It is easy for all of our digital content material to construct up through the years. However our units solely provide a restricted capability to retailer our recordsdata and information. So, what do you do when you’ve gotten recordsdata you should retailer however no more room in your machine? Or once you need to backup recordsdata in case of an emergency?
A microSD card could possibly be best for you. Whereas the microSD card is not precisely a brand new invention, these small-yet-mighty playing cards assist with transferring and storing recordsdata, and supply a protected, safe place to your recordsdata to dwell — off of your different units’ inner storage. However not all microSD playing cards are created the identical, which is why it is key to search out the most effective microSD card to belief together with your recordsdata that additionally suits your wants.
Additionally: The best external hard drives
ZDNET rounded up the most effective microSD playing cards primarily based on storage capability, value, and switch pace to make sure you could find a viable microSD choice for you. Our prime choose is Samsung’s Evo Plus microsSD card for its dependable efficiency, fast speeds, and sturdiness. See extra of our different microSD picks for gaming, bigger storage wants, and extra beneath.
The most effective microSD playing cards of 2024
- Nice learn and write speeds
- Quick transfers
- 4-year guarantee
Samsung Evo Plus microSD card tech specs: Learn pace: 100MB/s | Write pace: 60 MB/s | SD Class: 10 | Capability: 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
The Samsung Evo Plus microSD card is the most effective microSD card total, because of its dependable efficiency and rugged, sturdy construct. This can be a well-protected microSD card with four-proof safety; it’s waterproof and may stand up to various temperatures with an X-ray and magnet-proof design. It’s a moderately priced card that provides fast learn and write speeds with 4K UHD help to your vital movies and recordsdata.
- Extremely quick
- Reasonably priced
- Dependable efficiency
- Smaller than the Professional
- Finest for smaller units
Lexar Skilled 1066x microSDXC card tech specs: Learn pace: 160MB/s | Write pace: 120 MB/s |
SD Class: A2| Capability: 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
The Lexar Skilled 1066x microSDXC card is ideal for video storage. With UHS-I expertise, transfers are tremendous quick — one of many quickest on our listing — with help for Full HD and 4K UHD content material. This card is appropriate with a sequence of units, together with your smartphone, pill, and digicam, in addition to drones and different motion cameras. It’s water-, shock-, vibration-, and X-ray-proof for a dependable construct that you could take with you on the go.
- Improbable compatibility
- Lengthy guarantee
- IPX7 ranking
- Restricted capacities
- Not as quick as different microSD playing cards
Samsung EVO Choose microSD reminiscence card tech specs: Learn pace: As much as 100MB/s | Write pace: 90 MB/s | SD Class: 10 | Capability: 128 GB, 256 GB
The Samsung EVO Choose MicroSD Reminiscence card additionally helps 4K UHD content material. One other class 10 card, it comes with a full-size SD adapter so you’ll be able to start saving immediately. Profit from each SD and microSD compatibility for higher flexibility. The Samsung EVO is quick, too. You may switch a 3GB video in 38 seconds, and it might retailer as much as 20 hours of full HD video or 37,600 photographs.
- Dependable efficiency
- Tremendous inexpensive
- IP55-rated
Sandisk Excessive SSD V2 tech specs: Learn pace: As much as 90MB/s | Write pace: 40 MB/s | SD Class: 10 | Capability: 500 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB
The Sandisk Excessive SSD V2 is available in very excessive capacities, with as a lot as 4TB of storage. Switch speeds are slower than the opposite choices on our listing, however this card’s massive storage vary helps make up for it. It’s twice as quick as its earlier mannequin, utilizing NVMe™ strong state expertise to retailer and switch your recordsdata. The transportable design brings further peace of thoughts with a construct that’s each IP55 water and dust-resistant and may stand up to a two-meter drop.
- Massive capability
- Waterproof
- X-ray-proof
- Not appropriate with all units
- Pricier than the SanDisk Excessive
Sandisk Excessive Professional microSDXC card tech specs: Learn pace: As much as 200MB/s | Write pace: 140 MB/s | SD Class: 3 | Capability: 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
The Sandisk Excessive Professional MicroSDXC card has the quickest speeds of all of the microSD playing cards ZDNET rounded up. Whereas this card could be utilized for conventional storage, additionally it is a superb match for these wanting to make use of a microSD card of their smartphones, as it’s outfitted with an A2 ranking. Sandisk QuickFlow Know-how means 4K UHD video recording and full HD video, plus supply of these photographs in excessive decision.
