In our tech-fueled period dominated by moveable gadgets, microSD playing cards are the unsung champions of knowledge storage. These tiny shards of plastic are, in actuality, veritable titans of storage able to including gigabytes to a wide selection of gadgets — from smartphones and tablets to motion cameras, dashcams, and drones. Whether or not you are snapping selfies or capturing the wildest of adventures, these storage playing cards are possible an integral a part of your digital existence, maybe with out you even realizing it.

However beware! The market is a minefield of low-quality and counterfeit pretenders that threaten to sabotage your knowledge and throttle your system’s efficiency. The specter of dropping priceless information or enduring sluggish operations is an ever-present fear. However worry not, as top-tier microSD playing cards are astonishingly inexpensive. Investing in real, high-quality playing cards is not merely a clever alternative; it is an absolute should, as premium playing cards ship unmatched efficiency, steadfast reliability, and rock-solid knowledge integrity, guaranteeing your digital escapades stay seamless and your tech life hums together with effectivity.

So, select correctly as a result of in terms of microSD playing cards, high quality reigns supreme.

Additionally: What do all those microSD and SD card numbers and letters mean?

What’s the finest microSD card proper now?

Over time, I’ve performed hands-on testing on quite a few microSD playing cards, evaluating options like capability, worth, and efficiency. My intensive use of dozens of microSD playing cards throughout quite a lot of gadgets, together with smartphones, tablets, drones, and motion cameras, has given me a complete understanding of their efficiency in real-world situations.

Based mostly on my testing, listed below are my high picks for the most effective microSD playing cards, with the SanDisk Extreme microSDXC standing out as the most effective general alternative for its constant high quality, efficiency, and cheap worth.

The very best microSD playing cards of 2024

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SanDisk Excessive microSDXC UHS-I

Finest microSD card general

Inform me you want a microSD card, and chances are high, that is the one I will suggest. I have been utilizing SanDisk microSD playing cards in smartphones, tablets, motion cams, dashcams and drones for years now, and I’ve not had one let me down.

High quality does not have to return at a worth, both—you’ll be able to decide up a 1TB card for below $100.

That is constantly one of many highest-rated microSD playing cards in on-line opinions.

SanDisk Excessive microSDXC UHS-I tech specs: Capability: From 32GB to 1TB | Offload velocity: As much as 190MB/s | Write velocity: As much as 130MB/s | Efficiency ranking: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Pace Class 3 (U3) and Video Pace Class 30 (V30) | In-app efficiency ranking: A2 (as much as 4000 learn IOPS, 2000 write IOPS)

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Lexar Skilled Silver Plus microSDXC

Finest inexpensive microSD card

Lexar, a model I’ve trusted for nicely over a decade, has launched a brand new microSD card — the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus microSDXC. The storage card combines professional-grade efficiency and reliability at a budget-friendly worth, and I not too long ago put it to the check.

The cardboard is rated with a video class velocity of V30 and a UHS velocity ranking of U3, that means it could obtain a minimal of 30 MB/s. It additionally boasts an Utility Efficiency Ranking of A2, indicating it could deal with 4000 IOPS minimal random reads, 2000 IOPS minimal random writes, and 10 MB/s minimal sustained sequential writes.

When it comes to efficiency, this card is ideal for 4K video seize in H.265 format, which is greater than sufficient for most individuals’s wants. It is stable and dependable, and it comes with an incredible guarantee and free restoration software program in case you by chance delete vital footage.

Assessment: Lexar Professional Silver Plus microSDXC

For a brand new card, the consumer opinions on on-line shops are very constructive, certainly, which implies this card is a winner.

Lexar Skilled Silver Plus microSDXC Reminiscence Card tech specs: Capability: From 128GB to 512GB | Offload velocity: As much as 205MB/s | Write velocity: As much as 150MB/s | Efficiency ranking: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Pace Class 3 (U3) and Video Pace Class 30 (V30)

Lexar Professional SILVER PLUS microSDXC

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Amazon Fundamentals Micro SDXC Reminiscence Card

Finest fundamental microSD card

That is the cardboard I like to recommend to those that both are in love with the Amazon Fundamentals model, or who’re scared to purchase one other model for worry of getting a counterfeit card.

