128 Mbit NOR Flash with Quad-SPI for fast code shadowing
Quad I/O uses four data lines instead of one, so at 80 MHz the effective read bandwidth is roughly 40 MB/s in fast-read quad mode. That matters when the host MCU boots from external Flash or when a wireless module loads firmware over the air — the transfer completes in less time, reducing wake-up energy in battery-powered designs. The 128 Mbit density (16 MB) holds a few full firmware images plus a config partition, with room left over for a small file system.
That means the manufacturer continues to produce it, and no last-time-buy or discontinuation notice is in effect. For production planning, this removes the urgency to qualify a drop-in replacement now, though it is always prudent to monitor the PCN stream for any future changes.