Most microSD playing cards are quick sufficient for reinforcing space for storing and making easy file transfers, however some present somewhat extra worth than others. When you’ve bought a tool that also accepts microSD playing cards — whether or not it’s a gaming handheld, a touch cam, a drone or an Android pill — we’ve scoured the market and put greater than a dozen prime contenders by way of various benchmark checks. You’ll find our prime suggestions beneath, alongside some normal purchasing recommendation earlier than you seize one.
What to search for in a microSD card
Capability
The very first thing to determine when shopping for a microSD card is how a lot space for storing you want. Trendy playing cards are often obtainable in sizes starting from 32GB to 512GB, whereas an growing quantity can be found in 1TB as nicely. 2TB playing cards from respected producers are getting nearer however aren’t broadly obtainable simply but.
For many, a 128GB or 256GB mannequin needs to be the candy spot between worth and space for storing. However when you want extra room — say, for stashing a bunch of video games on a Steam Deck — a 512GB or larger card may make extra sense and infrequently offers a greater cost-per-GB ratio. As of late, you’ll find an honest 128GB card for round $15 or much less, an excellent 256GB card for lower than $30 and a stable 512GB card for lower than $40 (although many price nearer to $50 or $60). There’s a starker enhance while you go as much as 1TB playing cards, which generally price nearer to $100.
Observe {that a} microSD card’s efficiency might differ relying on what capability you purchase. SanDisk says its 128GB Excessive card delivers sequential write speeds as much as 90 MB/s, for instance, whereas the higher-capacity fashions in the identical line provide as much as 130 MB/s.
After we speak about microSD playing cards at present, we often discuss with playing cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capability) commonplace, which have a capability between 32GB and 2TB. Your machine must assist this for it to work with a microSDXC card. This can virtually by no means be a difficulty today, however some older gadgets (a Nintendo 3DS, for example) are solely suitable with microSDHC (Excessive Capability) playing cards, which vary from 2GB to 32GB.
Learn and write speeds
MicroSD playing cards are primarily judged on their learn and write speeds, that are often measured in megabytes per second (MB/s). Usually, most microSD playing cards have sooner learn speeds than write speeds.
These metrics can then be damaged down into sequential and random efficiency. Sequential learn and write speeds matter while you’re making an attempt to entry or save lengthy, fixed streams of knowledge, similar to opening a big video or copying a giant batch of information from a PC. If you wish to use a microSD card for media storage, that is notably vital. Random efficiency, in the meantime, is about how shortly a card can learn and write small information scattered all through the machine.
Since random learn/write speeds are a lot decrease than sequential ones, storage machine makers have a tendency to not promote them as loudly. However they’re vital when you use a card with a gaming machine or a single-board laptop just like the Raspberry Pi, the place it typically has to quickly save and entry small bits of knowledge in random places.
Velocity scores
When you have a look at a microSD card, you’ll see a buffet of numbers, letters and symbols. Most of those discuss with the cardboard’s pace class and efficiency scores, that are decided by the SD Affiliation.
A card’s Video Velocity Class, or V-rating, particulars its minimal sequential write pace, which is very vital when recording video from a digital camera. It ranges from V6 to V90. A lot of the playing cards we examined had a V30 ranking, in order that they have a sequential write pace of a minimum of 30 MB/s. This needs to be sufficient to assist as much as 4K video at decrease bitrates. Greater-rated V60 and V90 playing cards are often higher for capturing 8K, however they arrive at a a lot greater price.
The UHS Velocity Class, or U-rating, additionally refers to a card’s minimal sequential write pace. It is available in two varieties: U3, which mandates a minimal of 30 MB/s, and U1, which is rated for 10 MB/s.
The older Velocity Class ranking overlaps with the opposite two techniques. It’s signified by a C image and goes from Class 2 to Class 10, with the quantity (once more) indicating minimal sequential write pace. This ranking is much less related these days, however you should still see a “C10” brand on some playing cards.