I’ve used these playing cards so much in functions the place velocity just isn’t a priority — comparable to dashcams — and so they’ve all carried out as marketed.

Critiques on retailers comparable to Amazon are extremely constructive, with patrons being shocked that one thing on the Amazon Fundamentals model may be so good.

Amazon Fundamentals Micro SDXC Reminiscence Card tech specs: Capability: From 32GB to 1TB | Offload velocity: As much as 100MB/s | Write velocity: As much as 60MB/s | Efficiency ranking: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Pace Class 3 (U3) and Video Pace Class 30 (V30)

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ProGrade Digital UHS-II microSD Card

Finest microSD card for high efficiency

After I need velocity, these are the playing cards that I flip to after I have to file a whole lot of knowledge. With write speeds topping at 130MB/s, these are the playing cards I select after I’m working with 5K video, both on the bottom in motion cameras or within the air with a drone.

With 89 % of Amazon reviewers giving this card 4 or 5 stars, this can be a card you’ll be able to belief.

ProGrade Digital UHS-II microSD Card tech specs: Capability: From 64GB to 256GB | Offload velocity: As much as 250MB/s | Write velocity: As much as 130MB/s | Efficiency ranking: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Pace Class 3 (U3) and Video Pace Class 60 (V60)

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Samsung PRO Endurance MicroSDXC Card

Finest microSD card for CCTV and bodycam programs

If you are going to be doing a whole lot of writing to a microSD card, these are the playing cards for you as they’re designed to supply as much as 16 years — an unimaginable 140,160 hours — of steady recording time for the 256GB model, whereas providing learn and write speeds of as much as 100 megabytes per second (MB/s) and 40 MB/s, respectively.

Assessment: Samsung PRO Endurance MicroSDXC Card

I’ve learn numerous opinions on Reddit and Amazon for these playing cards, and the claims of excessive endurance appear to translate into real-world utilization.

Samsung PRO Endurance MicroSDXC Card tech specs: Capability: From 32GB to 256GB | Offload velocity: As much as 100MB/s | Write velocity: As much as 40MB/s | Efficiency ranking: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Pace Class 3 (U3) and Video Pace Class 30 (V30)

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Lexar Skilled microSDXC UHS-I microSD Card

Finest microSD card for skilled photographers

It is not possible to cowl storage media for cameras with out together with Lexar, because it’s a kind of manufacturers that is been round for the reason that daybreak of storage. Nice efficiency, a superb restricted lifetime guarantee, and one other model that is not let me down.

One other model of microSD playing cards that has tens of tons of of constructive opinions on retailers and Reddit.

Lexar Skilled microSDXC UHS-I microSD Card tech specs: Capability: From 64GB to 1TB | Offload velocity: As much as 160MB/s | Write velocity: As much as 130MB/s | Efficiency ranking: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Pace Class 3 (U3) and Video Pace Class 30 (V30) | In-app efficiency ranking: A2 (as much as 4000 learn IOPS, 2000 write IOPS)

Lexar Professional microSDXC UHS-I microSD Card

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ZDNET’s decide for the most effective general microSD card is the SanDisk Extreme, however narrowing down the most effective microSD card is not a straightforward job. That is as a result of you’ll be able to have completely different playing cards for various functions. For instance, one particular person would possibly favor efficiency, whereas one other would possibly need excessive endurance, and one other be price range acutely aware.

Fortunately, there are quite a few choices for further storage that may vary from just some {dollars} to over 100, with completely different storage choices and skim and write speeds.

Model	Value	Learn velocity (MB/s)	Write velocity (MB/s)
SanDisk Excessive	From $10	190	130
Lexar Skilled Silver Plus	From $18	205	150
Amazon Fundamentals	From $13	100	60
ProGrade Digital	From $50	250	130
Samsung PRO Endurance	From $12	100	40
Lexar Skilled	From $12	160	130

*MSRP on the time of writing. Please notice that precise costs might differ relying on obtainable gross sales, offers, reductions, and coupons.

