Most microSD playing cards are quick sufficient for storing and transferring recordsdata, however some will present a bit extra bang for the buck than others. In case you’ve acquired a tool that helps the format — be it a Nintendo Switch or different gaming handheld, a GoPro, a Raspberry Pi or a touch cam — we’ve researched the market and put greater than a dozen high microSD playing cards via a bunch of benchmark assessments. Yow will discover the playing cards that stood out probably the most under, alongside some normal issues to know before you purchase.
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 accessible in sizes starting from 32GB to 512GB, whereas an rising quantity can be found in 1TB as nicely. 2TB playing cards from respected producers are getting closer however aren’t extensively accessible simply but.
For many, a 128GB or 256GB mannequin must be the candy spot between value and space for storing. However in case 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 sometimes supplies a greater cost-per-GB ratio. Today, you will discover an honest 128GB card for round $15 or much less, a superb 256GB card for lower than $30 and a stable 512GB card for lower than $40 (although many value nearer to $50 or $60). There’s a starker improve once you go as much as 1TB playing cards, which usually value nearer to $100.
Observe {that a} microSD card’s efficiency might differ relying on what capability you purchase. SanDisk says its 128GB Extreme card delivers sequential write speeds as much as 90 MB/s, for instance, whereas the higher-capacity fashions in the identical line supply as much as 130 MB/s.
Once we speak about microSD playing cards right this moment, we often discuss with playing cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capacity) standard, which have a capability between 32GB and 2TB. Your system must assist this for it to work with a microSDXC card. This may nearly by no means be a problem today, however some older units (a Nintendo 3DS, as an illustration) 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). Typically, 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 once you’re making an attempt to entry or save lengthy, fixed streams of knowledge, akin to opening a big video or copying a giant batch of recordsdata from a PC. If you wish to use a microSD card for media storage, that is notably necessary. Random efficiency, in the meantime, is about how shortly a card can learn and write small recordsdata scattered all through the system.
Since random learn/write speeds are a lot decrease than sequential ones, storage system makers have a tendency to not promote them as loudly. However they’re necessary in case you use a card with a gaming system or a single-board pc just like the Raspberry Pi, the place it usually has to quickly save and entry small bits of knowledge in random areas.
Pace scores
In case 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 speed class and efficiency scores, that are decided by the SD Association.
A card’s Video Pace Class, or V-rating, particulars its minimal sequential write pace, which is very necessary when recording video from a digicam. It ranges from V6 to V90. A lot of the playing cards we examined had a V30 score, in order that they have a sequential write pace of a minimum of 30 MB/s. This must 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 value.
The UHS Pace 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 Pace Class score overlaps with the opposite two methods. 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 score is much less related these days, however you should still see a “C10” brand on some playing cards.
The Software Efficiency spec, marked by an An emblem, is an indicator of random learn/write speeds. That is measured in IOPS, or enter/output operations per second, quite than MB/s. There are two classes right here: A1 playing cards supply 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 attainable to get a stable card with out these: A U1 card could be price it in case you simply want an affordable, high-capacity choice, for instance. V60 and V90 playing cards are price a glance in case you’re critical about taking pictures high-resolution pictures and video as nicely. However general, playing cards with the certifications above ought to present the perfect mix of value and efficiency right this moment.
It’s necessary to emphasise that these scores are baselines. Most V30 playing cards supply considerably greater write speeds than 30 MB/s, as an illustration, and a few A1 playing cards can outperform some A2 fashions in observe. The speeds marketed by producers aren’t at all times 100% correct, both: Typically the cardboard will likely be slower in real-world use, different occasions it might really be a bit sooner.
UHS bus speeds
The opposite spec to notice is the cardboard’s bus interface. Most microSD playing cards accessible right this moment 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 might attain as much as 312 MB/s. (A UHS-III customary exists as nicely however hasn’t seen broad adoption.) These are labeled on the cardboard with a Roman numeral I or II.
The quickest microSD playing cards you should purchase proper now are UHS-II playing cards, and so they’re often those with V60 or V90 scores. In case you shoot a lot of 4K to 8K video or steadily use burst mode to seize extremely high-res pictures, the efficiency good points of a superb UHS-II card can prevent time.