The Utility Efficiency spec, marked by an A logo, is an indicator of random learn/write speeds. That is measured in IOPS, or enter/output operations per second, slightly than MB/s. There are two classes right here: A1 playing cards provide a minimal random learn pace of 1,500 IOPS and a minimal random write pace of 500 IOPS, whereas A2 playing cards bump these as much as 4,000 IOPS and a couple of,000 IOPS, respectively. Each scores additionally assure sequential write speeds of a minimum of 10 MB/s.
To maintain it easy, most individuals ought to search for a card with V30, U3 and A2 scores. It’s completely doable to get a stable card with out these: A U1 card could be value it when you simply want an affordable, high-capacity possibility, for instance. V60 and V90 playing cards are value a glance when you’re critical about taking pictures high-resolution photographs and video as nicely. However total, playing cards with the certifications above ought to present the very best mix of worth and efficiency at present.
It’s vital to emphasise that these scores are baselines. Most V30 playing cards provide considerably greater write speeds than 30 MB/s, for example, and a few A1 playing cards can outperform some A2 fashions in observe. The speeds marketed by producers aren’t at all times one hundred pc correct, both: Typically the cardboard might be slower in real-world use, different occasions it could really be a bit sooner.
UHS bus speeds
The opposite spec to notice is the cardboard’s bus interface. Most microSD playing cards obtainable at present are UHS-I, which have a theoretical most pace of 104 MB/s. There are additionally UHS-II playing cards, which have an additional row of pins on the again and may attain as much as 312 MB/s. (A UHS-III commonplace exists as nicely however hasn’t seen huge adoption.) These are labeled on the cardboard with a Roman numeral I or II.
The quickest microSD playing cards you should buy proper now are UHS-II playing cards, they usually’re often those with V60 or V90 scores. When you shoot numerous 4K to 8K video or regularly use burst mode to seize extremely high-res photographs, the efficiency beneficial properties of an excellent UHS-II card can prevent time.
However these are way more costly than UHS-I playing cards: This 128GB Lexar Skilled Gold mannequin, for example, is a relative discount at $40. Whereas that is lower than many UHS-II fashions we’ve seen prior to now, it is nonetheless greater than double the standard worth of our prime decide talked about beneath. You want a tool that’s suitable with the UHS-II interface to see any advantages, too, and inventory for UHS-II playing cards is usually spottier. For now, the upper speeds aren’t well worth the worth premium for most individuals, so we caught principally to UHS-I playing cards right here.
We’ll additionally observe Samsung’s announcement earlier this yr of a brand new 256GB microSD card based mostly on a wholly totally different commonplace referred to as SD Categorical. That is theoretically a lot sooner than any UHS-I or UHS-II possibility: Samsung claims this particular mannequin can attain sequential learn speeds as much as a whopping 800 MB/s. For context, that’d be faster than some older SSDs. SD Categorical has technically been round for a number of years however hasn’t seen huge adoption, so precisely how this card performs in actuality — and the way a lot it’ll price — stays to be seen. We’ll check the machine as soon as it turns into obtainable, which Samsung says might be someday later in 2024.
A observe on card readers, the Nintendo Swap and Steam Deck
Whereas the UHS-I spec has a theoretical most of 104 MB/s, some UHS-I playing cards can exceed that pace by way of proprietary extensions. You want a suitable card reader and host machine to reap the benefits of that additional efficiency, although. When you discover a UHS-I card promoting speeds greater than 104 MB/s, that is what’s happening. You possibly can see these limits in motion with a Nintendo Swap or Steam Deck: Each of these gaming gadgets assist the UHS-I interface and don’t transcend its official pace, flattening any sequential beneficial properties some playing cards might have elsewhere. The broader takeaway: Your microSD card will solely be as quick because the slowest hyperlink in your chain.
Guarantee
Many microSD playing cards are designed to be sturdy, with safety from water, excessive temperatures, X-rays and drops. Nonetheless, in case of disaster, an extended guarantee is at all times good to have. Many producers provide lifetime or 10-year restricted warranties, although we’ve observed that “endurance” playing cards marketed to face up to extra hours of writing are often coated for a shorter time period. For instance, Samsung’s Professional Endurance, a mannequin aimed toward safety cameras and different monitoring gadgets, comes with a five-year guarantee.
