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One of the best microSD playing cards in 2025

Most microSD playing cards are quick sufficient for reinforcing space for storing and making easy file transfers, however some present a bit of extra worth than others. In case you’ve bought a tool that also accepts microSD playing cards — whether or not it’s an older gaming handheld, the brand new Nintendo Switch 2, a touch cam, a drone or an Android tablet — we’ve scoured the market and put shut to twenty high contenders by a lot of benchmark assessments. Yow will discover our suggestions for the perfect microSD playing cards beneath, alongside some common procuring recommendation before you purchase.

Lexar

Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Velocity lessons: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: Lifetime restricted

An excellent UHS-I card is fast sufficient for most individuals’s wants, and the Lexar Professional Silver Plus is the perfect worth of those we’ve examined. Paired with Lexar’s USB card reader, it constantly delivered sooner sequential reads and writes than another UHS-I mannequin throughout our benchmark assessments. It’s rated for learn speeds as much as 205 MB/s and write speeds as much as 150 MB/s, each of that are comparatively excessive to start with, however we discovered the latter to succeed in into the 180-190 MB/s vary in artificial benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, ATTO and AJA.

Our 12GB take a look at folder wrote to the cardboard in 76 seconds on common, which was roughly 30 seconds faster than the Samsung Professional Plus and Samsung Professional Final, our two earlier high picks. It successfully tied the Professional Final to guide all UHS-I playing cards we’ve tried in studying that take a look at file again to our PC. (That one averaged about 67 seconds, in case you’re retaining rating at dwelling.) Each Samsung playing cards and some others beat the Silver Plus in some random efficiency benchmarks, although it was nonetheless a lot aggressive in that regard. Both manner, it has all of the requisite scores — U3, V30, A2 — and it’s greater than speedy sufficient for working with 4K movies or transferring recordsdata between units with out main delays (as long as you’ve gotten a reader and/or host system that may allow these max speeds).

The cardboard itself is waterproof with an IPX7 score, and Lexar backs it with a lifetime guarantee. Sizes vary from 128GB to a spacious 1TB. The optional reader — which you should purchase individually or as a part of a bundle — is a bit giant, nevertheless it conveniently contains each USB-A and USB-C ports, so that you shouldn’t want any dongles to attach it to a telephone or PC.

What places the Silver Plus excessive is its value. On the time of writing, a 128GB mannequin is obtainable for $15, whereas the 256GB, 512GB and 1TB variants had been going for about $22, $40 and $85, respectively. These aren’t the most cost effective costs we’ve ever seen, and the mathematics will change a bit if you might want to think about a card reader, however they both undercut or match rivals just like the Professional Plus, Professional Final or SanDisk Excessive regardless of the Silver Plus being the extra performant card general. So, to recap: It’s quick, it’s sturdy and it’s fairly inexpensive. That’s the recipe for a simple advice.

Professionals

  • Quickest sequential learn/write efficiency of any UHS-I card we have examined
  • Cheaper than many slower alternate options
  • Has a 1TB choice
  • Lifetime restricted guarantee
Cons

  • Wants USB reader to succeed in most speeds (as anticipated)

$40 at Amazon (512GB)

Image for the large product module

Picture by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Velocity lessons: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted

Storage costs are likely to fluctuate, nonetheless, and the Samsung Pro Plus — our former “greatest for many” decide — continues to be value contemplating in case you see it accessible for a number of {dollars} lower than the Silver Plus within the capability you need. Its sequential learn and (particularly) write efficiency was slower than Lexar’s card throughout the board however nonetheless on par with or higher than practically each different UHS-I card we’ve examined. Its random reads and writes had been typically second to the pricier Samsung Pro Ultimate, however solely by a bit of, so it’s well-suited for a conveyable sport console or another setup the place it’d be requested to entry tiny bits of knowledge scattered all through a tool. It’s held up completely wonderful in our long-term testing as properly. That stated, the Silver Plus is the higher card when it’s in the identical value vary, plus Samsung’s has a shorter 10-year guarantee.

In case you do find yourself grabbing one, although, be sure to get the most recent mannequin with learn speeds rated at 180MB/s. An older-generation mannequin with slower sequential reads and random efficiency should be hanging round at some on-line retailers, so keep away from that one. Samsung additionally sells Sonic the Hedgehog-themed versions of the Professional Plus with similar efficiency scores, however these normally value a couple of dollars further. 