However these are rather more costly than UHS-I playing cards: This 128GB Lexar Professional Gold mannequin, as an illustration, is a relative discount at $40. Whereas that is lower than many UHS-II fashions we’ve seen up to now, it is nonetheless greater than double the standard value of our high choose talked about under. 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 mostly spottier. For now, the upper speeds aren’t well worth the value premium for most individuals, so we caught principally to UHS-I playing cards right here.
We’ll additionally observe Samsung’s announcement earlier this 12 months of a brand new 256GB microSD card based mostly on a completely totally different customary referred to as SD Specific. That is theoretically a lot sooner than any UHS-I or UHS-II choice: 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 Specific has technically been around for a number of years however hasn’t seen broad adoption, so precisely how this card performs in actuality — and the way a lot it’ll value — stays to be seen. We’ll check the system as soon as it turns into accessible, which Samsung says will likely 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 via proprietary extensions. You want a suitable card reader and host system to make the most of that further efficiency, although. In case you discover a UHS-I card promoting speeds greater than 104 MB/s, that is what’s occurring. You’ll be able to see these limits in motion with a Nintendo Swap or Steam Deck: Both of those gaming units assist the UHS-I interface and don’t transcend its official pace, flattening any sequential good points 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, a protracted guarantee is at all times good to have. Many producers supply 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 frame. For instance, Samsung’s Pro Endurance, a mannequin aimed toward safety cameras and different monitoring units, comes with a five-year guarantee.
Avoiding counterfeits
The reminiscence card market has had a selected downside with scammers promoting faux merchandise. To protect towards this, solely purchase from a identified model and a good retailer akin to Greatest Purchase, B&H Photograph or Adorama. In case 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 up to now.) Keep in mind: If a value appears too good to be true, it most likely is. Be cautious of any retailer providing considerably a lower cost than others.
When you obtain a card, test its packaging for any irregularities. You’ll be able to run benchmark assessments like CrystalDiskMark or BlackMagic Disk Speed Test to confirm its speeds aren’t drastically decrease than what’s marketed (or attainable, given its specs). You may as well use software program that’s designed to confirm the true capability and efficiency of your card, akin to H2testw and FakeFlashTest.
How we examined
We put 13 microSD playing cards via a sequence of assessments to confirm their sequential and random efficiency. These included benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, BlackMagic Disk Speed Test, ATTO Disk Benchmark and AJA System Test, in addition to just a few “real-world” assessments. We copied and pasted a small folder of pictures about 1.15GB in dimension to and from every card, then did the identical with a bigger 12.2GB folder containing a number of file varieties 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, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Apex Legends — then timing how lengthy it took to launch every sport and cargo save recordsdata.
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 attainable, although for just a few playing cards — SanDisk’s Excessive and Samsung’s Professional Plus and Professional Final — we have been solely capable of check their 256GB fashions. We additionally reformatted every card earlier than testing with the SD Affiliation’s Memory Card Formatter tool.
Greatest microSD playing cards of 2024
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Pace lessons: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted
The Samsung Pro Plus was almost the quickest card we examined when it comes to sequential write efficiency (round 130 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark) and was a detailed second when it comes to random learn/write speeds, so it ought to work nice whether or not you’re shopping for for a digicam, 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 under, so it isn’t absolutely the quickest for accessing giant recordsdata saved in your card, however the distinction is small in real-world use.
The principle cause the Professional Plus tops our checklist is as a result of it delivers these sturdy speeds at a comparatively inexpensive value. 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 just a few {dollars} extra. In case you want extra space, the corporate recently released a brand new 1TB model that must be simply as quick, although that one is at present rather more costly at $120. Both approach, the cardboard comes with a 10-year restricted guarantee.
In case you decide to purchase the Professional Plus, be sure you get the latest-generation mannequin. Samsung continues to be promoting the prior iteration of the Professional Plus, which seems similar 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 because of inventory points with the 128GB mannequin on the time of testing, however this shouldn’t have a significant impression 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 choice
- Some friends have barely sooner sequential learn speeds
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | Pace lessons: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted
The Samsung Pro Ultimate is a step-up mannequin in Samsung’s microSD lineup and, as anticipated, it’s a bit bit sooner than the Professional Plus throughout the board. Its greatest good points are in sequential learn speeds, which have 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 attain that efficiency, however that could possibly be price it in case you commonly transfer recordsdata 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 important in comparison with the Professional Plus and the opposite high UHS-I playing cards we examined.
