The perfect microSD playing cards in 2024

Most microSD playing cards are quick sufficient for enhancing space for storing and making easy file transfers, however some present slightly extra worth than others. When you’ve obtained a tool that also accepts microSD playing cards — whether or not it’s a gaming handheld, a splash cam, a drone or an Android tablet — we’ve scoured the market and put greater than a dozen high contenders by various benchmark exams. You’ll find our high suggestions beneath, alongside some common buying 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. Fashionable playing cards are often accessible in sizes starting from 32GB to 512GB, whereas an rising quantity can be found in 1TB as effectively. 2TB playing cards from respected producers are getting closer however aren’t broadly accessible simply but.

For many, a 128GB or 256GB mannequin ought to be the candy spot between worth 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 higher card might make extra sense and sometimes supplies a greater cost-per-GB ratio. Lately, yow will discover an honest 128GB card for round $15 or much less, a superb 256GB card for lower than $30 and a strong 512GB card for lower than $40 (although many value nearer to $50 or $60). There’s a starker improve whenever you go as much as 1TB playing cards, which usually value nearer to $100.

Word {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 now, we often discuss with playing cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capacity) standard, which have a capability between 32GB and 2TB. Your gadget must assist this for it to work with a microSDXC card. It will virtually by no means be a difficulty nowadays, however some older gadgets (a Nintendo 3DS, for example) are solely appropriate 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 quicker learn speeds than write speeds.

These metrics can then be damaged down into sequential and random efficiency. Sequential learn and write speeds matter whenever you’re making an attempt to entry or save lengthy, fixed streams of information, corresponding to opening a big video or copying an enormous batch of recordsdata from a PC. If you wish to use a microSD card for media storage, that is notably essential. Random efficiency, in the meantime, is about how rapidly a card can learn and write small recordsdata scattered all through the gadget.

Since random learn/write speeds are a lot decrease than sequential ones, storage gadget makers have a tendency to not promote them as loudly. However they’re essential in case you use a card with a gaming gadget or a single-board pc just like the Raspberry Pi, the place it usually has to quickly save and entry small bits of information in random areas.

Pace rankings

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 speed class and efficiency rankings, that are decided by the SD Association.

A card’s Video Pace Class, or V-rating, particulars its minimal sequential write pace, which is particularly essential when recording video from a digicam. It ranges from V6 to V90. Many of the playing cards we examined had a V30 ranking, in order that they have a sequential write pace of at the very least 30 MB/s. This ought 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 increased 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 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 Software 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, moderately 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 pair of,000 IOPS, respectively. Each rankings additionally assure sequential write speeds of at the very least 10 MB/s.

To maintain it easy, most individuals ought to search for a card with V30, U3 and A2 rankings. It’s completely attainable to get a strong card with out these: A U1 card could be value it in case you simply want an inexpensive, high-capacity possibility, for instance. V60 and V90 playing cards are value a glance in case you’re severe about capturing high-resolution photographs and video as effectively. However total, playing cards with the certifications above ought to present the very best mix of worth and efficiency right now.

It’s essential to emphasise that these rankings are baselines. Most V30 playing cards supply considerably increased write speeds than 30 MB/s, for example, and a few A1 playing cards can outperform some A2 fashions in follow. The speeds marketed by producers aren’t all the time 100% correct, both: Generally the cardboard shall be slower in real-world use, different occasions it might really be a bit quicker.

UHS bus speeds

The opposite spec to notice is the cardboard’s bus interface. Most microSD playing cards accessible right now 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 normal exists as effectively however hasn’t seen extensive 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 rankings. When you shoot a lot of 4K to 8K video or ceaselessly use burst mode to seize extremely high-res photographs, the efficiency beneficial properties of a superb UHS-II card can prevent time.

However these are way more costly than UHS-I playing cards: This 128GB Lexar Professional Gold mannequin, for example, 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 worth of our high choose talked about beneath. You want a tool that’s appropriate 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 notice Samsung’s announcement earlier this 12 months of a brand new 256GB microSD card based mostly on a wholly totally different normal referred to as SD Specific. That is theoretically a lot quicker 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 Specific has technically been around for a number of years however hasn’t seen extensive adoption, so precisely how this card performs in actuality — and the way a lot it’ll value — stays to be seen. We’ll take a look at the gadget as soon as it turns into accessible, which Samsung says shall be someday later in 2024.

A notice 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 proprietary extensions. You want a appropriate card reader and host gadget to make the most of that additional efficiency, although. When you discover a UHS-I card promoting speeds increased than 104 MB/s, that is what’s happening. You’ll be able to see these limits in motion with a Nintendo Swap or Steam Deck: Both of those 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 all the time 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 gadgets, comes with a five-year guarantee.

Avoiding counterfeits

The reminiscence card market has had a selected downside with scammers promoting faux merchandise. To protect in opposition to this, solely purchase from a recognized model and a good retailer corresponding to Finest Purchase, B&H Picture 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 up to now.) Bear in mind: If a worth 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, examine its packaging for any irregularities. You’ll be able to run benchmark exams like CrystalDiskMark or BlackMagic Disk Speed Test to confirm its speeds aren’t drastically decrease than what’s marketed (or attainable, given its specs). It’s also possible to use software program that’s designed to confirm the true capability and efficiency of your card, corresponding to H2testw and FakeFlashTest.