Professionals

  • Fast sequential and random speeds
  • Available at trusted retailers
  • Has a 1TB choice
Cons

  • Slower than our high decide, particularly with sequential write efficiency
  • 10-year guarantee is not the longest

$20 at Amazon

Image for the large product module

Picture by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Storage capability: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (“new era” mannequin solely) | Velocity lessons: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 / (64GB) U1, V10, A1, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted

The Samsung Evo Select is a transparent step behind our high picks, notably on the subject of sequential write speeds (just below 70 MB/s on CrystalDiskMark). So we don’t advocate it for any form of digicam. Nonetheless, it’s completely usable for easy storage growth, and its sequential and random learn speeds had been nonetheless respectable in our benchmarks.

Most significantly, it’s normally cheap: We have beforehand seen the 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB fashions fall as little as $13, $18, $33 and $70, respectively. The latter two capacities may very well be notably wonderful values in case you simply desire a large chunk of house from a good model on a budget. That stated, you must nonetheless seize the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus or Samsung Professional Plus as a substitute if both one is anyplace shut in value.

Professionals

  • Usually discounted
  • Acceptable efficiency if value is chief concern
  • Has a 1TB choice
Cons

  • Slower than different high picks, notably in sequential write and random efficiency benchmarks
  • 10-year guarantee is not the longest

$13 at Amazon

Image for the large product module

Jeff Dunn for Engadget

Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB | Velocity lessons: U3, A1, Class 10 | Guarantee: Lifetime restricted

Let’s be clear about this: Except you propose to personal a Nintendo Switch 2 within the close to future, you virtually definitely don’t want the SanDisk microSD Express Card, or another microSD Specific card, simply but. Apart from Nintendo’s new handheld, units that natively help this customary are exceedingly unusual proper now, and this explicit card is very costly, beginning at $56 for 128GB.

As a result of microSD Specific units aren’t widespread but, you will doubtless want to purchase a suitable adapter to see the improved speeds on a pc, which tacks much more onto the underside line. The SanDisk reader we used for testing, for instance, costs a whopping $112. The reader we used for Lexar’s Play Professional, one other new Specific card, prices $100. At that time, you’re higher off shopping for a portable SSD in case you simply wish to stash and transfer recordsdata. To additional that time, SanDisk’s card is simply accessible in 128GB or 256GB capacities.

A few other Express cards will provide extra room for much less money, however most of these had been both simply launched or aren’t but accessible; we plan to check them for a future replace. Plus, even in case you do get a Swap 2, the costs right now are most likely as costly as they’ll ever get. It additionally stays to be seen if the console will even enable for vital efficiency variations between playing cards. So in case you can maintain out, you must.

Right here’s hoping the Swap 2 does lead microSD Specific to grow to be extra extensively accepted although, as a result of this factor is miles sooner than any conventional card in the marketplace. Sequential reads checked in just below 900 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark and ATTO, which was in keeping with SanDisk’s 880 MB/s score and a good methods above the Lexar Play Professional. Sequential writes topped out round 650 MB/s, proper as marketed. These write speeds solely apply to the 256GB mannequin we examined, although; SanDisk says they’re going to peak at 480 MB/s with the 128GB variant.

Sustained efficiency isn’t at all times on par with these most speeds: With our bigger take a look at file, we seen that write speeds would begin round 530 MB/s then dip nearer to 210 MB/s till the switch was full. Positive sufficient, SanDisk advertises minimal sustained write speeds of 210 MB/s for the 256GB mannequin and 100 MB/s for the 128GB model. (Lexar’s microSD Specific card behaved equally, doubtless as a result of these playing cards’ tiny frames can solely deal with a lot earlier than they should throttle issues down.) Nonetheless, this was fast sufficient to maneuver the 12GB file to the cardboard in 52 seconds on common. It took a mere 20 seconds to learn the file again to our PC. The write take a look at with our smaller 1.15GB take a look at folder, in the meantime, averaged simply 4.5 seconds. 

All of it provides as much as a card that is not less than twice as quick as the perfect UHS-I fashions we’ve examined by way of sequential learn and write speeds, with three or 4 occasions the efficiency in some circumstances (notably with the 256GB mannequin). The gulf in random reads and writes was comparable, and in some benchmarks even better.

That stated, solely these with a Swap 2 pre-order in place, money to burn and/or a deep curiosity in new applied sciences ought to think about the SanDisk microSD Specific Card proper now. It’s a real leap ahead, however you’ll should pay for it.

