The most effective microSD playing cards in 2025

Most microSD playing cards are quick sufficient for enhancing cupboard space and making easy file transfers, however some present a bit of extra worth than others. Should you’ve acquired a tool that also accepts microSD playing cards — whether or not it’s an older gaming handheld, the brand new Nintendo Swap 2, a touch cam, a drone or an Android pill — we’ve scoured the market and put shut to twenty high contenders via quite a lot of benchmark assessments. You’ll find our suggestions for the perfect microSD playing cards beneath, alongside some common purchasing recommendation before you purchase.

Desk of contents

Greatest microSD playing cards of 2025

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, nevertheless, and the Samsung Professional Plus — our former “greatest for many” choose — continues to be value contemplating for those who see it out there 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 have been usually second to the pricier Samsung Professional Final, however solely by a bit of, so it’s well-suited for a conveyable sport console or some other setup the place it’d be requested to entry tiny bits of knowledge scattered all through a tool. It’s held up completely tremendous in our long-term testing as effectively. That mentioned, the Silver Plus is the higher card when it’s in the identical worth vary, plus Samsung’s has a shorter 10-year guarantee.

Should you do find yourself grabbing one, although, be sure to get the latest mannequin with learn speeds rated at 180MB/s. An older-generation mannequin with slower sequential reads and random efficiency should still be hanging round at some on-line retailers, so keep away from that one. Samsung additionally sells Sonic the Hedgehog-themed variations of the Professional Plus with an identical efficiency rankings, however these normally value a couple of bucks additional. 

Professionals

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

Cons

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

$20 at Amazon

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 Choose is a transparent step behind our high picks, significantly in relation to sequential write speeds (just below 70 MB/s on CrystalDiskMark). So we don’t suggest it for any form of digital camera. Nonetheless, it’s completely usable for easy storage growth, and its sequential and random learn speeds have 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 could possibly be significantly tremendous values for those who simply desire a large chunk of area from a good model on a budget. That mentioned, you must nonetheless seize the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus or Samsung Professional Plus as a substitute if both one is wherever shut in worth.

Professionals

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

Cons

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

$13 at Amazon

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 intend to personal a Nintendo Swap 2 within the close to future, you nearly actually don’t want the SanDisk microSD Specific Card, or some other microSD Specific card, simply but. Other than Nintendo’s new handheld, gadgets that natively assist this customary are exceedingly unusual proper now, and this explicit card is extremely costly, beginning at $56 for 128GB.

As a result of microSD Specific gadgets aren’t widespread but, you may possible want to purchase a appropriate 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, prices 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 conveyable SSD for those who simply wish to stash and transfer information. To additional that time, SanDisk’s card is simply out there in 128GB or 256GB capacities.

A couple of different Specific playing cards will provide extra room for much less money, however most of these have been both simply launched or aren’t but out there; we plan to check them for a future replace. Plus, even for those who do get a Swap 2, the costs immediately are most likely as costly as they’ll ever get. It additionally stays to be seen if the console will even enable for important efficiency variations between playing cards. So for those who can maintain out, you must.

Right here’s hoping the Swap 2 does lead microSD Specific to turn into extra extensively accepted although, as a result of this factor is miles quicker than any conventional card available on the market. Sequential reads checked in just below 900 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark and ATTO, which was in step with SanDisk’s 880 MB/s ranking 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 will 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 check file, we observed that write speeds would begin round 530 MB/s then dip nearer to 210 MB/s till the switch was full. Certain 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, possible as a result of these playing cards’ tiny frames can solely deal with a lot earlier than they must 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 check with our smaller 1.15GB check folder, in the meantime, averaged simply 4.5 seconds. 

All of it provides as much as a card that is no less than twice as quick as the perfect UHS-I fashions we’ve examined when it comes to sequential learn and write speeds, with three or 4 occasions the efficiency in some circumstances (significantly with the 256GB mannequin). The gulf in random reads and writes was related, and in some benchmarks even higher.

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

Professionals

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

Cons

• Units that assist microSD Specific moreover Swap 2 are extraordinarily restricted
• Costly, and requires a dear reader to realize full efficiency on most gadgets
• Solely out there in 128GB or 256GB

$54 at SanDisk

Different notable microSD playing cards

Lexar Play Professional microSD Specific Card

The Lexar Play Professional is the second microSD Specific card we’ve examined, and you’ll consider it as a “1A” choose 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 out there in 512GB and 1TB capacities. It’s quicker in relation to sequential writes, measuring round 720 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark and 700 MB/s in ATTO. It additionally managed to write down our bigger check file in roughly 35 seconds in sure runs, which was notably faster than the SanDisk card.

Nevertheless, its sequential reads have been fairly definitively slower — even when they’re nonetheless much better than the remainder of the market — and people are extra vital for decreasing load occasions with the Swap 2 in idea. The improved sequential writes have been additionally considerably inconsistent: Typically it’d take nearer to 50 seconds to complete our real-world check, bouncing between the low-200 MB/s vary and the high-400 MB/s vary alongside the way in which. At that time, it is solely marginally quicker than the SanDisk card. Random speeds, in the meantime, weren’t vastly totally different, so each must be equally adept at preserving bigger video games like Mario Kart World operating easy.

