Everything you need to know about SD memory cards so you don't screw up your purchase. What are memory cards and what types do they come in? What is a full-size SD card

First of all, I suggest starting with the sizes of SD cards; at the moment there are three sizes of memory cards:

Full size SD memory card.

And the smallest MicroSD size

If you bought a smaller memory card, such as MicroSD, and you need MiniSD card, then with the help of an adapter you can easily correct the situation. The adapter will also help you switch from MicroSD to MiniSD or SD.

If you want to connect a memory card to a USB port, you will need an SD-USB adapter.

Generations of SD cards.

At the time of writing, there were three generations of SD cards:

SD memory card:

Year of manufacture since 2000;

Maximum capacity SD 1.0 - from 8 MB to 2 GB, SD 1.1 - up to 4 GB;

The original file system is FAT16.

Comment: today they are obsolete and are not used because they support low capacity and low write speed.

SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) memory card:

Year of manufacture from 2006;

Maximum capacity up to 32 GB.

The original file system is FAT32.

Comment: Nowadays this is the most popular type of memory card, this is due to its good recording speed and capacity. For many, the capacity of 16 GB and 32 GB is quite acceptable; another undoubted advantage is low price memory cards of this generation.

SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) memory card:

Year of manufacture since 2009;

Maximum capacity from 64 GB. up to 2 TB (2048 GB);

The original file system is exFAT.

Comment: These memory cards are the future, since 32 GB of memory, which the previous generation SD can provide, is no longer enough for many; we must not forget that the quality and, accordingly, the file size are increasing, for example, instead of Full HD, 4K video has appeared. The capacity and speed of these SD cards is enough to not only record high-quality video on them, but also store it.

SD card capacity.

From the previous paragraph, I think many people understood that the capacity of a memory card depends on the generation of the SD card. Today, if you need a memory card up to 32 GB, it will be an SDHC card, if more than 32 GB, then SDXC. All that remains is to determine what size memory card to choose. Below is a table that will help you make your choice; the first column shows the storage capacity, the second column shows the number of minutes of video in high resolution Full HD + number of pictures in the third column.

Speed ​​of memory cards.

A very important characteristic of memory cards is the writing speed. It is the recording speed that determines how quickly you can copy data to an SD card, or how fast the application recorded on the card will run, or what quality of video you can record on the memory card.

The SDHC standard provides five classes of memory cards:

Class

Write speed

Purpose
Class 2 at least 2 MB/s Recording video data for standard definition television in SD format
Class 4 at least 4 MB/s For recording HD (high definition) video, as well as Full HD (high resolution from 720p to 1080p/1080i). Digital cameras entry level, game consoles and other devices that support SDHC cards.
Class 6 at least 6 MB/s
Class 10 at least 10 MB/s For recording video in Full HD (1080p), taking photos in high definition(HD) and recording of broadcasts in real time.
UHS Speed ​​Class 1 (U1) at least 10 MB/s Record Full HD video, 3D video, High Definition (HD) photos and real-time broadcast recording.
UHS Speed ​​Class 3 (U3) at least 30 MB/s Recording video files for 4K television - UHD television (UHS bus). D-SLR and D-SLM cameras and video cameras with 4K support.

Due to the fact that progress does not stand still, the speed of SD cards is increasing; in addition to class, there is the concept of rating; the higher it is, the higher the recording speed (multiplier 1× = 150 KB/s).

RatingSpeed ​​(MB/s)SDHC class
6× 0,9 n/a
13× 2,0 2
26× 4,0 4
32× 4,8 5
40× 6,0 6
66× 10,0 10
100× 15,0 15
133× 20,0 20
150× 22,5 22
200× 30,0 30
266× 40,0 40
300× 45,0 45
400× 60,0 60
600× 90,0 90

It is quite easy to determine the class of a memory card; all you have to do is take a close look at the packaging.