Professionals

  • Simply the quickest microSD card we have examined, by any metric
  • Lifetime restricted guarantee
  • Appropriate with Nintendo Swap 2
Cons

  • Gadgets that help microSD Specific moreover Swap 2 are extraordinarily restricted
  • Costly, and requires an expensive reader to realize full efficiency on most units
  • Solely accessible in 128GB or 256GB

$54 at SanDisk

A red microSD Express card sits on top of a small black microSD card reader, on top of a brown wooden table, next to a white stone drink coaster.A red microSD Express card sits on top of a small black microSD card reader, on top of a brown wooden table, next to a white stone drink coaster.

The Lexar Play Professional on high of Lexar’s RW540 microSD Specific card reader. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)

The Lexar Play Pro is the second microSD Specific card we’ve examined, and you’ll consider it as a “1A” decide subsequent to SanDisk’s mannequin. It doesn’t are available in a 128GB configuration, however the 256GB mannequin is less expensive at $50, plus it’s accessible in 512GB and 1TB capacities. It’s sooner on the subject of sequential writes, measuring round 720 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark and 700 MB/s in ATTO. It additionally managed to put in writing our bigger take a look at file in roughly 35 seconds in sure runs, which was notably faster than the SanDisk card.

Nonetheless, its sequential reads had been fairly definitively slower — even when they’re nonetheless much better than the remainder of the market — and people are extra essential for decreasing load occasions with the Swap 2 in concept. The improved sequential writes had been additionally considerably inconsistent: Generally it’d take nearer to 50 seconds to complete our real-world take a look at, bouncing between the low-200 MB/s vary and the high-400 MB/s vary alongside the best way. At that time, it is solely marginally sooner than the SanDisk card. Random speeds, in the meantime, weren’t massively totally different, so each ought to be equally adept at retaining bigger video games like Mario Kart World working easy.

Ultimately, the Swap 2 is the one actual cause to purchase a microSD Specific card proper now, and we will’t say for certain how totally different fashions will carry out on that system simply but. The “greatest” choice might find yourself being whichever one is least expensive. Nonetheless, the Play Professional is value grabbing in case you should purchase an Specific card right now and need greater than 256GB of house.

The Samsung Pro Ultimate was the closest competitor to the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus throughout our benchmark assessments, nevertheless it’s tangibly worse by way of sequential write speeds, usually prices extra and doesn’t provide a 1TB choice. The Samsung Professional Plus is a bit slower for sequential reads, nevertheless it’s shut sufficient in any other case and normally simpler to seek out at a lower cost.

We have not used it ourselves, however in case you’re prepared to pay for a extra highly effective UHS-II card constructed for heavy-duty video recording, the Lexar Professional Gold has tested well elsewhere and will ship considerably sooner sequential write speeds than our UHS-I picks above. It’s one of many few UHS-II playing cards we may really discover in inventory, nevertheless it’s dear, with a 128GB mannequin usually priced within the $35 to $40 vary.

The SanDisk Extreme successfully matched the Professional Plus in just a few of our sequential assessments, however that was partly on account of us solely having the ability to safe the 256GB mannequin, which is higher-rated than the 128GB model. It’s a wonderful selection in case you see it on sale at a good vendor, nevertheless it’s broadly slower than our high decide and sometimes prices extra.

The SanDisk GamePlay performs equally to the SanDisk Excessive however prices bit further as of our newest replace. We couldn’t get it to succeed in its marketed speeds with the corporate’s personal “Professional” card reader or different third-party choices, so it fell in need of our high picks.

The SanDisk Pokémon does outperform its marketed learn and write speeds, however not by sufficient to outpace the Lexar Silver Plus or Samsung Professional Plus. It primarily costs further for having an image of Pikachu (or Gengar, or Snorlax) on a product you’ll by no means take a look at.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro is a detailed analog to the Samsung Professional Final however, as of this writing, is both unavailable at most trusted retailers or priced too excessive by comparability. The Lexar Skilled Silver Plus has sooner sequential write speeds as properly.

The PNY XLR8 is an inexpensive card that comes with as much as 512GB of house. Its sequential and random writes speeds checked in a bit of bit above these of Samsung’s Evo Choose, plus it comes with a lifetime guarantee. However its sequential reads had been a lot, a lot slower, placing it out of rivalry.

The PNY Elite-X typically goes for affordable and wasn’t too far off the random learn/write efficiency of Samsung’s Professional Plus in CrystalDiskMark. Just like the XLR8, it’s additionally barely above the Evo Choose in write speeds. However its sequential reads had been too far behind all of our high picks, and it not seems to be accessible in capacities above 256GB.