In the long run, the Swap 2 is the one actual motive to purchase a microSD Specific card proper now, and we are able to’t say for certain how totally different fashions will carry out on that system simply but. The “greatest” choice could find yourself being whichever one is most cost-effective. Nonetheless, the Play Professional is value grabbing for those who should purchase an Specific card immediately and wish greater than 256GB of area.

Samsung Professional Final

The Samsung Professional Final was the closest competitor to the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus throughout our benchmark assessments, however it’s tangibly worse when it comes to sequential write speeds, sometimes prices extra and doesn’t provide a 1TB choice. The Samsung Professional Plus is a bit slower for sequential reads, however it’s shut sufficient in any other case and normally simpler to search out at a lower cost.

Lexar Skilled Gold

We’ve not used it ourselves, however for those who’re keen to pay for a extra highly effective UHS-II card constructed for heavy-duty video recording, the Lexar Skilled Gold has examined effectively elsewhere and will ship considerably quicker sequential write speeds than our UHS-I picks above. It’s one of many few UHS-II playing cards we may truly discover in inventory, however it’s dear, with a 128GB mannequin usually priced within the $35 to $40 vary.

SanDisk Excessive

The SanDisk Excessive successfully matched the Professional Plus in just a few of our sequential assessments, however that was partly as a consequence of us solely with the ability to safe the 256GB mannequin, which is higher-rated than the 128GB model. It’s a tremendous alternative for those who see it on sale at a good vendor, however it’s broadly slower than our high choose and infrequently prices extra.

SanDisk GamePlay

The SanDisk GamePlay performs equally to the SanDisk Excessive however prices a very good bit additional 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.

SanDisk Pokémon

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 prices additional for having an image of Pikachu (or Gengar, or Snorlax) on a product you’ll by no means take a look at.

SanDisk Excessive Professional

The SanDisk Excessive Professional 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 quicker sequential write speeds as effectively.

PNY XLR8 Gaming

The PNY XLR8 is an inexpensive card that comes with as much as 512GB of area. 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 have been a lot, a lot slower, placing it out of rivalry.

PNY Elite-X

The PNY Elite-X usually 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 have been too far behind all of our high picks, and it not seems to be out there in capacities above 256GB.

What to search for in a microSD card

Capability

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

For many, a 128GB or 256GB mannequin must be a candy spot between worth and cupboard space. However for those who want extra room — say, for stashing a bunch of video games on a Steam Deck — a 512GB card or higher may make extra sense and infrequently gives a greater cost-per-GB ratio. Today, you’ll find a good 128GB card for round $15, a very good 256GB card for lower than $30 and a strong 512GB card for round $40 (with quicker 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 yr. The primary wave of 2TB playing cards are an excellent larger leap: the 2TB SanDisk Excessive, for instance, now has an inventory worth just below $250.

Be aware {that a} microSD card’s efficiency could differ relying on what capability you purchase. SanDisk says its 128GB Excessive 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.

Once we discuss microSD playing cards immediately, we usually discuss with playing cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capability) customary, which have a capability between 32GB and 2TB. Your gadget must assist this for it to work with a microSDXC card. It will nearly by no means be a difficulty as of late, however some older gadgets (a Nintendo 3DS, for example) are solely appropriate with microSDHC (Excessive Capability) playing cards, which vary from 2GB to 32GB.

Learn and write speeds

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 quicker 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, similar to opening a big video or copying an enormous batch of information from a PC. If you wish to use a microSD card for media storage, that is significantly vital. Random efficiency, in the meantime, is about how rapidly a card can learn and write small information scattered all through the gadget.

Since random learn/write speeds are a lot decrease than sequential ones, storage gadget makers have a tendency to not promote them as loudly. However they’re vital for those who use a card with a gaming gadget or a single-board laptop just like the Raspberry Pi, the place it usually has to quickly save and entry small bits of knowledge in random areas.

Velocity rankings

Should 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 velocity class and efficiency rankings, that are decided by the SD Affiliation.

A card’s Video Velocity Class, or V-rating, particulars its minimal sequential write velocity, which is very vital when recording video from a digital camera. It ranges from V6 to V90. A lot of the playing cards we examined had a V30 ranking, so that they have a sequential write velocity of no less than 30 MB/s. This must be sufficient to assist as much as 4K video at decrease bitrates. Larger-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 ranking 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 ranking is much less related these days, however you should still see a “C10” brand on some playing cards.

The Software 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, somewhat 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 pair of,000 IOPS, respectively. Each rankings additionally assure sequential write speeds of no less than 10 MB/s.

