It’s been my mission to find the best microSD cards that will increase the storage space on my phone, action camera, drone, dashcam, and other gadgets. Because it can be hard to decide which one is best, I thought I’d simplify my experience and suggest some great microSD cards that have worked great for me.
Those of us who live in a tech-savvy world know that our phones, cameras, laptops, and game consoles often run out of space very quickly. A lot of the time, we need more space for photos, videos, and other files. High-capacity external hard drives and ultraportable USB flash drives are both great ways to add more storage, but microSD cards are what I use most to add more space to my phones and cameras.
MicroSD cards let you quickly add more space to many devices. But it’s not as simple as just putting a bunch of gigabytes on a small memory card. High speeds are also important for the best microSD cards. When moving large files to and from the card, these are a must. This is especially true when recording video in Ultra HD (4K) resolution. Your device will write a lot of information, so you’ll need a lot of space.
Best MicroSD Cards
Kingston Endurance microSD
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Capacity | Available in various capacities |
Speed Class | Class 10 UHS-I |
Video Speed Class | V30 |
Read Speed | Up to 100MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 30MB/s |
Application Class | A1 |
Operating Temperature | -25°C to 85°C |
Shockproof/Waterproof | Yes |
Warranty | Lifetime warranty |
The Kingston Endurance microSD 128GB is designed to withstand the demands of demanding shoots with up to 20,000 hours of video recording, shock and ISO7816-1 x-ray protection, and IPX7 water protection. It is not only A1 approved but also constructed to withstand the constant overwriting cycles of security cameras and dashcams. A1 is only one of the numerous irritatingly cryptic abbreviations used in the memory and storage industry, and all it truly indicates is that the card has a specified speed rating.
The Kingston memory card, thousands of hours of dependable recording record important videos in high HD 1080P at home or on the go for up to 20,000 hours. Exceptional, smooth recording With read/write speeds up to 95/45MB/s, HD video files may be recorded and transferred quickly. Built and tested to be shockproof, waterproof, temperature proof, and x-ray protected, this product is tough in challenging environments. Recording to local storage is a cost-effective way to avoid paying monthly cloud storage fees.
Samsung Evo Plus microSD card
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Capacity | Available in various capacities |
Speed Class | Class 10 UHS-I |
Video Speed Class | U3 |
Read Speed | Up to 100MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 90MB/s |
Application Class | A1 |
Operating Temperature | -25°C to 85°C |
Shockproof/Waterproof | Yes |
Warranty | 10-year limited warranty |
The only similarity between the three cards’ sequential read rates is that. The Samsung EVO Plus MicroSD is unquestionably faster in all other testing. Sequential write speed is crucial for video recording workloads. The supported bitrate for the 81.83 MB/s result is around 650 mbps.
Last year, Samsung unveiled its lightning-quick EVO Plus UHS-I MicroSD cards, which come in 64GB memory card to 256GB memory card capacities and have write rates of up to 90 megabytes per second. The 128GB sample we tested was impressive, but Samsung has already added a 512GB model to the portfolio and sent one our way so we can take a closer look.
Transcend High Endurance 350V UHS-I
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Capacity | Available in various capacities |
Speed Class | Class 10 UHS-I |
Video Speed Class | V30 |
Read Speed | Up to 95MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 45MB/s |
Application Class | A1 |
Operating Temperature | -25°C to 85°C |
Shockproof/Waterproof | Yes |
Warranty | Two-year limited warranty |
Transcends High Endurance 350V card is a smart, affordable option if you require a microSD card to be left in a device for a long time, like a dash cam or a security camera. It is priced less than comparable cards from companies like SanDisk and Samsung and is rated to record Full HD video for 30,000 hours. It has been specifically optimized for solid write performance, so you should be able to prevent dropped frames and other issues with its write speed, which is up to 95 MB/s.
Transend’s Micro SD Memory cards are put to the test to resist harsh conditions in order to provide the greatest performance and stability. They can withstand extreme temperatures and are x-ray, shock, and static resistance. Exclusive recover software from Transcend is a free data recovery tool that enables you to look for remnants of deleted files, including digital images, documents, music, and movies, deep within a storage device.
Lexar Play microSD card
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Capacity | Available in various capacities |
Speed Class | Class 10 UHS-I |
Video Speed Class | V10 |
Read Speed | Up to 150MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 45MB/s |
Application Class | A1 |
Operating Temperature | -25°C to 85°C |
Shockproof/Waterproof | Yes |
Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty |
The Lexar Play impressed us during testing, producing a healthy 75MB/s write speed and 83.1MB/s read speed despite being one of the less expensive microSD cards in this guide. The latter performed better than the promised 30MB/s write rates but fell short of the advertised 150MB/s read speeds, outperforming some of the more expensive cards in our roundup.
The Lexar Play is an excellent option if you’re looking for a microSD card for your drone or other media device and need to store large amounts of data (capacity goes up to 1TB), or possibly require many good cards.
SanDisk Extreme A2
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Capacity | Available in various capacities |
Speed Class | Class 10 UHS-I |
Video Speed Class | V30, U3 |
Read Speed | Up to 160MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 90MB/s |
Application Class | A2 |
Operating Temperature | -25°C to 85°C |
Shockproof/Waterproof | Yes |
Warranty | Lifetime limited warranty |
SanDisk improved the read speed and A2 performance of their Extreme SD cards. When used in SanDisk’s own reader, the new Extreme 160MB/s UHS-I microSD card delivers read speeds of up to 160MB/s. Its performance suffers when used in earlier SanDisk readers or other UHS-I card readers.
