We make investments quite a lot of our hard-earned {dollars} in the most effective smartphones, drones, and motion cameras that we will afford, however with regards to the storage playing cards these units depend on, many people accept a low-cost possibility from a no-name model.
I hate being the bearer of dangerous information, however the microSD card you select in your system could make or break your expertise. That is why I’ve spent numerous hours sifting via a myriad of merchandise to determine the most effective playing cards available on the market. I personally use these storage playing cards in all my units, and so they’ve by no means let me down.
Additionally: What do all those microSD and SD card numbers and letters mean?
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What’s the finest microSD card proper now?
Over time, I’ve performed hands-on testing on quite a few microSD playing cards throughout quite a few units, evaluating options like capability, value, efficiency, and sturdiness. This expertise has given me a complete understanding of their efficiency in real-world situations, and the downfall of trusting poor high quality or counterfeit playing cards.
Based mostly on this in depth testing, listed below are my prime picks for the most effective microSD playing cards, with the SanDisk Extreme microSDXC standing out as the most effective total alternative for its constant high quality, efficiency, and affordable value.
The most effective microSD playing cards of 2025
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Why we prefer it: Inform me you want a microSD card, and likelihood is, that is the one I am going to advocate. 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 value, both. You’ll be able to choose up a 2TB card for simply $180, with a 1TB card costing solely $90.
That is persistently one of many highest-rated microSD playing cards in on-line evaluations however watch out as there are quite a lot of poor-quality knockoffs on the market.
Who it is for: Professionals on the lookout for a workhorse card that is quick sufficient and dependable sufficient to deal with arduous use.
Who ought to look elsewhere: When you want one thing specialised, like a high-endurance card or one which helps the microSD Specific commonplace, look elsewhere.
SanDisk Excessive microSDXC UHS-I tech specs: Capability: From 32GB to 2TB | Offload velocity: As much as 240MB/s | Write velocity: As much as 140MB/s | Efficiency score: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Velocity Class 3 (U3) and Video Velocity Class 30 (V30) | In-app efficiency score: A2 (as much as 4000 learn IOPS, 2000 write IOPS)
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Why we prefer it: Lexar, a model I’ve trusted for effectively over a decade, 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 value, and I lately put it to the take a look at.
The cardboard is rated with a video class velocity of V30 and a UHS velocity score of U3, that means it might obtain a minimal of 30 MB/s. It additionally boasts an Software Efficiency Ranking of A2, indicating it might deal with 4,000 IOPS minimal random reads, 2,000 IOPS minimal random writes, and 10 MB/s minimal sustained sequential writes.
Evaluate: Lexar Professional Silver Plus microSDXC
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 unintentionally delete necessary footage.
Who it is for: That is the cardboard for these wanting a bit extra velocity than the SanDisk playing cards supply.
Who ought to look elsewhere: When you’re paying for a bit further efficiency, just remember to {hardware} offers you that!
Lexar Skilled Silver Plus microSDXC Reminiscence Card tech specs: Capability: From 128GB to 1TB | Offload velocity: As much as 205MB/s | Write velocity: As much as 150MB/s | Efficiency score: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Velocity Class 3 (U3) and Video Velocity Class 30 (V30)
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Why we prefer it: 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 loads in functions the place velocity is just not a priority — corresponding to dashcams — and so they’ve all carried out as marketed.
Critiques on retailers corresponding to Amazon are extremely optimistic, with patrons being shocked that one thing on the Amazon Fundamentals model will be so good.
Who it is for: Anybody who’s apprehensive about counterfeit playing cards or desires an affordable card to pop right into a smartphone.
Who ought to look elsewhere: Excessive-end execs on the lookout for the most effective efficiency want one thing sooner than this.
Amazon Fundamentals Micro SDXC Reminiscence Card tech specs: Capability: From 32GB to 512GB | Offload velocity: As much as 100MB/s | Write velocity: As much as 60MB/s | Efficiency score: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Velocity Class 3 (U3) and Video Velocity Class 30 (V30)
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Why we prefer it: If you are going to be doing quite a lot of writing to a microSD card, these are the playing cards for you. They’re designed to supply as much as 16 years of steady recording time for the 256GB model. As well as, they provide learn and write speeds of as much as 100 megabytes per second (MB/s) and 40 MB/s, respectively.
