Whether you're in the technology field or not, chances are, you're already familiar with memory cards, particularly SD cards. Secure Digital (SD) cards are portable devices that allow you to read and transfer digital memory by plugging them into different devices. Convenient and simple, SD cards are a great tool for storing data for digital safekeeping.
Due to technological advancements, SD cards have greatly improved throughout the years. These innovations have allowed SD cards to get smaller and smaller while their storage capacity has increased a thousand times. With this, many variations and specs have to be considered by the buyer. In this article, we will go over those considerations to help you pick out the best SD card for you.
Quick List - Top SD Cards
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Table of Contents
Before we dive right into the best products online, let's first discuss the main characteristics of SD cards. In this section, we'll talk about card sizes, speed class, and storage capacity so you can make a well-informed purchase.
Secure Digital (SD) cards can come in standard, mini, or micro sizes. Choose a card size depending on the memory card slot in your device. Another option is to buy an SD card adapter, which will allow you to make memory cards compatible across different devices.
Standard SD cards measure 32 x 24 x 2.1-1.4 mm, weigh around 2 grams, and are usually used for digital cameras and laptops. On the other hand, mini-SD cards measure 21.5x20x1.4mm, they weigh just below a gram, and their small size is originally designed to fit in mobile phones.
Lastly, micro-SD is the smallest SD card size measuring only 15x11x1 mm and weighing only a quarter of a gram. These cards are commonly used for smartphones, tablets, action cameras, consumer drones, and gaming devices such as the Nintendo Switch.
An SD card's speed class reveals two things: the card's transfer rate and its resolution. Whether you are a photographer, vlogger, or professional video editor, the speed class is an important aspect that you have to consider before purchasing an SD card.
Class 2 is the lowest speed class. It is the slowest in terms of transfer rate, and it can only play standard definition recording and playback. This class speed has a transfer rate of 2 megabytes per second.
You may find Class 2 to be a bit slow, so avoid them if you can and settle for at least the next speed class available, which is Class 4. Even the cheapest mobile phones can now record HD videos, so it might not be practical to opt for a speed class with lower specs like Class 2.
Class 4 and 6 SD cards are the most common across speed classes, and they are able to play videos in HD resolutions, unlike Class 2. Also, these SD card class speeds have a transfer rate of 4 megabytes and 6 megabytes per second, respectively.
Class 4 cards are ideal for digital cameras, smartphones, and tablets as they can play videos with resolution from 720p up to 1080p and sometimes even 4k. This speed class is a safe choice, as it is common, and almost all devices are compatible with this standard.
Class 10 can play videos in up to 4k resolution, and while not in a high frame rate, this speed class still performs best among other SD card speed classes in terms of specs. It has a minimum transfer speed of 10 megabytes per second.
Class 10 is suited for media files that require high-definition for better visual quality. These include professionally shot photos and edited videos. Aside from being high-resolution, Class 10 also provides faster transmission with at least 10 megabytes per second transfer rate.
For some, storage capacity is more important than resolution and transfer rate. Thankfully, SD cards nowadays have capacities ranging from 2GB to 2TB card space. In order to make a practical choice, try to assess first how much space you actually need for your data.
It might not be cost-effective to buy an SD card with very low storage capacity if you have a lot of files. However, if you’re looking for an SD card with low storage space, you may want to settle with an SDSC (Secure Digital Standard Capacity), which only allows a maximum of 2GB of data in terms of storage capacity.
To give you a fair warning, due to their low and outdated specs, these SD cards are really hard to find. With only a maximum of 2GB maximum capacity and the fact that almost every smartphone camera nowadays has HD quality, SDSC cards are not ideal for photos and videos. However, they can still be useful when it comes to small-sized documents.
Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) is a card type that allows you to store from 2GB up to 32GB of data. To be able to use this card type, you first need to make sure that your device supports this standard. Fortunately, many devices, especially smartphones, are now compatible with SDHC standards.
A maximum of 32GB is not bad, but it might not be enough if you'll be dealing with hours of video recording and thousands of high-resolution photos. For many, SDHC cards, particularly micro-SD, are best used for mobile phones, particularly as a default storage location for apps and games.
Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC) is an SD card type that has up to 2TB of storage space perfect for bigger games, more complex apps, and higher-resolution photos and videos. Similar to SDHC cards, you need to make sure first that your device supports this standard to be able to use it.
If you're looking for an SD card with a storage capacity of more than 2TB, then try to look for SDUC cards, as they allow 2TB to 128TB of data storage. They're definitely on the expensive side, but if you'll be needing a large storage space for your data, they can actually be a good investment, especially if you spring for the high-end ones.
SD cards can come at hefty prices. And since they are given the crucial task of storing your data, it is important that the SD card you've purchased comes with a warranty in case of defects. While some small brands offer warranty services, it is still best to choose SD cards from trusted and reliable brands such as SanDisk, Transcend, and Kingston.
Also, some memory cards come with accessories such as card readers and adapters, which are extremely helpful in terms of compatibility and data transfer. Storage cases are also common accessories included with memory cards. These are helpful, especially if you keep many SD cards and need a safe and secure place to store your cards for easy access.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SanDisk Ultra Micro SDHC|SDSQUNR-032G-GN3MN | ![]() | An Affordable SD Card With Full Features | |
2 | Samsung EVOS Plus Micro SDXC Card With Adapter | ![]() | A Durable SD Card With Broad Compatibility | |
3 | SanDisk Extreme PRO 256GB | ![]() | A Versatile Memory Card With a Large Storage Space | |
4 | Lexar High-Performance MicroSDXC | ![]() | Capture High-Quality Photos and Videos | |
5 | Strontium Nitro A1 Micro SDXC Card | ![]() | A Powerful Memory Card With Advanced Features | |
6 | Kingston Canvas Select Plus SD Card | ![]() | Watch Anything in HD Quality | |
7 | Transcend 32 GB Micro-SDXC Card | ![]() | An SD Card With File Recovery Software | |
8 | Kingston Technology Canvas Select Plus MicroSD Card | ![]() | An SD Card Ideal for Android Devices | |
9 | Toshiba Micro SD Card | ![]() | The SD Card for Full-HD Viewing | |
10 | Sandisk Nintendo Switch Micro SD|SDSQXAO-128G-GNCZN | ![]() | A Spacious Memory Card for Your Nintendo Switch |
This SD card from SanDisk is perfect for those looking for a reliable yet affordable memory card. It provides an additional 32GB of data for your apps, games, or photos, and you can plug it into your mobile phone or laptop through a card reader or adapter. It has a Class 10 classification and a transfer rate of up to 100mb/s, impressive for its price point.
Aside from its data-storing capabilities, this SD card also has a great file management system. By downloading the SanDisk Memory Zone App on your phone, you can easily view, access, and backup your files to free up space and prevent accidental loss of digital data.
If durability, compatibility, and a large storage capacity are your priorities when purchasing an SD card, then this product is for you. The Samsung EVOS Plus 128GB variant allows you to record and save 24 hours of ultra-HD content, perfect for downloading large videos on your smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, as well as action cameras.
Aside from that, this SD card also has 4-proof protection that makes it durable and safe from unexpected incidents. It's waterproof, temperature-proof, x-ray proof, and magnet-proof, so you can be assured that your card can withstand extreme conditions. It also comes with a card adapter for easy file transfers from your camera to your phone or laptop.
If you're looking for an SD card that has a lot of amazing features, then this one just might be it. This SD card from SanDisk has a 256GB storage capacity, a 170mb/s read speed, and a 90mb/s write speed. These features alone promise fast performance suitable for those who need a powerful and efficient memory card.
In terms of video speed, this SD card falls under the Class 10 and Video 30 categories, which means that it can move files at high speed without sacrificing resolution. On top of all that, this SD card also includes an offer of RescuePRO Deluxe, a 2-year data recovery software, and a lifetime limited warranty upon registration.
Lexar High-Performance micro-SD cards are one of the best SD cards out there when it comes to shooting high-quality photos and videos on your tablet or smartphone. This product allows you to capture 1080p, full-HD, 3D, and 4k videos for high-quality content. It also uses UHS-I technology, perfect for high-speed data reading, writing, and transmission.
