwan Emerging Stock Board (October, stock code 5262). Obtained Samsung certified partner status (official announcement). Consolidated revenue of 8.585 billion NTD. |
| 2014 | Exhibited at CES 2014 and entered the North American market in earnest. Ranked 31st in the semiconductor sector of CommonWealth Magazine’s “Top 1000 Enterprises.” |
| 2015 | Received the “Taiwan Excellence Award.” Expanded product line of high-quality Bluetooth headsets. |
Ms.GadgetsReaching those rankings just two years after establishment is a very rapid growth.
Mr.GadgetsIndeed. The 124% revenue growth rate in 2012 is noteworthy. It was the result of timely entry into the NAND flash market expansion period and aggressively pursuing global expansion.
GIGASTONE Awards and Third-Party Evaluations
GIGASTONE has received multiple awards since its first year of operation, and has accumulated evaluations from third parties.
- Golden Torch Award (2011): Won both “Top 10 Potential Enterprises” and “Top 10 Potential Managers” at the Taiwanese emerging company awards. The fact that they won in their founding year suggests their business model was highly regarded.
- CommonWealth Magazine Top 1000 Enterprises Ranking (2012, 2014): Ranked multiple times in the list of the most authoritative economic magazine in Taiwan.
- Samsung Certified Partner (2013, official announcement): Received official certification as a partner from Samsung, the world’s largest memory manufacturer.
- Taiwan Excellence Award (2015): A product design and innovation award hosted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan. The Smart Battery A4 won this award.
Ms.GadgetsBeing an officially announced Samsung certified partner is a strong selling point regarding quality.
Mr.GadgetsYes. According to their official announcements, they have obtained Samsung partner certification. Combined with their in-house development of NAND flash control ICs, their technical efforts are a point worth evaluating.
Summary: Is GIGASTONE Reliable?
GIGASTONE is a memory and mobile accessory brand developed by Gigastone Corporation, headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. It possesses multiple elements that support its reliability, such as its listing on the Taiwan Stock Exchange, ISO certification, and Samsung partner certification (official announcement).
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Listed on the Taiwan Emerging Stock Board (Financial transparency) | Brand recognition as a consumer brand is not as high as SanDisk or Samsung |
| ISO 9001 / ISO 14001 certified | Some reports of recognition issues after long-term use (a common risk for flash memory) |
| In-house development capability for NAND flash control ICs | The scale of the Japanese subsidiary is small compared to major manufacturers |
| Samsung certified partner (official announcement) | |
| Award history including Taiwan Excellence Award and Golden Torch Award | |
| Presence of a Japanese subsidiary and established sales structure on EC platforms | |
| 5-year product warranty |
GIGASTONE is especially recommended for:
- Those who want to choose SD cards or USB memory with an emphasis on cost-performance
- Those looking for memory cards for dashcams or surveillance cameras
- Those who seek the peace of mind offered by a brand from a publicly traded company
- Those who want to collect power banks and chargers from the same brand
If you are interested, please check out the official GIGASTONE stores on Amazon and Rakuten Ichiba.
Thank you for reading until the end!
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This article was originally written in Japanese and has been translated.
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