Yes. Performing an erase or a "full format" shortens the life of the device. The erase function is also very slow. This matters more than most people realize because flash memory wear is cumulative and irreversible over time.

Here are some additional questions based on the answer above which we will address in today's post:

Is "erase" and "format" the same thing?

Erasing flash memory (a.k.a. setting all bits to 0, also called a "full format" by Windows) does more damage. Flash memory has a limited number of times that it can be written, and the more you write to it, the more it degrades. With an erase function, you're writing to the entire device.

With a format, all that's happening is changing a few bits at the front of the device to indicate the rest of the memory space on the flash drive is available to be overwritten. This preserves the life of the flash memory because the old data isn't being overwritten immediately—just flagged for reuse later. We've covered the broader implications of flash wear and longevity in more detail in our article on the life cycle of a USB flash drive.

Given USB is everywhere, this gadget gives you the ability to control the on-and-off power of a USB-powered device. On paper, that sounds useful, especially as more accessories, lights, fans, and gadgets rely on USB for power instead of traditional wall adapters.

I think for most people, there is no real difference between a WiFi wall outlet and a WiFi USB adapter. The only meaningful distinction is when you want to control the power of a USB gadget that is being powered directly from your computer. In every other scenario, the power source is still a wall outlet, so a standard smart plug tends to be more flexible.

Can you plug in your Alexa via USB? No. Can you plug in your Google Home via USB? No. Can you plug in your lamps in the family room or living room via USB? No. Can you plug in your Bluetooth speaker to charge via USB? Yes, but who really cares about controlling the power to that? Can you plug in your phone via USB to charge it? Yes, but again, most people want it to charge to full capacity anyway. Oh wait, unless you are a super nerd, like these guys (read the comments section).

For the $6.50 that Sonoff is planning to charge, I’d personally put my money toward a more usable product, like the Smart Life WiFi outlets. They work with a wider range of household devices and don’t limit you to USB-only power scenarios.