Reminiscence playing cards, significantly tiny microSD playing cards, are one of many few remaining “magic tips” in client expertise. A hyper-visual marker of how far we have come technologically. In some way, a tiny factor the scale of the tip of your finger is ready to maintain 1TB of knowledge, a virtually inconceivable quantity of storage 15 or extra years in the past. MicroSD playing cards are the smaller, extra versatile cousin of the SD card, used for increasing the storage of private electronics, from DSLRs to handheld gaming computer systems like Valve’s Steam Deck.
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Whereas they is perhaps small, microSD playing cards are sadly advanced, a set of a number of completely different requirements governing learn and write speeds, specialization in video work, and extra. And that is earlier than you concentrate on how a lot storage you want and what it prices. In our opinion, the SanDisk 256GB Excessive microSDXC Card strikes the correct steadiness between storage, value, and quick speeds that ought to make a distinction in your day-to-day life, however when you’re interested in different choices, you’ll be able to learn by way of our assortment under.
Best microSD cards: Our top picks
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SanDisk / Pocket-lint
SanDisk Extreme 256GB microSDXC Card
Best microSD card overall
The SanDisk Extreme 256GB microSDXC Card hits a sweet spot in terms of storage and price, and it has very fast read speeds to boot, making it the perfect place to store data for a video game that you need to load quickly, and our overall pick. The microSD card is also fast enough to record 4K and 5K footage, and it’s specifically rated to work great with smartphone applications.
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Samsung / Pocket-lint
Samsung Pro Ultimate 512GB microSDXC Card
Best premium microSD card
$49 $65 Save $16
Samsung’s Pro Ultimate 512GB microSDXC Card gets you twice the storage of our top pick for a noticeable price bump. It’s not for nothing, though. Samsung’s card is speedy, and like the company’s other memory cards, waterproof and temperature-proof.
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Samsung / Pocket-lint
Samsung Pro Endurance 128GB microSDXC Card
Best budget-friendly microSD card
$14 $16 Save $2
The Samsung Pro Endurance 128Gb microSDXC Card is designed for outdoor cameras like a dash cam or security camera. It offers less storage (with a cheaper price) and rugged durability, including the ability to withstand magnets, x-rays, 72 hours in seawater, and high drops, without losing any footage.
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SanDisk / Pocket-lint
SanDisk Extreme 1TB microSDXC Card
Large size microSD card that’s perfect for video
$105 $250 Save $145
If you need the extra storage, the SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSDXC Card can hold 1TB of data, with up to 190 MB/s read speeds, and up to 130 MB/s write speeds. It’s a memory card that could work well for video footage, particularly larger 4K and 5K files.
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Lexar / Pocket-lint
Lexar 32GB microSDHC Card Three Pack
Best microSD bundle
$14 $25 Save $11
If you’re building out your smart home security system and need several memory cards on the cheap, the Lexar 32Gb microSDHC Card Three Pack could be an excellent option. Each card gets you 32GB to play with and up to 100MB/s read speeds, but these cards are best used for 720p or 1080p footage.
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Lexar / Pocket-lint
Lexar Professional 1066x 256GB microSDXC Card
Best microSD card for professional video
$20 $30 Save $10
For something more video-focused from Lexar, the Lexar Professional 1066x 256GB microSDXC Card is a great pick. It stores 256GB of data and can write and read from memory at reasonable speeds that should keep you in the action shooting. Lexar also guarantees the memory card is water, shock, vibration, and x-ray proof.
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SanDisk / Pocket-lint
SanDisk 128GB microSDXC Card (Nintendo)
Best Nintendo-themed card
$14 $35 Save $21
Nothing about the SanDisk 128GB microSDXC Card, Licensed for Nintendo Switch is better than the other SanDisk options we’ve looked at. In fact with read speeds up to 100MB/s and write speeds up to 90MB/s, it’s slower than almost all these other options. But it has a Mario Mushroom on it, and that could make all the difference for the right kid.
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Amazon / Pocket-lint
Amazon Basics 1TB microSDXC Card
Best for 1TB on the cheap
The Amazon Basics 1TB microSDXC Card is not the fastest option around, but Amazon tends to offer memory cards at the lower end of the price spectrum when compared to the competition, and this is one of the cheaper ways to get a 1TB card that’s still highly durable.
What is a microSD card’s “Speed Class,” and why should I care?
Other than the amount of storage a microSD card holds and how much it costs (to numbers that tend to trend downwards over time), the main thing to look for are the Speed Classes of the card. There are a number of which are tracked by the SD Association. Velocity Class, which is marked by a “C” on a microSD card and ranges from C2 to C10. UHS Velocity Class, which is marked with a “U” and contains U1 and U3. And Video Velocity Class, which is marked with a “V” and contains V6 on the low finish, and V90 on the high-end.
For many fashionable playing cards, noting the normal Velocity Class is not actually mandatory as a result of most playing cards can transfer knowledge round sooner than 10MB/s. Which leaves UHS Velocity Class and Video Velocity Class as those that basically matter. The UHS Velocity Class covers minimums, so whereas selecting a card with a U3 on it’s typically higher (transfers at 30MB/s and up), both U1 or U3 playing cards may finally function rather a lot sooner than their label may counsel. Should you’re working with video, Video Velocity Class is vital to concentrate to if your digicam wants a selected minimal velocity, however typically the upper the V-rating, the sooner you’ll be able to seize footage and the higher-resolution footage you’ll be able to seize.
Usually, reminiscence card producers promote the highest learn and write speeds for his or her playing cards, so when you want a normal sense of how speedy your future reminiscence card is, you’ll find it. However preserving these particular classifications in thoughts will help slender issues down too.
What’s one of the best microSD card?
Pocket-lint’s total favourite is the SanDisk 256GB Excessive microSDXC Card which affords an affordable 256GB of storage, for an affordable value (below $40), with loads of velocity to again it up. Should you’re prepared to pay a bit extra, we expect the Samsung Professional Final 512GB microSDXC Card is a wonderful step-up. It will get you twice the storage, blazing quick speeds, and the peace of thoughts that comes with a water-resistant reminiscence card.
Then once more, when you’re on a funds, one in all our inexpensive favorites from Samsung can be additional powerful. The Samsung Professional Endurance 128GB microSDXC Card makes up for a small quantity of storage with the power to outlive magnets, x-rays, water, and excessive drops.