The best microSD cards of 2024: Expert tested | ZDNET

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Capacity

Storage products come in a variety of capacities, allowing users to select a size that meets their needs without paying for unused storage space.

Portability and connectivity

Consider if you need a desktop or portable storage solution, and how you'd like to connect to the storage system (such as via Ethernet, HDMI port, or mobile hotspot).

Price

Storage systems come in a wide range of prices, so be sure to consider your budget.

In our tech-fueled era, microSD cards have emerged as the unsung champions of data storage. These tiny shards of plastic are, in reality, veritable titans of storage capable of adding gigabytes to a wide array of devices -- from smartphones and tablets to action cameras, dashcams, and drones. Whether you're snapping selfies or capturing the wildest of adventures, these storage cards are likely an integral part of your digital existence, perhaps without you even realizing it.

But beware! The market is a minefield of low-quality and counterfeit pretenders that threaten to sabotage your data and throttle your device's performance. The specter of losing priceless files or enduring sluggish operations is an ever present worry. But fear not, as top-tier microSD cards are astonishingly affordable. Investing in genuine, high-quality cards isn't merely a wise choice; it's an absolute must as premium cards deliver unrivaled performance, steadfast reliability, and rock-solid data integrity, ensuring your digital escapades remain seamless and your tech life hums along with efficiency.

So, choose wisely, because when it comes to microSD cards, quality reigns supreme.

Also: What do all those microSD and SD card numbers and letters mean?

Over the years, I've conducted hands-on testing on numerous microSD cards, evaluating features like capacity, price, and performance. My extensive use of dozens of microSD cards across a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, drones, and action cameras, has given me a comprehensive understanding of their performance in real-world scenarios.

Based on my testing, here are my top picks for the best microSD cards, with the SanDisk Extreme microSDXC standing out as the best overall choice for its consistent quality, performance, and reasonable price.

Tell me you need a microSD card and chances are that this is the one I'll recommend. I've been using SanDisk microSD cards in smartphones, tablets, action cams, dashcams and drones for years now, and I've not had one let me down.

Quality doesn't have to come at a price, either—you can pick up a 1TB card for under $100.

This is consistently one of the highest-rated microSD cards in online reviews.

SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I tech specs: Capacity: From 32GB to 1TB | Offload speed: Up to 190MB/s | Write speed: Up to 130MB/s | Performance rating: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30) | In-app performance rating: A2 (up to 4000 read IOPS, 2000 write IOPS)

Lexar, a brand I've trusted for well over a decade, has released a new microSD card -- the Lexar Professional Silver Plus microSDXC. The storage card combines professional-grade performance and reliability at a budget-friendly price, and I recently put it to the test.

The card is rated with a video class speed of V30 and a UHS speed rating of U3, meaning it can achieve a minimum of 30 MB/s. It also boasts an Application Performance Rating of A2, indicating it can handle 4000 IOPS minimum random reads, 2000 IOPS minimum random writes, and 10 MB/s minimum sustained sequential writes.

In terms of performance, this card is perfect for 4K video capture in H.265 format, which is more than enough for most people's needs. It's solid and reliable, and it comes with a great warranty and free recovery software in case you accidentally delete important footage.

Review: Lexar Professional Silver Plus microSDXC

For a new card, the user reviews on online stores are very positive, indeed, which means this card is a winner.

Lexar Professional Silver Plus microSDXC Memory Card tech specs: Capacity: From 128GB to 512GB | Offload speed: Up to 205MB/s | Write speed: Up to 150MB/s | Performance rating: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30)

This is the card I recommend to those who either are in love with the Amazon Basics brand, or who are scared to buy another brand for fear of getting a counterfeit card.

I've used these cards a lot in applications where speed is not a concern -- such as dashcams -- and they've all performed as advertised.

Reviews on outlets such as Amazon are highly positive, with buyers being surprised that something on the Amazon Basics brand can be so good.

Amazon Basics Micro SDXC Memory Card tech specs: Capacity: From 32GB to 1TB | Offload speed: Up to 100MB/s | Write speed: Up to 60MB/s | Performance rating: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30)

When I want speed, these are the cards that I turn to when I need to record a lot of data. With write speeds topping at 130MB/s, these are the cards I choose when I'm working with 5K video, either on the ground in action cameras or in the air with a drone.

With 89 percent of Amazon reviewers giving this card 4 or 5 stars, this is a card you can trust.

ProGrade Digital UHS-II microSD Card tech specs: Capacity: From 64GB to 256GB | Offload speed: Up to 250MB/s | Write speed: Up to 130MB/s | Performance rating: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 60 (V60)

If you're going to be doing a lot of writing to a microSD card, these are the cards for you as they are designed to offer up to 16 years -- an incredible 140,160 hours -- of continuous recording time for the 256GB version, while offering read and write speeds of up to 100 megabytes per second (MB/s) and 40 MB/s, respectively.