Evaluate: Samsung Pro Endurance MicroSDXC Card
These additionally are available much more reasonably priced twin-pack of playing cards.
I’ve learn numerous evaluations on Reddit and Amazon for these playing cards, and the claims of excessive endurance appear to translate into real-world utilization.
Who it is for: It is a should for dashcams and video cameras.
Who ought to look elsewhere: Do not trouble placing this inside a telephone or digicam or drone, there aren’t any advantages.
Samsung Professional 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 score: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Velocity Class 3 (U3) and Video Velocity Class 30 (V30)
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Why we prefer it: Speeds supplied by plain outdated microSD playing cards are adequate for many issues, however gaming places further pressures on {hardware}. This creates the necessity for sooner playing cards that may leverage the form of knowledge bandwidth that PCI Specific/NVMe interfaces has to supply.
PNY has come out with microSD Specific playing cards which can be as much as 4.4x sooner than commonplace UHS-I microSD playing cards. Because of this this tiny card gives as much as 890MB/s learn speeds and as much as 550MB/s write speeds. As well as, microSD Specific playing cards are backward appropriate with UHS-I and UHS-II host units on the related speeds. These are excellent for the
Word that you’re going to want a particular microSD Specific card reader to get the very best attainable speeds from microSD Specific playing cards when utilizing a card reader.
Who it is for: Bought a Nintendo Change 2? That is for you. Need to future-proof a card buy? That is for you.
Who ought to look elsewhere: Until you may have a tool that helps microSD Specific, there is not any level shopping for this card as a result of it will solely run and the downgraded velocity.
PNY microSD Specific microSD Card tech specs: Capability: From 128GB and 256GB | Offload velocity: As much as 890MB/s | Write velocity: As much as 550MB/s | Efficiency score: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Velocity Class 3 (U3), Video Velocity Class 30 (V30), and microSD Specific appropriate. | In-app efficiency score: A1 (as much as 1500 learn IOPS, 500 write IOPS)
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ZDNET’s choose for the most effective total microSD card is the SanDisk Extreme, however 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 funds 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 | Capability | Learn velocity (MB/s) | Write velocity (MB/s) |
SanDisk Excessive | $10 to $180 | 32GB – 2TB | 190 | 130 |
Lexar Skilled Silver Plus | $28 to $90 | 128GB – 1TB | 205 | 150 |
Amazon Fundamentals | $12 to $68 | 128GB – 1TB | 100 | 60 |
Samsung Professional Endurance | $19 to $30 | 32GB – 256GB | 100 | 40 |
PNY microSD Specific playing cards | $39 to $120 | 128GB – 512GB | 890 | 550 |
*MSRP on the time of writing. Please word that precise costs might fluctuate relying on accessible gross sales, offers, reductions, and coupons.
ZDNET’s choose for the most effective total microSD card is the SanDisk Extreme, however narrowing down the most effective microSD card is not a simple process. Take a look at our different prime picks and see how they examine to one another, and to your wants.
Select this microSD card model… | When you… |
SanDisk Excessive | Need a improbable all-rounder appropriate for many functions. |
Lexar Skilled Silver Plus | Need a skilled, pro-grade card with out the eye-watering value. |
Amazon Fundamentals | Are apprehensive about counterfeit playing cards with extra outstanding manufacturers. |
Samsung Professional Endurance | Are recording 24/7/365 to the cardboard with CCTV or use it in a physique cam or sprint cam. |
PNY microSD Specific | These playing cards are aimed toward units — such because the Nintendo Change 2 — that assist microSD Specific commonplace which is 4.4x sooner than commonplace UHS-I microSD playing cards. |
ZDNET solely recommends merchandise we ourselves have examined or researched, a course of that is The method is rooted in rigorous testing, real-world software, and many years of experience. Whereas there are numerous microSD playing cards accessible available on the market, not each card is constructed the identical.
Listed below are another components I thought-about when testing and curating my prime choices.