Nice card micro memory SD- This is an almost necessary thing in our time. Small and lightweight, it can hold hundreds of gigabytes of data. Thanks to it, we can increase memory without the need to replace equipment with new ones (it can even act as a flash drive).

We can carry several or a dozen microSD memory cards with us and not even notice it. This makes them work great both on a daily basis and during a long journey. They are ideal media for people who frequently record films (eg "YouTubers").

good microSD card useful for a phone, tablet, drone, camera, video recorder, and even a laptop or ultrabook. It is a very widely used memory standard required by many modern devices.

It is important to be able select microSD memory card, suitable to the needs of the user and the specifications of the equipment we use.

microSD memory card capacity

  • microSD have a capacity of up to 2 GB (FAT)
  • microSDHC – capacity up to 32 GB (FAT32)
  • microSDXC – capacity up to 2 TB (exFAT)

Which microSD capacity should you choose for yourself? Firstly, we have to check what memory card capacity our phone supports. Look at this information in the specifications on the manufacturer’s website, in the store or from the operator from whom we purchased the smartphone.

Which microSD memory card for a smartphone

If your smartphone supports microSDXC, it will also handle microSDHC memory cards and regular microSD. If, however, it only supports microSDHC, it may not recognize microSDXC cards. In other words, compatibility is maintained downwards, but not upwards.

In practice, the best and most cost-effective idea is to buy a 32GB or 64GB memory card. Most modern smartphone models support such capacities without problems, and we won't have to pay too much. Although a faster card with a larger capacity will cost significantly more.

Which microSD memory card is faster? Pay attention to the markings on the packaging and on the card itself.

microSD card speed

  • Class 2, 4, 6– minimum data transfer speed, respectively, 2, 4 and 6 MB/sec. They are usually marked with a corresponding number located inside the letter “C”. You shouldn't buy these cards because they are too slow for modern smartphones, cameras, cameras and drones.
  • Class 10– minimum data transfer speed 10 MB/sec. Also designated as "C10". This is still a very popular standard. These cards are suitable for many devices, but you shouldn't choose them if you record 4K Ultra HD video.
  • U1– the minimum transfer speed is 10 MB/sec, but often much higher – up to 90 MB/sec. Such cards are suitable for most applications, as well as for recording 4K video, but it is better to ensure that the minimum data recording speed is at least 20-30 Mbps. Despite similar specifications, these cards are actually faster and more efficient than the "Class 10".
  • U3– the minimum data transfer speed is 30 MB/sec, often reaching 100 MB/sec. Very good, versatile and decent high speed SD cards. Typically in the microSDHC or microSDXC standard. These are the recommended microSD cards for 4K UHD video recording (for phones, drones, tablets, cameras, systems, etc.). They cost more, but if you need high efficiency, choose a microSD U3 memory card (marked with the number 3 located inside the letter U).
  • V6, V10, V30, V60, V90– minimum speeds, respectively, from 6 to 90 MB/sec. Models from V30 are recommended. These are very fast microSD memory cards made for people who record movies (V for video). Suitable for recording 4K high definition video.
  • A1– additional designation informing about the number of input/output operations supported by the microSD memory card. The A1 standard means at least 500 write operations and 1500 read operations per second. This is a lot for such a small storage medium.
  • A2- like A1, only with even higher efficiency - 2000 operations per second when writing and 4000 when reading. If someone wants to buy the best possible microSD memory card with the future and modern equipment in mind, then they should look for models marked A2.

Attention! Be sure to pay attention to the speed of reading and writing data. There are often large discrepancies between them. For example, reads may be 100 MB/s and writes 30 MB/s. In practice, both values ​​are important, but 4K video recording time is more important.

Good microSD memory card - popular models

SanDisk Ultra microSDHC 32 GB U1 A1

Reasonably priced 32GB microSDHC memory card. Supports U1 and A1 standards, so it's suitable for most common applications - smartphones, tablets and even webcams and drones. The only real limitation is capacity, but this card is available in a variety of versions ranging from 16GB to 400GB.