To maintain it easy, most individuals ought to search for a card with V30, U3 and A2 rankings. It’s completely attainable to get a strong card with out these: A U1 card may be value it for those who simply want an affordable, high-capacity choice, for instance. V60 and V90 playing cards are value a glance for those who’re severe about capturing high-resolution photographs and video as effectively. However general, playing cards with the certifications above ought to present the perfect mix of worth and efficiency immediately.

It’s vital to emphasise that these rankings 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: Typically the cardboard will likely be slower in real-world use, different occasions it could truly be a bit quicker.

UHS bus speeds

The opposite spec to notice is the cardboard’s bus interface. Most microSD playing cards out there immediately 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 effectively however hasn’t seen large adoption.) These are labeled on the cardboard with a Roman numeral I or II.

UHS-II playing cards are sometimes those with these increased V60 or V90 rankings. Should you shoot a number of 4K to 8K video or incessantly use burst mode to seize extremely high-res photographs, the efficiency positive factors of a very good UHS-II card can prevent time.

Nevertheless, these are way more costly than UHS-I playing cards: This 128GB Lexar Skilled 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 worth of our high choose above. You want a tool that’s appropriate with the UHS-II interface to see any advantages, too, and inventory for UHS-II playing cards is commonly spottier. For now, the upper speeds aren’t definitely worth the worth premium for most individuals, so we caught principally to UHS-I playing cards with our suggestions.

microSD Specific and the Nintendo Swap 2

Absolutely the quickest microSD playing cards you should buy, nevertheless, are primarily based on a special interface referred to as SD Specific. This has technically been round for a number of years and now contains its personal subset of velocity lessons, however the gist is that it is a lot quicker than UHS-I or UHS-II: SanDisk’s not too long ago launched microSD Specific card, one of many first commercially out there 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 well-liked gadgets natively assist SD Specific immediately. The primary main exception is the Nintendo Swap 2, which is solely appropriate with the newer customary, because it’s wanted to maintain up with the efficiency calls for of recent handheld video games.

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

However it’s nonetheless early days, and proper now all microSD Specific playing cards value way more than the perfect UHS-I and even UHS-II choices. Past the Swap 2, it’s attainable to reap the benefits 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 should not backwards appropriate with UHS-II (or UHS-III), so for those who 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 attraction if extra devices that assist the interface do arrive.

A observe on card readers and reaching marketed speeds

Whereas the UHS-I interface has a theoretical most of 104 MB/s, some UHS-I playing cards can exceed that velocity via proprietary extensions. Nevertheless, you want a appropriate card reader and host gadget to reap the benefits of that additional efficiency. Should you discover a UHS-I card promoting speeds increased than 104 MB/s, that is what’s occurring. You possibly can see these limits in motion with an authentic Nintendo Swap or Steam Deck: Each of these gaming gadgets assist the UHS-I interface however don’t transcend its official velocity, flattening any sequential positive factors some playing cards could have elsewhere. (Variations in random learn and write speeds can nonetheless matter, although.) The identical factor will occur for those who 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.

Guarantee

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

Avoiding counterfeits

The reminiscence card market has had a selected drawback with scammers promoting pretend merchandise. To protect towards this, solely purchase from a identified model and a good retailer similar to Greatest Purchase, B&H Picture or Adorama. Should you store at Amazon, solely purchase if the shipper and vendor is Amazon.com. (That mentioned, a handful of customers have reported receiving counterfeits even from Amazon immediately previously, so train warning.) Keep in mind: If a worth 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, test its packaging for any irregularities. You possibly can run benchmark assessments like CrystalDiskMark or BlackMagic Disk Velocity Check to confirm its speeds aren’t drastically decrease than what’s marketed (or attainable, given its specs). It’s also possible to use software program that’s designed to confirm the true capability and efficiency of your card, similar to H2testw and FakeFlashTest.

How we check microSD playing cards

We have put about 20 microSD playing cards via a collection of assessments to confirm their sequential and random efficiency. These included benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, BlackMagic Disk Velocity Check, ATTO Disk Benchmark and AJA System Check, in addition to just a few “real-world” assessments. We copied and pasted a small folder of photographs 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 varieties 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, Metallic Gear Rising: Revengeance and Apex Legends — then timing how lengthy it took to launch every sport and cargo save information. We do a number of runs of every check 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. Nevertheless, if a card could possibly 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 patrons 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 have been solely capable of check higher-capacity fashions for just a few choices. We additionally reformatted every card earlier than testing with the SD Affiliation’s Reminiscence Card Formatter software.

Latest updates

Could 2025: We’ve up to date this information to make sure our recommendation is correct and to mirror 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 current releases from Kingston, SanDisk, Lexar and PNY.

February 2025: We’ve up to date this information with a brand new high choose: the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus. The Samsung Professional Plus, our earlier advice, stays as a runner-up. We’ve additionally added SanDisk’s not too long ago launched microSD Specific card as a choose for individuals who need absolutely the quickest card attainable, albeit with heavy caveats. This is among 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 newer releases.

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

August 2024: We’ve up to date this information to notice the not too long ago 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.