One of the best microSD playing cards in 2025

One of the best microSD playing cards in 2025

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The best microSD 2025 – Most microSD playing cards are quick sufficient for enhancing cupboard space and making easy file transfers, however some present slightly extra worth than others. In case you’ve obtained 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 high contenders via a lot of benchmark checks. You could find our high suggestions beneath, alongside some basic buying recommendation earlier than you seize one.

The very first thing to determine when shopping for a microSD card is how a lot cupboard space you want. Fashionable playing cards are normally obtainable in sizes starting from 32GB to 512GB, with a number of fashions now obtainable in 1TB or 1.5TB capacities as properly. The primary 2TB playing cards from main manufacturers have began to reach in current months as properly, which is thrilling, however these are nonetheless pretty uncommon (and really costly) by comparability.

 

For many, a 128GB or 256GB mannequin needs to be a candy spot between value and cupboard space. However in the event you want extra room — say, for stashing a bunch of video games on a Steam Deck — a 512GB card or higher may make extra sense and sometimes offers a greater cost-per-GB ratio. As of late, yow will discover a good 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 (with quicker fashions priced slightly larger). There’s a starker enhance while you go as much as 1TB playing cards, which frequently price nearer to $100, although we’ve seen some fall into the $70 to $80 vary inside the final 12 months. The primary wave of 2TB playing cards are an excellent larger leap: the 2TB SanDisk Excessive, for instance, is priced at $200.

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.

Once we speak about microSD playing cards immediately, we normally discuss with playing cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capability) commonplace, which have a capability between 32GB and 2TB. Your machine must help this for it to work with a microSDXC card. This may nearly by no means be a problem today, however some older gadgets (a Nintendo 3DS, as an example) are solely suitable with microSDHC (Excessive Capability) playing cards, which vary from 2GB to 32GB.

MicroSD playing cards are primarily judged on their learn and write speeds, that are normally 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 while you’re making an attempt to entry or save lengthy, fixed streams of knowledge, akin 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 significantly necessary. Random efficiency, in the meantime, is about how shortly a card can learn and write small recordsdata 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 necessary in the event you use a card with a gaming machine 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 places.

In case you take a look at a microSD card, you’ll see a buffet of numbers, letters and symbols. Most of those discuss with the cardboard’s velocity class and efficiency scores, that are decided by the SD Affiliation.

A card’s Video Pace Class, or V-rating, particulars its minimal sequential write velocity, which is particularly necessary when recording video from a digital camera. It ranges from V6 to V90. Many of the playing cards we examined had a V30 score, in order that they have a sequential write velocity of no less than 30 MB/s. This needs to be sufficient to help as much as 4K video at decrease bitrates. Greater-rated V60 and V90 playing cards are normally higher for capturing 8K, however they arrive at a a lot larger price.

The UHS Pace Class, or U-rating, additionally refers to a card’s minimal sequential write velocity. 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 programs. It’s signified by a C image and goes from Class 2 to Class 10, with the quantity (once more) indicating minimal sequential write velocity. This score is much less related these days, however you should still see a “C10” emblem on some playing cards.

The Utility 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, moderately than MB/s. There are two classes right here: A1 playing cards provide a minimal random learn velocity of 1,500 IOPS and a minimal random write velocity 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 no less than 10 MB/s.

To maintain it easy, most individuals ought to search for a card with V30, U3 and A2 scores. It’s completely potential to get a strong card with out these: A U1 card is likely to be price it in the event you simply want an inexpensive, high-capacity choice, for instance. V60 and V90 playing cards are price a glance in the event you’re severe about taking pictures high-resolution images and video as properly. However general, playing cards with the certifications above ought to present the very best mix of value and efficiency immediately.

It’s necessary to emphasise that these scores are baselines. Most V30 playing cards provide considerably larger write speeds than 30 MB/s, as an example, and a few A1 playing cards can outperform some A2 fashions in apply. The speeds marketed by producers aren’t at all times 100% correct, both: Typically the cardboard shall be slower in real-world use, different occasions it might really be a bit quicker.