The manufacturer claims a speed of about 98 Mbit/s, but does not indicate when reading or writing. It should be assumed that the recording is slower. This is a versatile, good and inexpensive micro SD memory card for your phone that can be recommended for everyday use.

Main characteristics of SanDisk Ultra microSDHC 32 GB U1 A1:

  • Capacity: 32 GB
  • Write speed: not stated
  • Read speed: 98 Mbps

SanDisk Extreme microSDHC 32 GB U3 A1 V30

A very fast and very good microSDHC memory card that can be recommended for more complex applications, including 4K Ultra HD video recording.

Its performance is very high, but it's worth noting that people who plan to regularly record more 4K video from a smartphone or drone should purchase a larger memory card (for example, 64 or 128 GB).

The stated read speed is 100 MB/sec, and write speed is 60 MB/sec.

Main characteristics of SanDisk Extreme microSDHC 32 GB U3 A1 V30:

  • Capacity: 32 GB
  • Recording speed: 60 Mbps
  • Read speed: 100 Mbps

Kingston Canvas React microSDXC 64 GB A1 V30

A very fast and good microSDXC memory card, for universal use. Thanks to the A1 and V30 standard, it is suitable for continuous shooting with a digital camera or smartphone not only in JPG format, but also in RAW (large files).

It also performs well when recording video in 4K format. The manufacturer claims read speeds of 100 MB/s and write speeds of up to 80 MB/s for models with 64 and 128 GB.

Key Features of Kingston Canvas React microSDXC 64GB A1 V30:

  • Capacity: 64 GB
  • Recording speed: 80 Mbps
  • Read speed: 100 Mbps

Samsung EVO microSDXC 64 GB U3

Another universal memory card for your phone and others mobile devices. Provides reading up to 100 MB/s and writing up to 60 MB/s in sequential mode (write speed for random data may be significantly lower).

The manufacturer defines it as a certified memory card for recording in Full HD format, but in the case of shooting with a smartphone or drone it can even handle 4K resolution.

Key Features of Samsung EVO microSDXC 64GB U3:

  • Capacity: 64 GB
  • Recording speed: 60 Mbps
  • Read speed: 100 Mbps

Samsung EVO Plus microSDXC 128 GB U3

A good memory card that, thanks to its large capacity, works great during video shooting or long photo sessions. As with the regular model, the EVO (without the plus) is recommended for Full HD recording, but if we work with less complex equipment such as a smartphone or drone, it can do a great job with 4K UHD recording.

The stated write speed is 60 MB/s, and read speed is 100 Mbit/s. If anyone needs an even better card for 4K video, then the Samsung EVO Pro should be their choice.

Key Features of Samsung EVO Plus microSDXC 128GB U3:

  • Capacity: 128 GB
  • Recording speed: 60 Mbps
  • Read speed: 100 Mbps

Best microSD memory card

Indeed, many manufacturers offer good, reliable microSD memory cards. The most versatile, fastest and most worthy are indicated by symbols U3, A1, A2 and V30 (or higher). Definitely a good and interesting SanDisk Extreme series.

For most people, microSD is just a form factor, but in reality it is not. You can easily insert any microSD card into a standard slot, but not all of them will work, since the cards differ in many ways.

Format

There are three different SD formats, available in two form factors (SD and microSD):

  • SD (microSD) - drives up to 2 GB, work with any equipment;
  • SDHC (microSDHC) - drives from 2 to 32 GB, work on devices supporting SDHC and SDXC;
  • SDXC (microSDXC) - drives from 32 GB to 2 TB (currently maximum 512 GB), work only on devices with SDXC support.

As you can see, they are not backward compatible. Memory cards of the new format will not work on old equipment.

Volume

Support for microSDXC declared by the manufacturer does not mean support for cards of this format with any capacity and depends on the specific device. For example, the HTC One M9 works with microSDXC, but officially only supports cards up to 128 GB inclusive.

