What is M.2 Storage – Is it Better than SATA? M.2 is an abbreviation that used to stand for Next Generation Form Factor or NGFF. Its name was changed to M.2. It was based on mSATA and was meant to replace it, which it has successfully done. mSATA was specifically developed to make better use of space to size, which is important for small-footprint devices such as laptops. It is important to note that M.2 is a specification for expansion cards and storage devices, but not an interface of its own. The M.2 connector has multiple interfaces, which is why it is the preferred format for many storage devices and other expansion cards.