Avoiding counterfeits
The reminiscence card market has had a selected downside with scammers promoting pretend merchandise. To protect in opposition to this, solely purchase from a recognized model and a good retailer similar to Greatest Purchase, B&H Photograph or Adorama. When you store at Amazon, solely purchase if the shipper and vendor is Amazon.com. (Although a handful of customers have reported receiving counterfeits even from Amazon immediately prior to now.) Keep in mind: If a worth appears too good to be true, it in all probability is. Be cautious of any retailer providing considerably a cheaper price than others.
When you obtain a card, test its packaging for any irregularities. You possibly can run benchmark checks like CrystalDiskMark or BlackMagic Disk Velocity Check to confirm its speeds aren’t drastically decrease than what’s marketed (or doable, given its specs). It’s also possible to use software program that’s designed to confirm the true capability and efficiency of your card, similar to H2testw and FakeFlashTest.
How we examined
We put 13 microSD playing cards by way of a collection of checks to confirm their sequential and random efficiency. These included benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, BlackMagic Disk Velocity Check, ATTO Disk Benchmark and AJA System Check, in addition to a number of “real-world” checks. We copied and pasted a small folder of photographs about 1.15GB in measurement to and from every card, then did the identical with a bigger 12.2GB folder containing a number of file sorts and subfolders, timing the method every time. We additionally checked how every card carried out on the Steam Deck, downloading video games of various sizes — together with Stardew Valley, Aperture Desk Job, Steel Gear Rising: Revengeance and Apex Legends — then timing how lengthy it took to launch every sport and cargo save information.
We used a Kingston USB 3.2 UHS-II reader to check every card on each Home windows 11 and macOS Sonoma. For the previous, we used an Alienware gaming PC with an Intel Core i9-10900F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. For the latter, we used a 2021 16-inch MacBook Professional with an Apple M1 Professional chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. To make use of our card reader on the MacBook, we used Apple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter.
We examined the 128GB model of every card wherever doable, although for a number of playing cards — SanDisk’s Excessive and Samsung’s Professional Plus and Professional Final — we had been solely capable of check their 256GB fashions. We additionally reformatted every card earlier than testing with the SD Affiliation’s Reminiscence Card Formatter device.
Greatest microSD playing cards of 2024
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Velocity courses: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted
The Samsung Professional Plus was practically the quickest card we examined by way of sequential write efficiency (round 130 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark) and was an in depth second by way of random learn/write speeds, so it ought to work nice whether or not you’re shopping for for a digital camera, Android pill or gaming handheld. Unsurprisingly, it has all of the requisite scores: U3, V30 and A2. Its sequential learn efficiency (round 165 MB/s) isn’t fairly as fast as among the different playing cards beneath, so it isn’t absolutely the quickest for accessing giant information saved in your card, however the distinction is small in real-world use.
The principle motive the Professional Plus tops our checklist is as a result of it delivers these sturdy speeds at a comparatively inexpensive worth. The cardboard initially began at $19 for 128GB, $30 for 256GB and $60 for 512GB, however previous gross sales have introduced these fashions as little as $11, $18 and $29, respectively. When it’s that low cost, the Professional Plus makes most competing microSD playing cards redundant. Samsung additionally sells the cardboard with a USB reader that’ll assist it attain its most speeds for a number of {dollars} extra. When you want more room, there’s additionally a 1TB mannequin that needs to be simply as quick, although that one is at the moment way more costly at $110. Both approach, the cardboard comes with a 10-year restricted guarantee.
When you choose to purchase the Professional Plus, be sure to get the latest-generation mannequin. Samsung continues to be promoting the prior iteration of the Professional Plus, which seems equivalent however isn’t as fast. As an alternative, go for the one with sequential learn speeds rated at 180 MB/s and sequential write speeds rated at 130 MB/s. We examined the 256GB model of the newer Professional Plus resulting from inventory points with the 128GB mannequin on the time of testing, however this shouldn’t have a serious affect on real-world efficiency, as Samsung charges each playing cards identically.