Another one is related to storage capacity. important point. All microSDXC cards use the exFAT file system by default. Windows has supported it for more than 10 years; it appeared in OS X starting with version 10.6.5 (Snow Leopard); in Linux distributions, exFAT support is implemented, but it does not work “out of the box” everywhere.

High speed UHS interface


An I or II is added to the UHS card logo depending on the version

SDHC and SDXC cards can support the Ultra High Speed ​​interface, which, with hardware support on the device, provides higher speeds (UHS-I up to 104 MB/s and UHS-II up to 312 MB/s). UHS is backward compatible with earlier interfaces and can work with devices that do not support it, but at standard speeds (up to 25 MB/s).

2. Speed


Luca Lorenzelli/shutterstock.com

Classifying the write and read speeds of microSD cards is as complex as their formats and compatibility. The specifications allow you to describe the speed of cards in four ways, and since manufacturers use them all, there is a lot of confusion.

Speed ​​class


The speed class marking for regular cards is a number inscribed in the Latin letter C

The Speed ​​Class is associated with the minimum write speed to a memory card in megabytes per second. There are four in total:

  • Class 2- from 2 MB/s;
  • Class 4- from 4 MB/s;
  • Class 6- from 6 MB/s;
  • Class 10- from 10 MB/s.

By analogy with the marking of regular cards, the speed class of UHS cards fits into the Latin letter U

Cards running on the high-speed UHS bus currently have only two speed classes:

  • Class 1 (U1)- from 10 MB/s;
  • Class 3 (U3)- from 30 MB/s.

Since the speed class designation uses the minimum entry value, theoretically a card of the second class may well be faster than a card of the fourth. Although, if this is the case, the manufacturer will most likely prefer to indicate this fact more explicitly.

Maximum speed

The speed class is quite enough for comparing cards when choosing, but some manufacturers, in addition to it, use it in the description maximum speed in MB/s, and more often not even the write speed (which is always lower), but the read speed.

These are usually the results of synthetic tests under ideal conditions, which are unattainable in normal use. In practice, speed depends on many factors, so you should not rely on this characteristic.

Speed ​​multiplier

Another classification option is the speed multiplier, similar to the one used to indicate the read and write speed of optical discs. There are more than ten of them, from 6x to 633x.

The 1x multiplier is 150 KB/s, that is, the simplest 6x cards have a speed of 900 KB/s. At the most fast cards the multiplier can be 633x, which is 95 MB/s.

3. Objectives


StepanPopov/shutterstock.com

Choose the right card taking into account specific tasks. The biggest and fastest is not always the best. In certain use cases, the volume and speed may be excessive.

When buying a card for a smartphone, capacity plays a bigger role than speed. The advantages of a large drive are obvious, but the advantages of high transfer speeds on a smartphone are practically not felt, since large files are rarely written and read there (unless you have a smartphone with 4K video support).

Cameras that shoot HD and 4K video are a completely different matter: both speed and volume are equally important here. For 4K video, camera manufacturers recommend using UHS U3 cards, for HD - regular Class 10 or at least Class 6.

For photos, many professionals prefer to use several smaller cards to minimize the risk of losing all the images in force majeure circumstances. As for speed, it all depends on the photo format. If you shoot in RAW, it makes sense to invest in microSDHC or microSDXC class UHS U1 and U3 - in this case they will reveal themselves fully.

4. Fakes


jcjgphotography/shutterstock.com

No matter how trivial it may sound, but buying a fake under the guise original maps Now it's easier than ever. Several years ago, SanDisk claimed that a third of SanDisk memory cards on the market were counterfeit. It is unlikely that the situation has changed much since then.

To avoid disappointment when purchasing, just use common sense. Refrain from buying from untrustworthy sellers, and beware of offers of "original" cards, the price of which is significantly lower than the official one.