ZDNET’s decide for the most effective general microSD card is the SanDisk Extreme, however narrowing down the most effective microSD card is not a straightforward job. Take a look at our different high picks and see how they evaluate to one another, and to your wants.

Select this microSD card model…	Should you…
SanDisk Excessive	Desire a implausible all-rounder appropriate for many functions.
Lexar Skilled Silver Plus	Desire a skilled, pro-grade card with out the eye-watering price.
Amazon Fundamentals	Are apprehensive about counterfeit playing cards with extra outstanding manufacturers.
ProGrade Digital	Document plenty of video and need blistering quick write speeds.
Samsung PRO Endurance	Are recording 24/7/365 to the cardboard with CCTV or use it in a physique cam or sprint cam.
Lexar Skilled	Are knowledgeable and also you need a model that is been round for ages and a restricted lifetime guarantee.

ZDNET solely recommends merchandise we ourselves have examined or researched, and whereas there are numerous microSD choices in the marketplace, not each card is constructed the identical. Listed here are another components I thought of when testing and curating my high picks.

Actual-world use: After I check microSD playing cards, I take advantage of them in quite a lot of programs from cameras and drones to CCTV programs below each simple and harsh situations, to get a really feel for the way they really work in the true world.
Model belief: I have been a photographer and videographer for a few a long time, and a drone operator for shut to 10 years, and through that point I’ve had the prospect to make use of all these microSD playing cards in real-world conditions. These are the manufacturers of playing cards that I take advantage of and belief.
Benchmarks: I am additionally fairly a nerd, and have carried out each actual world and artificial benchmarks on these storage playing cards. For benchmarking I take advantage of AmorphousDiskMark and BlackMagic Disk Speed Test.

FAQs on microSD playing cards

The primary distinction between an SD card and a microSD card is dimension. SD playing cards are bigger, measuring 32mm x 24mm x 2.1mm, whereas microSD playing cards measure 15mm x 11mm x 1mm.

Each varieties of playing cards are available in comparable capability ranges and efficiency courses.

SD playing cards are present in gadgets with bigger kind components comparable to digital cameras, camcorders, and older laptops, whereas the smaller microSD playing cards discover a place in smaller gadgets comparable to smartphones, tablets, drones, and motion cameras.

No. The truth is, I’ve seen folks run into troubles and lose a whole lot of knowledge doing this, not a lot due to the microSD card, however due to their very own unhealthy practices. A terabyte microSD card can maintain a whole lot of knowledge, however that may result in downside in case you do not usually empty it and at some point your digital camera falls into the ocean or your drone flies away by no means to be seen once more.

That is why I desire having a handful of smaller playing cards. This manner I alter them usually, and if the worst occurs and I do lose knowledge, the loss is restricted.

Very strong!

I have been utilizing microSD playing cards for nearer to 20 years now, and so they’re extremely sturdy. MicroSD playing cards are constructed to face up to excessive climate situations, and are temperature-proof, waterproof, drop-proof, shockproof, and even X-ray proof.

It may be exhausting to do that. The way in which many discover out is that their card both dies or does not have wherever close to the said capability.

Different, extra delicate giveaways embrace the printing on the cardboard being poor high quality or incorrect, and low cost packaging.

Home windows customers also can use software program instruments to examine the validity of their microSD playing cards, instruments comparable to h2testw, USB Flash Drive Tester, and ChipGenius.

One other approach it to hold out a velocity examine check utilizing a software comparable to BlackMagic Disk Speed Test or CrystalDiskMark and checking your outcomes in opposition to the specs on the cardboard’s packaging or the web. If they’re dramatically completely different — say by 20% or extra — then you would have a pretend card (or one thing is incorrect along with your check system or card reader).

One of the best ways to keep away from counterfeits is to purchase from a good outlet.

Are there different microSD playing cards value contemplating?

Sure, however I’ll steer away from low cost or price range microSD playing cards just because my itemizing above has some nice playing cards at an incredible worth, and going cheaper is a false financial system.

However listed below are a few playing cards that may curiosity you — a 1.5TB card and an incredible worth 3-pack of 128GB playing cards.

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