- Persistently fast sequential and random learn/write efficiency
- Nice worth
- Available at trusted retailers
- Has a 1TB possibility
- Some friends have barely sooner sequential learn speeds
$21 at Amazon (128GB)
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | Velocity courses: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted
The Samsung Professional Final is a step-up mannequin in Samsung’s microSD lineup and, as anticipated, it’s somewhat bit sooner than the Professional Plus throughout the board. Its largest beneficial properties are in sequential learn speeds, which had been the quickest we examined and averaged near Samsung’s marketed price price of 200 MB/s throughout our numerous benchmarks. You’ll want to purchase the cardboard with Samsung’s USB reader to realize that efficiency, however that could possibly be value it when you often transfer information out of your microSD card to a PC. The Professional Final technically led the pack when it got here to sequential write and random learn/write speeds as nicely, although the margins there are a lot much less vital in comparison with the Professional Plus and the opposite prime UHS-I playing cards we examined.
The principle query is price. When you see the Professional Final obtainable for a similar worth because the Professional Plus, you may as nicely seize it as a substitute. It comes with the identical 10-year guarantee and needs to be equally sturdy. Previous reductions have introduced the 128GB, 256GB and 512GB fashions as little as $15, $25 and $45, respectively; that is nonetheless inexpensive, however the Professional Plus will virtually at all times be somewhat bit cheaper — and thus a greater worth for many wants, particularly at greater capacities. There is no 1TB possibility right here, both.
- Quickest microSD card we examined (with applicable USB reader)
- Simply obtainable at trusted retailers
- Professional Plus is healthier worth for many
- No 1TB mannequin
$22 at Samsung Electronics
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Storage capability: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Velocity courses: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: Lifetime restricted
If the Samsung Professional Plus ever jumps too excessive in worth or turns into unavailable, the Kingston Canvas Go Plus is one other sturdy different. It is a U3-, V30- and A2-rated card backed by a lifetime restricted guarantee. Its sequential learn speeds trailed solely the Samsung Professional Final throughout CrystalDiskMark, ATTO and the BlackMagic Disk Velocity Check. It successfully tied with SanDisk’s Excessive and Nintendo Swap-branded playing cards in our giant file switch speeds check. Sequential write speeds (simply over 100 MB/s on CrystalDiskMark) are the place it lags behind the Professional Plus, however they need to nonetheless be fast sufficient for a lot of makes use of. Its random learn/write speeds had been solely bested by Samsung’s Professional playing cards in benchmarks, so it’s nonetheless an excellent possibility for apps and video games. The 1TB model can also be $20 cheaper than the equal Professional Plus, so it needs to be an honest worth when you want numerous area and need to save money. However the different fashions are onerous to justify when you see them hovering in the identical worth vary as our picks above.
- Sooner sequential write speeds than Professional Plus for a (usually) cheaper price than Professional Final
- Lifetime restricted guarantee
- Has a 1TB possibility
- Professional Plus is often a greater worth for many
- Slower sequential write speeds than picks above
$17 at B&H Photograph (128GB)
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Storage capability: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (“new generation” mannequin solely) | Velocity courses: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 / (64GB) U1, V10, A1, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted
The Samsung Evo Choose is a transparent step behind our prime picks, notably in terms of sequential write speeds (slightly below 70 MB/s on CrystalDiskMark), so it’s not ultimate for cameras. Nonetheless, it’s completely usable for a lot of use instances — a Nintendo Swap, for example — and we have beforehand seen its 128GB, 256GB and 512GB fashions fall as little as $10, $14 and $25, respectively. All of these are about on par with the SanDisk Extremely, an oft-recommended cheapo card, regardless of the Evo Choose having greater V30, U3 and A2 scores. Whereas the Professional Plus has come near these costs, the Evo Choose virtually at all times retails for much less.