The opposite spec to notice is the cardboard’s bus interface. Most microSD playing cards obtainable immediately are UHS-I, which have a theoretical most velocity 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 commonplace technically exists as properly however hasn’t seen broad adoption.) These are labeled on the cardboard with a Roman numeral I or II.

UHS-II playing cards are normally those with these larger V60 or V90 scores. In case you shoot numerous 4K to 8K video or incessantly use burst mode to seize extremely high-res images, the efficiency good points of a superb UHS-II card can prevent time.

Nevertheless, these are way more costly than UHS-I playing cards: This 128GB Lexar Skilled Gold mannequin, as an 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 value of our high choose 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 definitely worth the value premium for most individuals, so we caught principally to UHS-I playing cards with our suggestions.

Absolutely the quickest microSD playing cards you should purchase proper now, although, are primarily based on a distinct interface known as SD Specific. This has technically been round for a number of years and now consists of its personal subset of velocity lessons, however the gist is that it is a lot quicker than UHS-I or UHS-II: SanDisk’s just lately launched microSD Specific card, which is the primary commercially obtainable mannequin we’ve examined, advertises sequential learn speeds as much as 880MB/s. For context, that’s faster than some older SSDs.

It’s a considerable improve that — spoiler alert — has largely held up in our testing, however nearly zero fashionable gadgets natively help SD Specific proper now, and once more, SanDisk’s card prices way more than the very best UHS-I choices. It’s nonetheless potential to benefit from the boosted efficiency with a devoted SD Specific card reader, however that provides much more to the ultimate price. It’s additionally price noting that SD Specific playing cards should not backwards suitable with UHS-II (or UHS-III), so in the event you attempt to plug one into a tool with a UHS-II slot, it’ll be restricted to UHS-I speeds. Nonetheless, the tech ought to have loads of enchantment if extra devices that help the interface do arrive. Apart from SanDisk, Samsung has stated it plans to launch an SD Specific card as properly.

Whereas the UHS-I interface has a theoretical most of 104 MB/s, some UHS-I playing cards can exceed that velocity via proprietary extensions. Nevertheless, you want a suitable card reader and host machine to benefit from that additional efficiency. In case you discover a UHS-I card promoting speeds larger than 104 MB/s, that is what’s occurring. You may see these limits in motion with a Nintendo Change or Steam Deck: Each of these gaming gadgets help the UHS-I interface however don’t transcend its official velocity, flattening any sequential good points some playing cards might have elsewhere. (Variations in random learn and write speeds can nonetheless matter, although.) The identical factor will occur in the event you plug a extra highly effective UHS-II or SD Specific card into a tool that doesn’t settle for these interfaces.

The takeaway: Your microSD card will solely be as quick because the slowest hyperlink in your chain.

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 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 normally coated for a shorter time frame. For instance, Samsung’s Professional Endurance, a mannequin geared toward safety cameras and different monitoring gadgets, comes with a five-year guarantee.

The reminiscence card market has had a selected drawback with scammers promoting pretend merchandise. To protect in opposition to 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. (That stated, a handful of customers have reported receiving counterfeits even from Amazon instantly up to now.) Keep in mind: If a value appears too good to be true, it in all probability 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 may run benchmark checks like CrystalDiskMark or BlackMagic Disk Pace Take a look at to confirm its speeds aren’t drastically decrease than what’s marketed (or potential, given its specs). You can too use software program that’s designed to confirm the true capability and efficiency of your card, akin to H2testw and FakeFlashTest.

We have put shut to twenty microSD playing cards via a collection of checks to confirm their sequential and random efficiency. These included benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, BlackMagic Disk Pace Take a look at, ATTO Disk Benchmark and AJA System Take a look at, in addition to a number of “real-world” checks. We copied and pasted a small folder of images 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, Metallic Gear Rising: Revengeance and Apex Legends — then timing how lengthy it took to launch every recreation and cargo save recordsdata.

