exFAT is now used by many manufacturers and hence also by many users, both on USB sticks and on SSD drives. Although there are no technical limitations regarding the file size – as outlined above – exFAT has quickly been shown to work most efficiently when the total size of the data storage is not too big.
Here are some recommendations for optimally using the exFAT format: Large hard drives that are only used on Windows computers should always be NTFS-formatted. This also applies to data that has to be accessed quickly – such as for an application in real-time. When file compression is necessary, NTFS has to be used, since exFAT does not support compression. In all other application cases, exFAT should be preferred – and for small quantities of data, FAT32 as well.
When it comes to fast data exchanges between Apple and PC devices, as is becoming increasingly more important nowadays, exFAT is able to play to its full strengths. The data exchange no longer takes place from computer to computer, but via the cloud – and without the need for a mobile storage device with an exFAT file system.
Collaboration between PC and Mac devices is a notorious problem, since Mac systems are not able to handle the NTFS standard. The disadvantage of FAT32 is that you can not save any data larger than around 4 gigabytes. The solution is exFAT; it can store large files (e.g. movies) on a single storage medium. Multiple devices with a wide range of operating systems can then work with this storage medium. Users and experts often say that exFAT is highly flexible.
Thus, the exFAT file system is used wherever NTFS does not offer a practical solution, for example, because of the data structure. All FAT formats – especially exFAT – are suitable for embedded systems, because the file system has a lean structure. Due to the low storage and power requirements, exFAT is also frequently used in firmware. Directly compared to its predecessor FAT32, exFAT is technically better as it offers higher maximum file and partition sizes.