Just like the Professional Plus, now you can discover two variations of the Evo Choose: a “standard” mannequin with sequential learn speeds rated at 130 MB/s, and a “new generation” mannequin that bumps that spec as much as 160 MB/s. For the reason that level of this suggestion is to offer you a card that performs nicely sufficient for as little as doable, it is best to get whichever one is cheaper within the capability you need. The brand new mannequin did certainly ship these improved reads in our benchmarks, however it performs nearly identically in any other case, so you will not lose a lot by saving a couple of bucks with the older era.
The one huge distinction is that the up to date mannequin is the one one obtainable in a 1TB capability; we’ve not examined that particular mannequin, however at $80-ish it needs to be value a glance if pricing is your solely concern.
- Usually obtainable for cheaper price than Professional Plus
- Stable efficiency when you simply need a suitable card for reasonable
- Has a 1TB possibility
- Slower than picks above, notably in sequential write and random efficiency benchmarks
$15 at Amazon
Different notable microSD playing cards
Delkin Gadgets Energy
We didn’t use it ourselves, however when you’re prepared to pay for a extra highly effective UHS-II card constructed for heavy-duty video recording, the Delkin Gadgets Energy has examined nicely elsewhere and may ship considerably sooner sequential write speeds than our picks above. It’s one of many few UHS-II playing cards we may really discover in inventory, however it prices a ton, with a 128GB mannequin usually priced round $90.
SanDisk Excessive
The SanDisk Excessive successfully matched the Professional Plus in a number of of our sequential write checks and delivered sequential reads about on par with the Canvas Go Plus, however that was partly resulting from us solely having the ability to safe the cardboard’s 256GB mannequin, which is higher-rated than the 128GB model. It’s a nice alternative when you see it on sale at a good vendor, however its random efficiency lagged behind the Samsung Professional and Kingston playing cards, and it typically prices extra.
SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Swap
The SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Swap is one other first rate possibility when you ever see it obtainable for lower than the Professional Plus and Canvas Go Plus. Its sequential learn speeds had been about the identical because the latter in our benchmarks, however its sequential writes had been barely slower (and farther behind the Professional Plus). Its random learn/writes had been a bit behind in line with CrystalDiskMark as nicely, and it is typically priced greater than our prime decide. SanDisk backs the cardboard with a lifetime guarantee, nonetheless, plus it’s obtainable in a 1TB capability. Observe that we examined the Apex Legends model of the 128GB card; SanDisk additionally sells a Tremendous Mario mannequin, however we will not say if that one performs any in another way.
Lexar Skilled 1066x
Equally, the Lexar Skilled 1066x is an honest different to the Professional Plus if our foremost picks are unavailable. It’s one other V30, U3 and A2 mannequin, and like Samsung’s card, its sequential write speeds had been a bit sooner than the Canvas Go Plus and SanDisk Swap card in our benchmarks. These write speeds weren’t as fast because the Professional Plus, and its sequential reads trailed all three playing cards. Random learn/writes additionally lagged behind the Professional Plus and Canvas Go Plus, and we observed its speeds peak and dip extra noticeably in our file switch check. Nonetheless, it’s not sluggish, so relying on its worth, it could be an excellent discount when you want quick write speeds for video recording and the like. It’s additionally obtainable in 1TB, plus it comes with a lifetime restricted guarantee.
SanDisk Excessive Professional
The SanDisk Excessive Professional is a rival to the Samsung Professional Final however, as of this writing, is both unavailable at most trusted retailers or priced too excessive by comparability.
PNY Elite-X
The PNY Elite-X typically goes for reasonable and wasn’t too far off the random learn/write efficiency of Samsung’s Professional playing cards in CrystalDiskMark, however it was nicely behind in our sequential checks.
Latest updates
November 2024: We have checked again with this information to make sure our suggestions are nonetheless correct and made gentle edits for readability.
August 2024: We’ve up to date this information to notice the not too long ago launched 1TB fashions for 3 of our prime picks: the Samsung Professional Plus, the Kingston Canvas Go Plus and the Samsung Evo Choose. We’ve additionally made positive all pricing particulars are as updated as they are often.