The place relevant, we used a Kingston USB 3.2 UHS-II reader to check every card on each Home windows 11 and macOS Sonoma. Nevertheless, if a card could possibly be bundled with (or is particularly marketed to make use of) a proprietary reader, we primarily examined with that, since we determine that’s the one most patrons will find yourself utilizing. For Home windows testing, 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 macOS, we used a 2021 16-inch MacBook Professional with an Apple M1 Professional chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. If a reader couldn’t join over USB-C, we used CalDigit’s TS4 dock to check the corresponding card on the MacBook.

We examined the 128GB model of every card wherever potential, 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 higher-capacity fashions. We additionally reformatted every card earlier than testing with the SD Affiliation’s Reminiscence Card Formatter software.

The Samsung Professional Final.
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

The Samsung Professional Final was the closest competitor to the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus throughout our benchmark checks, but it surely’s tangible worse by way of sequential write speeds, usually prices extra and doesn’t provide a 1TB choice. The Samsung Professional Plus is a bit slower for sequential reads, but it surely’s shut sufficient in any other case and normally simpler to seek out at a lower cost.

The Kingston Canvas Go Plus is a positive card and value shopping for over the Samsung Evo Choose if the 2 are ever obtainable for a similar value, however its sequential write speeds lagged properly behind the Lexar Silver Plus and, to a barely lesser extent, Samsung Professional Plus.

The SanDisk Excessive and PNY Elite-X.
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

We have not used it ourselves, however in the event you’re prepared to pay for a extra highly effective UHS-II card constructed for heavy-duty video recording, the Delkin Units Energy has examined properly elsewhere and may ship considerably quicker sequential write speeds than our picks above. It’s one of many few UHS-II playing cards we may really discover in inventory, but it surely prices a ton, with a 128GB mannequin usually priced round $80.

The SanDisk Excessive successfully matched the Professional Plus in a number of of our sequential checks, however that was partly resulting from us solely with the ability to safe the 256GB mannequin, which is higher-rated than the 128GB model. It’s a positive selection in the event you see it on sale at a good vendor, but it surely’s broadly slower than our high choose and sometimes prices extra.

The SanDisk GamePlay and SanDisk Pokémon.
Jeff Dunn for Engadget

The SanDisk GamePlay performs equally to the SanDisk Excessive however prices a superb bit additional as of our newest replace. We couldn’t get it to achieve its marketed speeds with the corporate’s personal “Professional” card reader or different third-party choices, so it fell wanting our high picks.

The SanDisk Pokémon does outperform its marketed learn and write speeds, however not by sufficient to outpace the Lexar Silver Plus or Samsung Professional Plus. It primarily expenses additional for having an image of Pikachu (or Gengar, or Snorlax) on a product you’ll by no means take a look at.

The Lexar Skilled 1066x.
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

The Lexar Skilled 1066x is one other OK different to the Samsung Professional Plus if our major picks are unavailable, however its sequential reads and random speeds aren’t on par with both Samsung’s card or Lexar’s personal Silver Plus. That stated, it’s price getting over the Samsung Evo Choose in the event you see it for a lower cost, as its sequential write speeds are a lot quicker. It additionally comes with a lifetime restricted guarantee.

The SanDisk Excessive Professional is an in depth analog to the Samsung Professional Final however, as of this writing, is both unavailable at most trusted retailers or priced too excessive by comparability. The Lexar Skilled Silver Plus has quicker sequential write speeds as properly.

The PNY Elite-X usually goes for affordable and wasn’t too far off the random learn/write efficiency of Samsung’s Professional Plus in CrystalDiskMark, however its sequential speeds had been properly behind our high picks.

February 2025: We’ve up to date this information with a brand new high choose: the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus. The Samsung Professional Plus, our earlier advice, stays as a runner-up. We’ve additionally added SanDisk’s just lately launched microSD Specific card as a choose for individuals who need absolutely the quickest card potential, albeit with heavy caveats. This is without doubt one of the first microSD playing cards to make use of the SD Specific bus interface, so we’ve included extra particulars on what that entails in our “what to search for in a microSD card” part. Lastly, we’ve eliminated our write-up for SanDisk’s Apex Legends card, because it seems to have been discontinued, and included testing notes for a few the corporate’s newer releases.

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

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