This 64GB micro-SD card also works well with UHS-I cards, which adds versatility and broader compatibility. It also comes with an adapter for easy transfer and a lifetime warranty for the card, and a one-year warranty for the adapter. Whether you're a photographer or a vlogger, this card is definitely a helpful device for fast and high-quality photos and videos.
If you want something a bit high-end, then this SD card from Strontium is for you. Strontium NITRO A1 allows you to store up to 256GB of digital memory, plus other advanced features such as 4k full-HD recording, UHS-I class specification, and 4-proof durability.
On top of that, this SD card also has broad compatibility across many devices. It can also transfer high-resolution data at high speed with its UHS class specification, a cut above from Class 10 SD cards. Lastly, the micro-SD adapter is a great addition, too, as it allows you to share digital content seamlessly from one device to another.
This memory card from Kingston allows you to bring HD videos to life as it features 1080p and 3D viewing in one card. This makes this card perfect for watching movies and TV shows of astonishing quality. Kingston memory cards are durable and waterproof, and they offer a lifetime warranty for their products with free technical support.
Aside from the features mentioned, this 32GB memory card also promises high-speed transfers of up to a thousand photos within 1 minute, thanks to its UHS-I speed rating. If 32GB is not enough, then you can choose from its other variations with 64GB and even 128GB storage capacities.
This 32GB micro-SDXC/SDHC card from Transcend is the memory card for those looking for standard specs with additional recovery features. Since it supports both SDXC and SDHC, you can use this for your mobile phone and your action and drone cameras as well. Its Video Speed Class 30 and UHS-I allow for smooth, 4K capture and fast transfer speed.
Aside from that, you also won't have to worry about hardware and software damage with this device. Built to withstand extreme conditions, this memory card is temperature-resistant, waterproof, shockproof, X-ray proof, and static proof. It also offers RecoveRx, a free data recovery utility software that allows you to search for traces of once-saved but erased files.
From the brand Kingston Technology, this micro SD card with adapter is something worth buying if you're looking to expand the memory storage of your device. With its 128GB storage capacity, you can plug it into your smartphone and immediately save apps and games without consuming your device's own storage space.
Since this memory card is designed and optimized for Android devices, it is compatible with Android phones and tablets. It can also keep up with other brands as it belongs to the A1 performance and Class 10 speed classes. To add, this is also a good choice if you are looking for a durable memory card since it has been tested in the harshest environments and conditions.
Designed for Android devices, this 64GB memory card from Toshiba offers ultra-fast transmission and full-HD viewing in one micro-SD card. The fast transmission is from its UHS-I speed class classification and 100mb/s max read speed, while the ultra-HD viewing can be attributed to its Class 10 classification.
Measuring at less than 2 millimeters and weighing less than half a gram, this micro-SD is very lightweight and portable. The only disadvantage of this product is its lack of a standard SD adapter which is only an issue if you need to transfer files from your Android to your laptop. Still, this memory is perfect for high-speed transfers and HD viewing on your smartphone device.
If you own a Nintendo Switch, you probably already know that only certain SD card types work with the gaming device. This micro-SDXC card is Nintendo-licensed and designed specifically for your Switch console. It has a 128GB storage capacity for downloading digital games and additional content on one portable card.
This SD card has a read speed of 100mb/s and a write speed of 90mb/s. It's also temperature-proof, waterproof, and shock-proof, making it a durable and reliable option for storing your game data. While using this card, it is important to know that the data storage reflected may not be accurate, as the card doesn't show the hidden partitions for function and tools to the user.
Purchasing a phone with expandable storage is the ideal scenario, but it might be difficult to find or beyond your price range. If you use a large number of files all the time, then you might consider investing in memory cards and USB drives for storing your data. Feel free to browse our recommendation articles about portable storage devices and accessories.
Author: Katrina Balingit
No. 1: SanDisk |Ultra Micro SDHC|SDSQUNR-032G-GN3MN
No. 2: Samsung|EVOS Plus Micro SDXC Card With Adapter
No. 3: SanDisk|Extreme PRO 256GB
No. 4: Lexar|High-Performance MicroSDXC
No. 5: Strontium|Nitro A1 Micro SDXC Card
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