In the mobile sector, microSD cards are an underappreciated hero. They are essential in tablets, drones, and security cameras in addition to providing additional storage space for your smartphone. Sadly, the majority of flagship and midrange smartphones no longer have a slot for a microSD card, so this feature is losing favor. There is no longer a microSD card slot on even the most expensive smartphones, like the Samsung S22 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 4. You're not even protected on the off chance that you have an iPhone or iPad, as they've never had microSD card openings.
Be that as it may, everything isn't lost! The absolute best Android telephones and best Android tablets in all actuality do in any case uphold them, they're actually expected for use with cameras, surveillance cameras, and robots. Yet, regardless of which gadget you're getting it for, you'll need to get your hands on a microSD card from a legitimate brand.
We've chosen a few of the best microSD cards from well-known manufacturers like Samsung, Lexar, SanDisk, Toshiba, and Kingston to cover all storage needs. You can look elsewhere on this list, but we recommend sticking with the brands listed above. At the time of writing, all prices were correct, but the microSD card market moves quickly, so expect them to change.
Netac 32GB
Please bear with us because the first card on our list isn't actually from one of the major brands we recommended sticking with earlier. Netac's 32GB microSD card arrives in a convenient two-pack and is the card to go for on the off chance that you're involving your telephone or tablet in unfriendly circumstances or changing it out often. Since it's super rough and worked to endure outrageous intensity and cold, water, and shock, it's an extraordinary decision for activity cameras or robots. It's even X-beam resistant. It performs admirably with read speeds of up to 90 Mbps, although write speeds are a little sluggish at 10 Mbps. At $11 for a two-pack, it's one of the more reasonable choices on our rundown..
SanDisk Extreme 32GB
A speedy SDHC card with read and write speeds of up to 60 Mbps is available here. This is a long-lasting card that has a lifetime warranty in most places, and the reviews are all very good. It can handle 4K video and 1080p video without any issues, though if you intend to use it for that, you may need a larger capacity. It is ensured UHS Speed Class 3, V30, and A1 for Adoptable Capacity. It likewise accompanies a helpful SD connector. This microSD card is great for most cameras, robots, tablets, and telephones.
PNY Premier-X 64GB
This SDXC card has a read speed of up to 100 Mbps (though it is slightly slower for writing) and is rated as UHS 3 for faster transfers. It's a sturdy, solid choice from a respectable brand that has incredible surveys. A1 application execution implies you can run applications straightforwardly from the card, going with this a superb decision for your telephone, and it's likewise an expert for Full HD photography and 4K Ultra HD videography on DSLR cameras, activity cameras, or robots. It accompanies a helpful SD connector, as well.
SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB
Read and write speeds of up to 700 Mbps are possible with this SanDisk Pro card. UHS 3 rated, this card effortlessly records 4K, 3D, and 1080p Full HD videos. This card is a great option for professional photographers as well as anyone who takes a lot of pictures or stores a lot of data on their phone. It also comes with a USB 3.0 card reader, which makes it easy to upload your data quickly.
Kingston Canvas Select Plus 256GB
This UHS 3 card is optimized for Android phones because it has an A1 rating. It upholds up to 256GB at an expense that fits many financial plans, and it can without much of a stretch help 1080p video accounts. Despite its improved read speed of up to 100 Mbps, this card does not have a write speed that can run 4K video recordings. Your buy additionally accompanies a SD connector.
PNY Pro Elite 512GB
This PNY 512GB microSD card is the ideal middle ground if you're not sure if you need 1TB of storage but think 256GB is too little. Valid, it's not the quickest, with read rates of up to 100Mbps and compose velocities of up to 90Mbps, however it's an extraordinary choice for your telephone, as it runs applications straightforwardly from the microSD card. Its high limit likewise settles on it an incredible decision for surveillance cameras, so you will not be trading the card out each time it's full. Its U3 and V30 appraisals mean it can deal with 4K video, however assuming this is your fundamental justification behind purchasing the card, we prescribe moving up to the SanDisk Outrageous 1TB all things being equal. It's likewise waterproof, shockproof, and magnet-verification, so it's an incredible decision in the event that you much of the time switch your card between gadgets.
Samsung Pro Plus 512GB
When it comes to both price and performance, the Samsung Pro Plus exemplifies excellent speeds at a price that is within reach. It has a variety of storage capacities to meet your needs, with read speeds of up to 160 Mbps and write speeds of up to 120 Mbps. Also, with its U3 and V30 appraisals, this card can deal with 4K video effectively, making it ideal for use with the most recent DSLR cameras. Even though the most recent Samsung flagships don't have room for microSD cards these days, we still recommend this card because it is designed to work with Samsung mobile devices.
SanDisk Extreme 1TB
The Sandisk Extreme 1TB model is the best option if storage is your top priority. This item accompanies extended capacity choices, and its UHS 3 and V30 Speed Class evaluations both mean it's fit for dealing with 4K video recording. The card's perused speeds measure at around 160Mbps, and its compose speeds reach up to 90MBps. In order to get the most out of that potential performance, you'll want to check that your device is fully compatible. The card received one of the highest possible A2 ratings for its storage capabilities on Android devices, in addition to all of these excellent performance features. This is a great option for your DSLR, action camera, drone, or security camera because it has all the storage you'll ever need. However, if you have a phone or tablet that is compatible with it and don't want to worry about running out of space, it's also a good choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you consider when buying a microSD card?
There are a handful of things to consider when you’re choosing a new microSD card for your phone. Obviously, the price and capacity are going to be factors, but you also need to make sure that the type of card you buy is supported by your device and that it’s suitable for your needs. This includes thinking about things like SDHC and SDXC, Speed Class ratings, Application Performance Class, and more.
SDHC or SDXC?
SDHC stands for Secure Digital High Capacity, and SDXC stands for Secure Digital Extended Capacity. The only real difference is the range of data they can store. You’ll find that SDHC microSD cards range from 2GB to 32GB in size, while SDXC microSD cards can range from 32GB up to 2TB in size, though the biggest microSD card we’ve seen so far is 1TB.
What is Application Performance Class?
The SD Association also has a standard called Application Performance Class, which is designed to highlight microSD cards that are suitable for use in smartphones and tablets. The A1 rating means that the card can manage random read input-output access per second (IOPS) of 1,500 and write IOPS of 500. The A2 rating indicates random read input-output access per second of 4,000 and write IOPS of 2,000. This is ideal for quickly opening apps and processing tasks. These A1 and A2 cards are worth looking out for if you intend to format your card as internal storage in an Android device, something Google calls Adoptable Storage.
How do you choose a microSD card for your needs?
If you are simply focused on adding storage capacity for downloaded files and casual pictures and videos, the lower Speed Class ratings will do just fine for your phone or tablet, provided your device has a microSD card slot. make sure you check this, as there's no card slot in many of the latest flagship phones.
Content creators shooting a lot of video, pro photographers, or drone enthusiasts will want to look for higher-end Class 10 and UHS microSD cards, at the very least. These will be better equipped to handle 4K resolutions and high frame rates of 60 frames per second or 120 fps. Android power users may want to consider cards with the App Performance Class designation.
In any case, you’re obviously going to want the highest speed, highest capacity microSD card you can get for the lowest price. We would advise you to factor in the brand reputation and the reported performance and reliability. Check out the warranty terms, just in case something should go wrong. You also need to be careful where you buy. If you’re going to use Amazon or eBay, then read some customer reviews and watch out for fake microSD cards, because they’re disappointingly common.