It is perfect for usage in smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices for increased storage because of the A2 performance, which guarantees the card will maintain at least 4,000 random read and 2,000 random write operations per second. Additionally, the card is V30 performance rated to offer a continuous write speed of at least 30MB/s for 4K video recording.
SanDisk Ultra MicroSDHC
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Capacity | Available in various capacities |
Speed Class | Class 10 UHS-I |
Video Speed Class | U1 |
Read Speed | Up to 98MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 98MB/s |
Application Class | A1 |
Operating Temperature | -25°C to 85°C |
Shockproof/Waterproof | Yes |
Warranty | 10-year limited warranty |
This card is part of SanDisk’s mid-Ultra line; these cards are a great option for anyone purchasing a GoPro Hero. The card has read rates of up to 95MB/s and is designed for usage when filming in Full HD. Write speeds are not specified on the package or website. The card comes in two storage sizes: the 256GB version, which is the one I’m testing, and a 200GB version.
The card features a MicroSDXC form factor and a video speed of C10, which translates to a minimum write speed of 10MB/s. You also receive an SD card converter so you may use the MicroSD card in any computer with an SD card reader in addition to the MicroSD card itself.
SanDisk microSD Nintendo Switch
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Capacity | Available in various capacities |
Speed Class | Class 10 UHS-I |
Video Speed Class | U1 |
Read Speed | Up to 100MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 60MB/s |
Application Class | A1 |
Operating Temperature | -25°C to 85°C |
Shockproof/Waterproof | Yes |
Warranty | Lifetime limited warranty |
Due to its standardised format, a microSDXC card can only really be made in one style. Its size is comparable to that of a microSD card. Our review card has white letters printed in red at the top. SanDisk, Nintendo Switch, microSDXC, 128 for size, and a white Mario Super Mushroom were all featured in the typography.
Using the SanDisk microSDXC card for the Nintendo Switch is a no-brainer, just as with any other microSD card you’ll be using with the console. Place the microSDXC card in the card slot after raising the kickstand.
Kingston Canvas React Plus V90 Card
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Capacity | Available in various capacities |
Speed Class | Class 10 UHS-II |
Video Speed Class | V90 |
Read Speed | Up to 300MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 260MB/s |
Application Class | Not specified |
Operating Temperature | -25°C to 85°C |
Shockproof/Waterproof | Yes |
Warranty | Lifetime limited warranty |
Modern UHS-II standards, as well as the best U3 and V90 speed classes, are features of the Canvas React Plus SD Card. The new Kingston Canvas React Plus is built with better read and write speeds to satisfy the demands of the modern camera professionals. The advertised read and write speeds of the Kingston Canvas React Plus SD Card are 300MB/s and 260MB/s, respectively.
The Kingston Canvas React Plus SD Card is made to satisfy the needs of enthusiasts and content producers. The card works well with FHD 120FPS recording and even supports 4K recording without any issues. The data transfer speed is also good, saving a lot of time while transferring files with a read speed of 260MB/s.
PNY Pro Elite
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Capacity | Available in various capacities |
Speed Class | Class 10 UHS-I |
Video Speed Class | V30 |
Read Speed | Up to 100MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 90MB/s |
Application Class | A1 |
Operating Temperature | Not specified |
Shockproof/Waterproof | Yes |
Warranty | Lifetime limited warranty |
Maximum performance is provided by PNY PRO Elite Class 10 U3 V30 microSD Cards for a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, drones, action cameras, security cameras, gaming consoles, and more. Users can quickly capture and transfer high resolution content with a read speed of up to 100MB/s and a write speed of up to 90MB/s.
Various cards are the ideal way to record spectacular 4K Ultra HD video, HD images, music, applications, and more because U3 technology is ideal for these types of media. Additionally, the PRO Elite microSD Flash Memory Cards have a V30 Video Speed Class that is perfect for 4K Ultra HD video at a resolution of 4096 x 3072, enabling users to record high-definition content on current 4K Ultra-HD devices.
SAMSUNG Pro Plus Micro SD
Specifications | Details |
---|---|
Capacity | Available in various capacities |
Speed Class | Class 10 UHS-I |
Video Speed Class | V30 |
Read Speed | Up to 100MB/s |
Write Speed | Up to 90MB/s |
Application Class | A1 |
Operating Temperature | -25°C to 85°C |
Shockproof/Waterproof | Yes |
Warranty | 10-year limited warranty |
Today, Samsung introduced the Samsung PRO Plus microSD card in addition to the more widely used EVO Plus microSD card, expanding their popular range of microSD cards. Both have many storage options with a maximum capacity of 512GB memory card. Performance is without a doubt this update’s best feature. As a result of the new cards’ compatibility for UHS-I (DDR200).
The microSD PRO Plus and microSD EVO Plus can each read data at a maximum rate of 130MB/s and 160MB/s, respectively. Undoubtedly, a decent reader is really helpful, and Samsung offers one with these cards. Let’s take a closer look at what’s new with the Pro Plus, a brand that has previously been utilised by Samsung. The last time Samsung updated its high-performance microSD card lineup was a while back.