Attackers have learned to fake packaging so well that sometimes it can be very difficult to distinguish it from the original. You can judge with complete confidence the authenticity of a particular card only after checking using special utilities:

  • H2testw- for Windows;

    • If you have already experienced the loss of important data due to a memory card failure for one reason or another, then when it comes to choosing, you will most likely prefer a more expensive card a well-known brand than an affordable “no name”.

    In addition to greater reliability and safety of your data, with a branded card you will receive high speed and a guarantee (in some cases even lifetime).

    Now you know everything you need to know about SD cards. As you can see, there are many questions that you will have to answer before purchasing a card. Perhaps the best idea would be to have various cards for various needs. This way you can take full advantage of the equipment without exposing your budget to unnecessary expenses.

If you want to choose the best card memory for a camera or smartphone, but are having trouble choosing, then you have come to the right address. In this material, we talk about how the memory cards on the market differ from each other, and give a practical answer to the question of which specific memory card can perform better in certain operating scenarios.

In 2018, memory cards are ubiquitous. They are used in many types of consumer electronics, from phones and cameras to laptops, drones and dash cams. The high-quality operation of all such gadgets directly depends on how appropriate the memory card is selected for them. And it’s not just about capacity: the performance of memory cards, as well as their price, can vary significantly, and different gadgets have completely different requirements for the speed of the storage media they use. If the memory card is chosen incorrectly, this can directly affect the operation of the gadget, to the point where it refuses to perform its functions at all. Therefore, studying the practical characteristics of memory cards under different types of loads is a very important study, which allows you to find the most suitable option for each case, without overpaying for redundant characteristics.

The main general conclusion from the testing is this: the performance of microSD memory cards is not always directly dependent on their cost. Finding a good speed memory card at a low price today is quite possible.

However, this is not so easy to do without additional research. Just looking at the speed class logos on the map is clearly not enough. Manufacturers are extremely careless when it comes to labeling, and by and large, a declaration that a card belongs to a particular speed class means absolutely nothing. In most cases, the performance of current microSD card models significantly exceeds the levels declared by the manufacturer. For example, the formally fastest cards that took part in testing were labeled only as U3 and V30 classes, but in practice, some tested samples were able to demonstrate a write speed of an impressive 90 MB/s, which is three times better.

Even greater difficulties arise if the card is selected for an Android device. In most cases, manufacturers do not describe the speeds that are important in this case for small-block loads at all, and there is a complete information vacuum in this area.

Fortunately, the tests carried out allow us to answer basic questions about the real speed characteristics of memory cards and give specific recommendations. In order to present a generalized picture of the domestic 64 GB microSD card market, we have compiled traditional price-performance charts, which combine the speed of memory cards according to the results of testing and their average cost according to Yandex.Market data (for Moscow as of 09/07/18).

The first chart takes into account the speeds of memory cards under linear load. It should be used as a guide when it comes to choosing a microSD card for recording photo or video content with the appropriate device.

The second chart takes into account performance for both linear loads and random operations with small blocks. This illustration should be used as a guide when choosing a mobile storage medium for an Android device in which the memory card is planned to be used, among other things, for installing programs and storing work files.

The presented data hardly needs any additional comments. Therefore, all we can do is provide a list of models recommended for purchase.

SamsungEVOPlus64 GB. Base map Samsung's memory is the undisputed favorite in today's test. While the EVO Plus falls into the ultra-low-cost card category, it is able to offer levels of performance found in options that cost twice as much. This rarely happens, but in this case we are dealing with a product that will appeal to almost everyone and is suitable for almost everything. In other words, Samsung EVO Plus is our clear choice.

SanDiskExtremePro64 GB. We were unable to find alternatives that could be compared with the Samsung EVO Plus in terms of price and performance. However, it would still be wrong to leave a list of recommendations from only one model. Therefore, if you have nothing against high-priced memory cards, then we would advise you to pay attention to the SanDisk Extreme Pro. This card is interesting because it offers the highest possible serial speeds for the interface used. When buying it, you can be sure that it was impossible to find anything better for a photo or video camera among UHS-I cards.