The principle query is value. In case you see the Professional Final accessible for a similar value because the Professional Plus, you may as nicely seize it as a substitute. It comes with the identical 10-year guarantee and must 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 nearly at all times be a bit bit cheaper — and thus a greater worth for many wants, particularly at greater capacities. There is not any 1TB choice right here, both.
- Quickest microSD card we examined (with acceptable USB reader)
- Simply accessible at trusted retailers
- Professional Plus is best worth for many
- No 1TB mannequin
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Storage capability: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Pace lessons: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: Lifetime restricted
If the Samsung Professional Plus ever jumps too excessive in value or turns into unavailable, the Kingston Canvas Go Plus is one other sturdy various. 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 Pace 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 have been solely bested by Samsung’s Professional playing cards in benchmarks, so it’s nonetheless a superb choice for apps and video games. The 1TB model can be $20 cheaper than the equal Professional Plus, so it must be an honest worth in case you want a lot of area and need to save money. However the different fashions are exhausting to justify in case you see them hovering in the identical value vary as our picks above.
- Quicker sequential write speeds than Professional Plus for a (usually) lower cost than Professional Final
- Lifetime restricted guarantee
- Has a 1TB choice
- Professional Plus is often a greater worth for many
- Slower sequential write speeds than picks above
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Storage capability: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (“new technology” mannequin solely) | Pace lessons: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 / (64GB) U1, V10, A1, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted
The Samsung Evo Select is a transparent step behind our high picks, notably in the case of sequential write speeds (just below 70 MB/s on CrystalDiskMark), so it’s not perfect for cameras. Nonetheless, it’s completely usable for a lot of use instances — a Nintendo Swap, as an illustration — 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 Ultra, 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 nearly at all times retails for much less.
Much like the Professional Plus, now you can discover two variations of the Evo Choose: a “customary” mannequin with sequential learn speeds rated at 130 MB/s, and a “new generation” model that bumps that spec as much as 160 MB/s. Because the level of this suggestion is to provide you a card that performs nicely sufficient for as little as attainable, you need 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 technology.
The one large distinction is that the up to date mannequin is the one one accessible in a 1TB capacity; we’ve not examined that particular mannequin, however at $80 it must be price a glance if pricing is your solely concern.
- Usually accessible for lower cost than Professional Plus
- Stable efficiency in case you simply need an appropriate card for affordable
- Has a 1TB choice
- Slower than picks above, notably in sequential write and random efficiency benchmarks
Different notable microSD playing cards
Delkin Units Energy
We didn’t use it ourselves, however in case you’re prepared to pay for a extra highly effective UHS-II card constructed for heavy-duty video recording, the Delkin Devices Power has tested well elsewhere and will 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 Extreme successfully matched the Professional Plus in just a few of our sequential write assessments and delivered sequential reads about on par with the Canvas Go Plus, however that was partly because of us solely having the ability to safe the cardboard’s 256GB mannequin, which is higher-rated than the 128GB model. It’s a high-quality alternative in case you see it on sale at a good vendor, however its random efficiency lagged behind the Samsung Professional and Kingston playing cards, and it usually prices extra.
SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Swap
The SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch is one other first rate choice in case you ever see it accessible for lower than the Professional Plus and Canvas Go Plus. Its sequential learn speeds have been about the identical because the latter in our benchmarks, however its sequential writes have been barely slower (and farther behind the Professional Plus). Its random learn/writes have been a bit behind in keeping with CrystalDiskMark as nicely, and it is usually priced greater than our high choose. SanDisk backs the cardboard with a lifetime guarantee, nonetheless, plus it’s accessible in a 1TB capacity. Observe that we examined the Apex Legends model of the 128GB card; SanDisk additionally sells a Super Mario model, however we will not say if that one performs any in another way.
Lexar Skilled 1066x
Equally, the Lexar Professional 1066x is an honest various 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 have 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 value, it could be a superb discount in case you want quick write speeds for video recording and the like. It’s additionally available in 1TB, plus it comes with a lifetime restricted guarantee.
SanDisk Excessive Professional
The SanDisk Extreme Pro 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 usually goes for affordable 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 assessments.
Latest updates
August 2024: We’ve up to date this information to notice the just lately launched 1TB fashions for 3 of our high 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. We intention so as to add testing data on new playing cards, together with Lexar’s Professional Silver Plus and SanDisk’s new Pokémon-themed models, with one other replace within the close to future.