The very first thing to determine when shopping for a microSD card is how a lot space for storing you want. Trendy playing cards are generally accessible in sizes starting from 32GB to 512GB, with a number of fashions now accessible in 1TB or 1.5TB capacities as properly. The primary 2TB cards from major brands have began to reach in latest months as properly, which is thrilling, however these are nonetheless pretty uncommon (and really costly) by comparability.

For many, a 128GB or 256GB mannequin ought to be a candy spot between value and space for storing. However in case you want extra room — say, for stashing a bunch of video games on a Steam Deck — a 512GB card or better may make extra sense and sometimes offers a greater cost-per-GB ratio. As of late, you’ll find a good 128GB card for round $15, 256GB card for lower than $30 and a strong 512GB card for round $40 (with sooner fashions priced a bit of increased). There’s a starker improve whenever you go as much as 1TB playing cards, which regularly value nearer to $100, although we’ve seen some fall into the $70 to $80 vary extra incessantly over the past 12 months. The primary wave of 2TB playing cards are an excellent greater leap: the 2TB SanDisk Extreme, for instance, now has an inventory value just below $250.

Observe {that a} microSD card’s efficiency might differ relying on what capability you purchase. SanDisk says its 128GB Extreme card delivers sequential write speeds as much as 90 MB/s, for instance, whereas the higher-capacity fashions in the identical line provide as much as 130 MB/s.

After we speak about microSD playing cards right now, we typically discuss with playing cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capacity) standard, which have a capability between 32GB and 2TB. Your system must help this for it to work with a microSDXC card. This can virtually by no means be a problem nowadays, however some older units (a Nintendo 3DS, for example) are solely suitable with microSDHC (Excessive Capability) playing cards, which vary from 2GB to 32GB.

MicroSD playing cards are primarily judged on their learn and write speeds, that are normally measured in megabytes per second (MB/s). Usually, most microSD playing cards have sooner learn speeds than write speeds.

These metrics can then be damaged down into sequential and random efficiency. Sequential learn and write speeds matter whenever you’re making an attempt to entry (learn) or save (write) lengthy, fixed streams of knowledge, akin to opening a big video or copying an enormous batch of recordsdata from a PC. If you wish to use a microSD card for media storage, that is notably essential. Random efficiency, in the meantime, is about how shortly a card can learn and write small recordsdata scattered all through the system.

Since random learn/write speeds are a lot decrease than sequential ones, storage system makers have a tendency to not promote them as loudly. However they’re essential in case you use a card with a gaming system or a single-board pc just like the Raspberry Pi, the place it typically has to quickly save and entry small bits of knowledge in random places.

In case you take a look at a microSD card, you’ll see a buffet of numbers, letters and symbols. Most of those discuss with the cardboard’s speed class and efficiency scores, that are decided by the SD Association.

A card’s Video Velocity Class, or V-rating, particulars its minimal sequential write velocity, which is very essential when recording video from a digicam. It ranges from V6 to V90. A lot of the playing cards we examined had a V30 score, in order that they have a sequential write velocity of not less than 30 MB/s. This ought to be sufficient to help as much as 4K video at decrease bitrates. Increased-rated V60 and V90 playing cards are normally higher for capturing 8K, however they arrive at a a lot increased value.

The UHS Velocity Class, or U-rating, additionally refers to a card’s minimal sequential write velocity. It is available in two varieties: U3, which mandates a minimal of 30 MB/s, and U1, which is rated for 10 MB/s.

The older Velocity Class score overlaps with the opposite two methods. It’s signified by a C image and goes from Class 2 to Class 10, with the quantity (once more) indicating minimal sequential write velocity. This score is much less related these days, however you should still see a “C10” brand on some playing cards.

The Utility Efficiency spec, marked by an An emblem, is an indicator of random learn/write speeds. That is measured in IOPS, or enter/output operations per second, reasonably than MB/s. There are two classes right here: A1 playing cards provide a minimal random learn velocity of 1,500 IOPS and a minimal random write velocity of 500 IOPS, whereas A2 playing cards bump these as much as 4,000 IOPS and a couple of,000 IOPS, respectively. Each scores additionally assure sequential write speeds of not less than 10 MB/s.

To maintain it easy, most individuals ought to search for a card with V30, U3 and A2 scores. It’s completely potential to get a strong card with out these: A U1 card is perhaps value it in case you simply want an affordable, high-capacity choice, for instance. V60 and V90 playing cards are value a glance in case you’re severe about capturing high-resolution pictures and video as properly. However general, playing cards with the certifications above ought to present the perfect mix of value and efficiency right now.