How we examined

We put 13 microSD playing cards by a collection of exams 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” exams. 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 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 recreation 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 in a position to take a look at their 256GB fashions. We additionally reformatted every card earlier than testing with the SD Affiliation’s Memory Card Formatter tool.

Finest microSD playing cards of 2024

Picture 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 by way of sequential write efficiency (round 130 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark) and was a detailed second by way of 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 rankings: 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 is not absolutely the quickest for accessing massive recordsdata saved in your card, however the distinction is small in real-world use. 

The primary motive the Professional Plus tops our checklist is as a result of it delivers these robust speeds at a comparatively reasonably priced 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 just a few {dollars} extra. When you want more room, there’s also a 1TB model that ought to be simply as quick, although that one is at present way more costly at $110. Both manner, the cardboard comes with a 10-year restricted guarantee.

When you choose 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 to be an identical however isn’t as fast. As a substitute, 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 attributable to inventory points with the 128GB mannequin on the time of testing, however this shouldn’t have a serious influence on real-world efficiency, as Samsung charges each playing cards identically. 

Professionals

• Persistently fast sequential and random learn/write efficiency
• Nice worth
• Available at trusted retailers
• Has a 1TB possibility

Cons

• Some friends have barely quicker sequential learn speeds

$21 at Amazon (128GB)

Picture 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 slightly bit quicker than the Professional Plus throughout the board. Its greatest beneficial properties 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 may very well be value it in case you frequently 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 effectively, although the margins there are a lot much less vital in comparison with the Professional Plus and the opposite high UHS-I playing cards we examined.

The primary query is value. When you see the Professional Final accessible for a similar worth because the Professional Plus, you may as effectively seize it as an alternative. It comes with the identical 10-year guarantee and ought 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 reasonably priced, however the Professional Plus will virtually all the time be slightly bit cheaper — and thus a greater worth for many wants, particularly at increased capacities. There isn’t any 1TB possibility right here, both. 

Professionals

• Quickest microSD card we examined (with acceptable USB reader)
• Simply accessible at trusted retailers

Cons

• Professional Plus is healthier worth for many
• No 1TB mannequin

$22 at Samsung Electronics

Picture 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 worth or turns into unavailable, the Kingston Canvas Go Plus is one other robust various. This can be 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 massive file switch speeds take a look at. 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 possibility for apps and video games. The 1TB model can also be $20 cheaper than the equal Professional Plus, so it ought to be an honest worth in case you want a lot of house and need to save money. However the different fashions are onerous to justify in case you see them hovering in the identical worth vary as our picks above.

Professionals

• Sooner sequential write speeds than Professional Plus for a (usually) lower cost than Professional Final
• Lifetime restricted guarantee
• Has a 1TB possibility

Cons

• Professional Plus is often a greater worth for many
• Slower sequential write speeds than picks above

$17 at B&H Photo (128GB)

Picture by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Storage capability: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (“new era” 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 very best for cameras. Nonetheless, it’s completely usable for a lot of use circumstances — 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 Ultra, an oft-recommended cheapo card, regardless of the Evo Choose having increased V30, U3 and A2 rankings. Whereas the Professional Plus has come near these costs, the Evo Choose virtually all the time retails for much less.

Just like the Professional Plus, now you can discover two variations of the Evo Choose: a “normal” 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 advice is to present you a card that performs effectively 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, nevertheless 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 accessible in a 1TB capacity; we’ve not examined that particular mannequin, however at $80-ish it ought to be value a glance if pricing is your solely concern. 

Professionals

• Typically accessible for lower cost than Professional Plus
• Stable efficiency in case you simply need an appropriate card for reasonable
• Has a 1TB possibility

Cons

• Slower than picks above, notably in sequential write and random efficiency benchmarks

$15 at Amazon

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 may ship considerably quicker sequential write speeds than our picks above. It’s one of many few UHS-II playing cards we might really discover in inventory, nevertheless 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 exams and delivered sequential reads about on par with the Canvas Go Plus, however that was partly attributable to us solely having the ability to safe the cardboard’s 256GB mannequin, which is higher-rated than the 128GB model. It’s a wonderful selection 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 respectable possibility 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 accordance with CrystalDiskMark as effectively, and it is usually priced increased than our high choose. SanDisk backs the cardboard with a lifetime guarantee, nonetheless, plus it’s accessible in a 1TB capacity. Word that we examined the Apex Legends model of the 128GB card; SanDisk additionally sells a Super Mario model, however we won’t say if that one performs any in a different way.

Lexar Skilled 1066x

Equally, the Lexar Professional 1066x is an honest various to the Professional Plus if our important 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 quicker 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 take a look at. Nonetheless, it’s not sluggish, so relying on its worth, 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 reasonable and wasn’t too far off the random learn/write efficiency of Samsung’s Professional playing cards in CrystalDiskMark, nevertheless it was effectively behind in our sequential exams.

Latest updates

November 2024: We have checked again with this information to make sure our suggestions are nonetheless correct and made mild edits for readability.

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 certain all pricing particulars are as updated as they are often.