SanDiskExtreme64 GB. The third alternative that I would like to mention in this material is the SanDisk Extreme card. True, it makes sense to purchase such a microSD card only if the Samsung EVO Plus for some reason does not suit you at all. It is more expensive, and its performance is slightly better only under occasional load. However, compared to other proposals, it looks quite good, which allows us to include it among the acceptable options, especially when it comes to choosing a mobile storage medium for a smartphone or tablet.

Recently, prices for microSD memory cards have dropped significantly, and their performance and speed have increased significantly. New standards have emerged that are incompatible with the old ones, so you need to know what to choose.

Today, microSD cards are most often used to expand memory in devices from smartphones to drones. This is the most common form factor. But there are still some digital camera owners who buy full-size SD cameras.

There are several SD card form factors:

  • standard full-size SD cards,
  • MiniSD cards,
  • microSD cards.

In addition, the SD Card Manufacturers Association this year announced the availability of SD 7.0 cards, which will be available in two types:

  • SD Ultra Capacity (SDUC) up to 128 TB
  • SD Express, for collaboration with PCI-SIG.

These SD cards are compatible with PCIe 3.0 /NVMe v1.3 protocols and promise maximum speeds of around 985 MB/s.

What type of memory card should I choose?

Let me immediately clarify that, despite the fact that the main form factor today is microSD, here we will mainly talk about other types of cards.

The final microSD card configuration was approved by the SD Card Manufacturers Association in July 2005. Back then they only supported up to 128 MB of memory. This limitation was later extended in the SDHC and SDXC standards.

  • microSD: maximum memory capacity 2 GB, transfer speed 25 MB/s. Used file systems FAT12, FAT16 or FAT16B.
  • microSDHC: from 4 GB to 32 GB of storage space, transfer speed from 50 MB/s to 150 MB/s. Typically FAT32 is used.
  • microSDXC: from 32 GB to 200 GB of memory, transfer speed from 50 MB/s to 312 MB/s. Typically exFAT is used.

It is worth noting that today microSDXC cards are most often sold. These in turn can be divided into different categories (classes) of speeds, which ultimately apply to all the SD card families mentioned above.

The SD Card Manufacturers Association has proposed several different speed classification systems to help determine which cards are best suited for different purposes.

Thus, “class 2” cards (2 MB/s) were created in ancient times for recording standard definition video or for storing small files. The memory cards that replaced them are “class 10” (10 MB/s), capable of recording or playing video with a resolution of up to 4K, but with compression.

Additionally, some SDHC and SDXC cards are rated Ultra High Speed ​​(UHS). This indicates support for one of the three UHS specifications (UHS-I, UHS-II and UHS-III), which use full-duplex speed, that is, the sum of the simultaneous read and write speeds when working with a memory card.

Maximum speeds according to UHS standards are:

  • UHS-I - 104 Mb/s
  • UHS-II - 156 Mb/s
  • UHS-III - 624 Mb/s

Duplex mode in memory cards is very rare even in smartphones, so essentially the UHS standard is a kind of guidance for the buyer, nothing more.

Performance classes for applications

In addition to classification by speed, SD cards are distinguished by performance for applications. These are classes A1, A2, which take into account the minimum performance of IOPs (operations per second) in programs. This classification was required so that the user could choose a faster flash drive for booting Linux or Windows from it, for batch processing of photos directly from the flash drive without writing to disk, and for other similar situations.

A1 standard cards have random read performance of 1500 IOPS and random write performance of 500 IOPS, while A2 increases these figures to 4000 IOPS and 2000 IOPS. By the way, the fastest server hard drives have a performance of around 300 IOPS for reading and writing.