- Actual-world use: After I take a look at microSD playing cards, I take advantage of them in quite a lot of techniques from cameras and drones to CCTV techniques below each simple and harsh circumstances, to get a really feel for a way they really work in the actual world. This hands-on method ensures that the playing cards really helpful should not solely quick on paper but additionally reliable in real-world functions.
- Model belief: I have been a photographer and videographer for a few many years, and a drone operator for shut to 10 years, and through that point I’ve had the possibility 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.
Newest microSD card information
The most important factor to hit the microSD card world in latest weeks is the rollout of microSD Specific playing cards for the Nintendo Change 2. There’ll little doubt be extra units popping out that assist this commonplace over the approaching months, so maintain an eye fixed out.
Alos, costs are coming down fairly quickly. Storage costs do that, however there is a lag on this being handed on to shoppers. Now 1TB cards $90, when not way back they retailed at over $1,000, and monster 2TB cards only $180.
The primary distinction between an SD card and a microSD card is measurement. 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 related capability ranges and efficiency lessons.
As a consequence of their bigger measurement, SD playing cards are generally utilized in units with extra space to accommodate them, corresponding to digital cameras, camcorders, and older laptops. These units usually have devoted SD card slots, making the bigger kind issue a non-issue.
MicroSD playing cards however are perfect for smaller, extra transportable units like smartphones, tablets, drones, motion cameras, and even some gaming consoles. Their small footprint permits producers to save lots of area in compact units whereas nonetheless offering expandable storage.
No. In actual fact, I’ve seen individuals run into troubles and lose quite a lot of knowledge doing this, not a lot due to the microSD card, however due to their very own dangerous practices. A terabyte microSD card can maintain quite a lot of knowledge, however that may result in downside for those who do not repeatedly empty it and sooner or later your digicam falls into the ocean or your drone flies away by no means to be seen once more.
This is the reason I choose having a handful of smaller playing cards. This fashion I modify them repeatedly, and if the worst occurs and I do lose knowledge, the loss is proscribed.
The opposite cause is cash — you normally pay a premium for the very best capability playing cards, and the candy spot by way of value versus capability is normally someplace within the center.
MicroSD Specific is a next-generation flash reminiscence card commonplace that focuses on efficiency. These playing cards are able to as much as 880 MB/s and write speeds of as much as 650 MB/s, and hitting sustained write speeds round 210 MB/s, an enormous enchancment over conventional microSD playing cards, which depend on older UHS-I or UHS-II interfaces.
MicroSD Specific playing cards are backward appropriate with units that assist microSD UHS-I, though they are going to function at decreased speeds in such units. Essentially the most mainstream system to assist microSD Specific is the brand new Nintendo Switch 2, which require these high-speed playing cards.
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 circumstances, and are temperature-proof, waterproof, drop-proof, shockproof, and even X-ray proof.
It may be arduous to do that. The best way many discover out is that their card both dies or does not have anyplace close to the said capability.
Different, extra delicate giveaways embody the printing on the cardboard being poor high quality, blurry, and even containing typos. The packaging itself additionally normally feels low-cost.
Home windows customers may also use software program instruments to test the validity of their microSD playing cards, instruments corresponding to h2testw, USB Flash Drive Tester, and ChipGenius.
One other manner it to hold out a velocity test take a look at utilizing a device corresponding to BlackMagic Disk Speed Test or CrystalDiskMark and checking your outcomes towards the specs on the cardboard’s packaging or the web. If they’re dramatically completely different — say by 20% or extra — then you possibly can have a faux card (or one thing is improper together with your take a look at system or card reader).
One of the best ways to keep away from counterfeits is to purchase from a good outlet.
Newest Updates
The October replace sees small value drops of about $5 throughout the board, with the smaller capacities seeing the most important of those value cuts.
For the September replace, we have been cautious to replace all the costs, as a result of there was quite a lot of ups and downs — fortunately largely downs. For instance, the 2TB SanDisk Extreme dis below the $185 mark.
Different microSD playing cards price contemplating
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This is a 5-pack of 32GB microSD playing cards for below $20.
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This Lexar E-Sequence gives three 128GB microSD playing cards in a single pack.
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