- Largest capability
- Quick learn pace
- Dependable
Sandisk Excessive Plus 1TB microSDXC reminiscence card tech specs: Learn pace: As much as 200MB/s | Write pace: 90 MB/s | SD Class: 10 | Capability: 1 TB
For those who’re searching for a dependable high-storage microSD card, the Sandisk Excessive Plus provides 1TB of storage capability — an absolute monster quantity for the typical particular person. With a video pace class ranking of 30 and UHS help, the Sandisk Excessive Plus captures high-quality 4k UHD and Full HD video and permits for high-speed transfers.
- Enjoyable design
- A number of storage choices
- Simple so as to add to Nintendo Swap
- Lacks versatility
- A slight gimmick
Sandisk microSDXC reminiscence card for Nintendo Swap tech specs: Learn pace: As much as 100MB/s | Write pace: 90 MB/s | SD Class: 10 | Capability: 256GB, 400GB, 512GB
With unimaginable pace, this Sandisk microSDXC card designed for the Nintendo Swap console permits you to add 256GB of house to your system. With learn and write-up speeds of as much as 100MB/s and 90MB/s respectively, you’ll be able to spend extra time gaming. Plus, this microSD card is backed by a lifetime guarantee, so don’t fret about something going awry.
The Samsung Evo Plus microSD card is inexpensive, has dependable efficiency, and tons of constructive consumer critiques. Different choices might have quicker learn and write speeds, however the consumer expertise for this microSD card is incredible. To see the way it compares, these are the opposite greatest microSD playing cards you should buy:
Finest microSD card | Price (Base capability) | Learn pace | Write pace |
Samsung Evo Plus microSD card | $17 | 100 MB/s | 60 MB/s |
Lexar Skilled 1066x microSDXC card | $19 | 160 MB/s | 120 MB/s |
Samsung EVO Choose MicroSD card | $23 | 100 MB/s | 90 MB/s |
SanDisk Excessive microSD card | $13 | 90 MB/s | 40 MB/s |
SanDisk Excessive Professional MicroSDXC card | $22 | 170 MB/s | 90 MB/s |
Sandisk Excessive Plus 1TB microSDXC card | $170 | 200 MB/s | 90 MB/s |
Sandisk microSDXC microSD card for Nintendo Swap | $38 | 100 MB/s | 90 MB/s |
*MSRP on the time of writing. Please word that precise costs might fluctuate relying on out there gross sales, offers, reductions, and coupons.
Whereas the Samsung Evo Plus microSD card is ZDNET’s prime choose, its greatest to contemplate your wants earlier than making a variety.
Select this microSD card ... | If you would like … |
Samsung Evo Plus microSD card | Glorious worth and efficiency |
Lexar Skilled 1066x microSDXC card | To retailer a whole lot of movies |
Samsung EVO Choose MicroSD card | A flexible microSD card at an awesome value |
Sandisk Excessive microSD card | To retailer a ton of recordsdata affordably |
Sandisk Excessive Professional MicroSDXC card | To make use of your cellphone for file transfers |
Sandisk Excessive Plus 1TB microSDXC card | For optimum storage |
Sandisk microSDXC microSD card for Nintendo Swap | For further Nintendo Swap storage |
ZDNET thought-about a number of components whereas researching and selecting the right microSD playing cards:
- Capability: For those who do have a whole lot of photographs and movies, a smaller microSD card won’t be sufficient to retailer all of your gadgets, so you’d need to look for a bigger microSD card, like one with 128 GB and even 1 TB in case you want it.
- Velocity: Most units are appropriate with a Class 10 or U1-rated card. Nonetheless, in case your machine requires a decrease pace class, store for microSD playing cards which have a Class 2, 4, or 6 classification.
- Price: The value of a microSD card is a significant consideration as a result of budgets can fluctuate considerably. We search for microSD playing cards that swimsuit quite a lot of budgets, making certain that there’s something for everybody.
A microSD card is designed for use with smaller units, reminiscent of your cellphone or digicam. It’s the smaller model of a typical SD card, providing house to your photographs and movies in a extra compact presentation.
A microSD card is easy and simple to make use of. It really works with the SD card slot in your machine once you use an adapter. microSD playing cards will also be used with online game programs, cameras, drones, and smartphones. Some laptops and computer systems might even have one or a number of microSD slots constructed into their designs.
MicroSD playing cards are typically very inexpensive, and most vary between $15 to $60 relying on the dimensions and mannequin that you simply select. Bigger microSD playing cards, reminiscent of 1TB fashions, can value upwards of $100-plus or extra.
These microSD playing cards could also be value a re-assessment.
Best microSD card for professionals
Samsung PRO Plus
A great alternative option for saving work files and data.
Best alternative microSD card for smartphones
Sandisk Ultra MicroSDHC
Perfect for expanding the storage of your smartphone.