Speed ​​class

Sequential recording, MB/s

UHS class

Video Speed ​​Class Recommended Application

Record and view SD video

720p/1080p video

Video Class 6 (V6)

720p/1080p, some 4K videos

Video Class 10 (V10)

720p/1080p/4K video

UHS Class 3 (U3)

Video Class 30 (V30)

1080p/4k video at 60/120 FPS

Video Class 60 (V60)

Video Class 90 (V90)

8K video at 60/120 FPS

Of course, the higher the class, the more expensive the card will cost you, so when purchasing, be clear about what you need it for. Keep in mind that not all cards have job classes indicated in the applications. To expand the memory of a budget smartphone, there is no point in overpaying for a speed that the device does not support.

We have selected three universal options for you to make it easier for you to make a choice for your specific case.

What to buy

Best price for microSD card:

  • Samsung Evo Select 64 GB U3 - approximately $11
  • Samsung Evo Select 128 GB U3 - approximately $20 (it's the same card, but more memory)

The 64GB Evo Select (U3) family cards promise 100MB/s read and 60MB/s writes and come with an SD card adapter. This card has become the best-selling microSD on Amazon over the past year. If you need more memory, the Evo Select 128 GB will give you faster write speeds of about 90 MB/s at the same read speed.

Samsung Evo Select cards of the U1 class, with the same read speed, have a write speed of only 20-30 MB/s, so it is better not to buy them.

Best high-performance microSD card

  • For smartphones/tablets: SanDisk Extreme 128GB U3/V30 A2, - approximately $30
  • For camcorders/video recordings: Delkin 1900x64 GB, UHS-II U3/V60, - approximately $85
  • Alternative: Samsung Evo Select 128GB U3 - approximately $20

Of course, other manufacturers have better deals, but for more specialized uses where high performance is required, it's best to use a microSD card that's suited to the task at hand and that your device can take full advantage of its performance. For example, if you need fast memory for a smartphone or tablet, you should pay attention to the application speed rating (A1/A2), since the typical work of such a card is reading small files.

The $30 SanDisk Extreme 128GB Memory Card (SDSQXA1-128G-GN6MA) has an A2 performance rating (4,000 IOPS read and 2,000 IOPS write). Sequential access has a read speed of 160Mb/s and a write speed of 90Mb/s.

But keep in mind that even though the tests report these numbers, you won't necessarily achieve these speeds. In general, we do not recommend getting carried away with tests, since you do not need peak sequential speeds, but faster random reading and writing.

To record video on drones and video equipment, you need the highest rated card (UHS-II V90), but it is not available in the microSD form factor (this form factor has the UHS-II V60 with 60MB/s read speed).

In this segment, it is worth paying attention to the Delkin microSDXC UHS-II. This card provides read speeds of up to 300 MB/s and write speeds of up to 100 MB/s. The Lexar Professional 1800x and 1000x series cards are also quite good. To take full advantage of these cards, make sure your card slot is UHS-II compliant.

Finally, if you want maximum performance on a device that uses full-size SD cards, then it's better to buy a full-size SD card rather than a MicroSD with an SD adapter. High-end SD cards such as Sony and Lexar can achieve read speeds of up to 300 MB/s.

Best high capacity microSD card

If you need maximum capacity for passive data storage, then it is better to buy the Kingston Digital Canvas React 512GB U3 / V30 A1 for $159, and for active recording and storage of backups - SanDisk Extreme 400 GB U3 / V30 A2 for $199.

Kingston offers one of the most available cards microSD memory of such a large capacity. For comparison, SanDisk cards have a maximum capacity of 400 GB, while other brands are still topping out at around 256 GB. PNY also has a 512GB microSD card, but that model costs around $300.

In terms of price and performance (100 MB/s read and 80 MB/s write), Kingston map Digital Canvas React - best choice, if the price per gigabyte is of decisive importance, and if speed is more important to you, choose the Sandisk Extreme 400 GB.

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