Review: Samsung PRO Endurance MicroSDXC Card

I've read countless reviews on Reddit and Amazon for these cards, and the claims of high endurance seem to translate into real-world usage.

Samsung PRO Endurance MicroSDXC Card tech specs: Capacity: From 32GB to 256GB | Offload speed: Up to 100MB/s | Write speed: Up to 40MB/s | Performance rating: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30)

It's impossible to cover storage media for cameras without including Lexar, as it's one of those brands that's been around since the dawn of storage. Great performance, an excellent limited lifetime warranty, and another brand that's not let me down.

Another brand of microSD cards that has tens of hundreds of positive reviews on outlets and Reddit.

Lexar Professional microSDXC UHS-I microSD Card tech specs: Capacity: From 64GB to 1TB | Offload speed: Up to 160MB/s | Write speed: Up to 130MB/s | Performance rating: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30) | In-app performance rating: A2 (up to 4000 read IOPS, 2000 write IOPS)

ZDNET's pick for the best overall microSD card is the SanDisk Extreme, but narrowing down the best microSD card isn't an easy task. That's because you can have different cards for different applications. For example, one person might favor performance, while another might want high endurance, and another be budget conscious.

Thankfully, there are numerous options for extra storage that can range from just a few dollars to over a hundred, with different storage offerings and read and write speeds.

Brand

Price

Read speed (MB/s)

Write speed (MB/s)

SanDisk Extreme

From $10

190

130

Lexar Professional Silver Plus

From $18

205

150

Amazon Basics

From $13

100

60

ProGrade Digital

From $50

250

130

Samsung PRO Endurance

From $12

100

40

Lexar Professional

From $12

160

130

*MSRP at the time of writing. Please note that actual prices may vary depending on available sales, deals, discounts, and coupons.

ZDNET's pick for the best overall microSD card is the SanDisk Extreme, but narrowing down the best microSD card isn't an easy task. Check out our other top picks and see how they compare to each other, and to your needs.

Choose this microSD card brand…

If you…

SanDisk Extreme

Want a fantastic all-rounder suitable for most applications.

Lexar Professional Silver Plus

Want a professional, pro-grade card without the eye-watering cost.

Amazon Basics

Are worried about counterfeit cards with more prominent brands.

ProGrade Digital

Record lots of video and want blistering fast write speeds.

Samsung PRO Endurance

Are recording 24/7/365 to the card with CCTV or use it in a body cam or dash cam.

Lexar Professional

Are a professional and you want a brand that's been around for ages and a limited lifetime warranty.

ZDNET only recommends products we ourselves have tested or researched, and while there are many microSD options on the market, not every card is built the same. Here are some other factors I considered when testing and curating my top selections.

The main difference between an SD card and a microSD card is size. SD cards are larger, measuring 32mm x 24mm x 2.1mm, while microSD cards measure 15mm x 11mm x 1mm.

Both types of cards come in similar capacity ranges and performance classes.

SD cards are found in devices with larger form factors such as digital cameras, camcorders, and older laptops, while the smaller microSD cards find a place in smaller devices such as smartphones, tablets, drones, and action cameras.

No. In fact, I've seen people run into troubles and lose a lot of data doing this, not so much because of the microSD card, but because of their own bad practices. A terabyte microSD card can hold a lot of data, but that can lead to problem if you don't regularly empty it and one day your camera falls into the sea or your drone flies away never to be seen again.

This is why I prefer having a handful of smaller cards. This way I change them regularly, and if the worst happens and I do lose data, the loss is limited.

Very robust!

I've been using microSD cards for closer to two decades now, and they're incredibly durable. MicroSD cards are built to withstand extreme weather conditions, and are temperature-proof, waterproof, drop-proof, shockproof, and even X-ray proof.

It can be hard to do this. The way many find out is that their card either dies or doesn't have anywhere near the stated capacity.

Other, more subtle giveaways include the printing on the card being poor quality or wrong, and cheap packaging.

Windows users can also use software tools to check the validity of their microSD cards, tools such as h2testw, USB Flash Drive Tester, and ChipGenius.

Another way it to carry out a speed check test using a tool such as BlackMagic Disk Speed Test or CrystalDiskMark and checking your results against the specs on the card's packaging or the internet. If they are dramatically different -- say by 20% or more -- then you could have a fake card (or something is wrong with your test system or card reader).

The best way to avoid counterfeits is to buy from a reputable outlet.

Yes, but I'm going to steer away cheap or budget microSD cards, simply because my listing above has some great cards at a great price, and going cheaper is false economy.

But here are a couple of cards that might interest you -- a 1.5TB card and a great value 3-pack of 128GB cards.

Here's a 5-pack of 32GB microSD cards for under $30. A bargain!

This microSD card offers 1.5TB of internal storage.

This Lexar E-Series offers three 128GB microSD cards in one pack.