It’s essential to emphasise that these scores are baselines. Most V30 playing cards provide considerably increased write speeds than 30 MB/s, for example, and a few A1 playing cards can outperform some A2 fashions in observe. The speeds marketed by producers aren’t at all times one hundred pc correct, both: Generally the cardboard will probably be slower in real-world use, different occasions it could really be a bit sooner.

The Samsung Pro Plus microSD card.The Samsung Pro Plus microSD card.

Samsung

The opposite spec to notice is the cardboard’s bus interface. Most microSD playing cards accessible right now are UHS-I, which has a theoretical most velocity of 104 MB/s. There are additionally UHS-II playing cards, which have an additional row of pins on the again and may attain as much as 312 MB/s. (A UHS-III customary technically exists as properly however hasn’t seen huge adoption.) These are labeled on the cardboard with a Roman numeral I or II.

UHS-II playing cards are usually those with these increased V60 or V90 scores. In case you shoot a number of 4K to 8K video or incessantly use burst mode to seize extremely high-res pictures, the efficiency positive aspects of UHS-II card can prevent time.

Nonetheless, these are rather more costly than UHS-I playing cards: This 128GB Lexar Professional Gold mannequin, for example, is a relative discount at $35. Whereas that is lower than many UHS-II fashions we’ve seen previously, it is nonetheless greater than double the widespread avenue value of our high decide above. You want a tool that’s suitable with the UHS-II interface to see any advantages, too, and inventory for UHS-II playing cards is usually spottier. For now, the upper speeds aren’t well worth the value premium for most individuals, so we caught principally to UHS-I playing cards with our suggestions.

Unlike traditional UHS-I cards, a microSD Express card like the SanDisk model on the right comes with a second row of pins to enable its improved performance.Unlike traditional UHS-I cards, a microSD Express card like the SanDisk model on the right comes with a second row of pins to enable its improved performance.

Not like conventional UHS-I playing cards, a microSD Specific card just like the SanDisk mannequin on the suitable comes with a second row of pins to allow its improved efficiency. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)

Absolutely the quickest microSD playing cards you should purchase, nonetheless, are based mostly on a unique interface known as SD Express. This has technically been around for a number of years and now includes its personal subset of speed classes, however the gist is that it is a lot sooner than UHS-I or UHS-II: SanDisk’s just lately launched microSD Express card, one of many first commercially accessible fashions, advertises sequential learn speeds as much as 880MB/s. That’s faster than some older SSDs.

It’s a considerable improve that has largely held up in our testing, however only a few common units natively help SD Specific right now. The primary main exception is the Nintendo Switch 2, which is only compatible with the newer customary, because it’s wanted to maintain up with the efficiency calls for of latest handheld video games.

In addition to SanDisk, producers like Samsung, Lexar and PNY have already launched microSD Specific playing cards to go along with the console. The presumption is that having such a preferred system embrace the tech will solely additional its adoption and drive costs down.

Nevertheless it’s nonetheless early days, and proper now all microSD Specific playing cards value rather more than the perfect UHS-I and even UHS-II choices. Past the Swap 2, it’s potential to make the most of these playing cards’ superior speeds with a devoted SD Specific card reader, however that provides much more to the ultimate value. It’s additionally value noting that SD Specific playing cards are usually not backwards suitable with UHS-II (or UHS-III), so in case you attempt to plug one into a tool with a UHS-II slot, it’ll be restricted to UHS-I speeds. Nonetheless, they’re a should for Nintendo followers going ahead, and the tech ought to have loads of enchantment if extra devices that help the interface do arrive.

Whereas the UHS-I interface has a theoretical most of 104 MB/s, some UHS-I playing cards can exceed that velocity by proprietary extensions. Nonetheless, you want a suitable card reader and host system to make the most of that further efficiency. In case you discover a UHS-I card promoting speeds increased than 104 MB/s, that is what’s happening. You may see these limits in motion with an authentic Nintendo Swap or Steam Deck: Both of those gaming units help the UHS-I interface however don’t transcend its official velocity, flattening any sequential positive aspects some playing cards might have elsewhere. (Variations in random learn and write speeds can nonetheless matter, although.) The identical factor will occur in case you plug a extra highly effective UHS-II or SD Specific card into a tool that doesn’t settle for these interfaces.

The takeaway: Your microSD card will solely be as quick because the slowest hyperlink in your chain.

Many microSD playing cards are designed to be sturdy, with safety from water, excessive temperatures, X-rays and drops. Nonetheless, in case of disaster, an extended guarantee is at all times good to have. Many producers provide lifetime or 10-year restricted warranties, although we’ve seen that “endurance” playing cards marketed to face up to extra hours of writing are normally coated for a shorter time period. For instance, Samsung’s Pro Endurance, a mannequin geared toward safety cameras and different monitoring units, comes with a five-year guarantee.

The reminiscence card market has had a specific downside with scammers promoting faux merchandise. To protect in opposition to this, solely purchase from a recognized model and a good retailer akin to Greatest Purchase, B&H Picture or Adorama. In case you store at Amazon, solely purchase if the shipper and vendor is Amazon.com. (That stated, a handful of customers have reported receiving counterfeits even from Amazon straight previously, so train warning.) Bear in mind: If a value appears too good to be true, it most likely is. Be cautious of any retailer providing a considerably lower cost than everybody else.

When you obtain a card, verify its packaging for any irregularities. You may run benchmark assessments like CrystalDiskMark or BlackMagic Disk Speed Test to confirm its speeds aren’t drastically decrease than what’s marketed (or potential, given its specs). You can too use software program that’s designed to confirm the true capability and efficiency of your card, akin to H2testw and FakeFlashTest.

A few of the microSD card readers we've used for testing.A few of the microSD card readers we've used for testing.

A number of of the microSD card readers we have used for testing. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)

We have put about 20 microSD playing cards by a sequence of assessments to confirm their sequential and random efficiency. These included benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, BlackMagic Disk Speed Test, ATTO Disk Benchmark and AJA System Test, in addition to just a few “real-world” assessments. We copied and pasted a small folder of pictures about 1.15GB in dimension to and from every card, then did the identical with a bigger 12.2GB folder containing a number of file sorts and subfolders, timing the method every time. We additionally checked how every card carried out on the Steam Deck, downloading video games of various sizes — together with Stardew Valley, Aperture Desk Job, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Apex Legends — then timing how lengthy it took to launch every sport and cargo save recordsdata. We do a number of runs of every take a look at to confirm our findings and account for potential outliers.

The place relevant, we used a Kingston USB 3.2 UHS-II reader to check every card on each Home windows 11 and macOS Sequoia. Nonetheless, if a card may very well be bundled with (or is particularly marketed to make use of) a proprietary reader, we primarily examined with that, since we determine that’s the one most consumers will find yourself utilizing. For Home windows testing, we used an Alienware gaming PC with an Intel Core i9-10900F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. For macOS, we used a 2021 16-inch MacBook Professional with an Apple M1 Professional chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. If a reader couldn’t join over USB-C, we used CalDigit’s TS4 dock to check the corresponding card on the MacBook.

We examined the 128GB model of every card at any time when we may, although we had been solely in a position to take a look at higher-capacity fashions for just a few choices. We additionally reformatted every card earlier than testing with the SD Affiliation’s Memory Card Formatter tool.

Might 2025: We’ve up to date this information to make sure our recommendation is correct and to replicate the brand new Nintendo Swap 2’s use of microSD Specific playing cards. We’ve additionally added testing notes for the Lexar Play Professional microSD Specific card and the extra customary PNY XLR8. We’ve eliminated mentions of some playing cards which have seemingly been discontinued, together with the unique Kingston Canvas Go Plus, the Lexar Skilled 1066x and the 2021 Samsung Evo Choose. We plan to check extra new microSD Specific playing cards for a future replace, plus just a few different latest releases from Kingston, SanDisk, Lexar and PNY.

February 2025: We’ve up to date this information with a brand new high decide: the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus. The Samsung Professional Plus, our earlier advice, stays as a runner-up. We’ve additionally added SanDisk’s just lately launched microSD Specific card as a decide for individuals who need absolutely the quickest card potential, albeit with heavy caveats. This is likely one of the first microSD playing cards to make use of the SD Specific bus interface, so we’ve included extra particulars on what that entails in our “what to search for in a microSD card” part. Lastly, we’ve eliminated our write-up for SanDisk’s Apex Legends card, because it seems to have been discontinued, and included testing notes for a few the corporate’s more moderen releases.

November 2024: We have checked again with this information to make sure our suggestions are nonetheless correct and made mild edits for readability.

August 2024: We’ve up to date this information to notice the just lately launched 1TB fashions for 3 of our high picks: the Samsung Professional Plus, the Kingston Canvas Go Plus and the Samsung Evo Choose. We’ve additionally made certain all pricing particulars are as updated as they are often.

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