The most effective microSD playing cards in 2025

Most microSD playing cards are quick sufficient for enhancing space for storing and making easy file transfers, however some present just a little extra worth than others. Should you’ve received a tool that also accepts microSD playing cards — whether or not it’s an older gaming handheld, the brand new Nintendo Switch 2, a splash cam, a drone or an Android tablet — we’ve scoured the market and put shut to twenty high contenders by way of various benchmark assessments. You’ll find our suggestions for the perfect microSD playing cards under, alongside some basic procuring recommendation before you purchase.

Desk of contents

Finest microSD playing cards of 2025

Picture by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Velocity courses: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted

Storage costs are inclined to fluctuate, nonetheless, and the Samsung Pro Plus — our former “finest for many” decide — remains to be price contemplating in the event you see it obtainable 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 typically second to the pricier Samsung Pro Ultimate, however solely by just a little, so it’s well-suited for a transportable recreation console or every other setup the place it’d be requested to entry tiny bits of information scattered all through a tool. It’s held up completely advantageous in our long-term testing as effectively. That stated, the Silver Plus is the higher card when it’s in the identical value vary, plus Samsung’s has a shorter 10-year guarantee.

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

Execs

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

Cons

• Slower than our high decide, 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 courses: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 / (64GB) U1, V10, A1, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted

The Samsung Evo Select is a transparent step behind our high picks, notably with regards to sequential write speeds (just below 70 MB/s on CrystalDiskMark). So we don’t advocate it for any type of digicam. Nonetheless, it’s completely usable for easy storage enlargement, and its sequential and random learn speeds have been nonetheless respectable in our benchmarks.

Most significantly, it’s often 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 might be notably advantageous values in the event you simply desire a big chunk of house from a good model on a budget. That stated, it’s best to nonetheless seize the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus or Samsung Professional Plus as an alternative if both one is anyplace shut in value.

Execs

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

Cons

• Slower than different high picks, notably 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 courses: U3, A1, Class 10 | Guarantee: Lifetime restricted

Let’s be clear about this: Except you propose to personal a Nintendo Switch 2 within the close to future, you nearly actually don’t want the SanDisk microSD Express Card, or every other microSD Categorical card, simply but. Except for Nintendo’s new handheld, gadgets that natively assist this customary are exceedingly unusual proper now, and this specific card is extremely costly, beginning at $56 for 128GB.

As a result of microSD Categorical gadgets aren’t widespread but, you will doubtless 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, costs a whopping $112. The reader we used for Lexar’s Play Professional, one other new Categorical card, prices $100. At that time, you’re higher off shopping for a portable SSD in the event you simply wish to stash and transfer recordsdata. To additional that time, SanDisk’s card is just obtainable in 128GB or 256GB capacities.

A few other Express cards will provide extra room for much less money, however most of these have been both simply launched or aren’t but obtainable; we plan to check them for a future replace. Plus, even in the event you do get a Change 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 vital efficiency variations between playing cards. So in the event you can maintain out, it’s best to.

Right here’s hoping the Change 2 does lead microSD Categorical to turn into extra extensively accepted although, as a result of this factor is miles quicker than any conventional card in the marketplace. 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’re going to 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. Positive 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 Categorical card behaved equally, doubtless 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 at the very least 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 instances (notably with the 256GB mannequin). The gulf in random reads and writes was related, and in some benchmarks even higher.

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

Execs

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

Cons

• Gadgets that assist microSD Categorical in addition to Change 2 are extraordinarily restricted
• Costly, and requires a dear reader to realize full efficiency on most gadgets
• Solely obtainable in 128GB or 256GB

$54 at SanDisk

Different notable microSD playing cards

Lexar Play Professional microSD Categorical Card

The Lexar Play Pro is the second microSD Categorical card we’ve examined, and you’ll consider it as a “1A” decide 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 obtainable in 512GB and 1TB capacities. It’s quicker with regards to sequential writes, measuring round 720 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark and 700 MB/s in ATTO. It additionally managed to put in writing our bigger check file in roughly 35 seconds in sure runs, which was notably faster than the SanDisk card.

Nonetheless, 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 Change 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 best way. 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 working easy.

In the long run, the Change 2 is the one actual motive to purchase a microSD Categorical 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 “finest” choice might find yourself being whichever one is least expensive. However, the Play Professional is price grabbing in the event you should purchase an Categorical card immediately and wish greater than 256GB of house.

Samsung Professional Final

The Samsung Pro Ultimate was the closest competitor to the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus throughout our benchmark assessments, but it surely’s tangibly worse when it comes to sequential write speeds, usually prices extra and doesn’t provide a 1TB choice. The Samsung Professional Plus is a bit slower for sequential reads, but it surely’s shut sufficient in any other case and often simpler to seek out at a cheaper price.

Lexar Skilled Gold

We have not used it ourselves, however in the event you’re prepared to pay for a extra highly effective UHS-II card constructed for heavy-duty video recording, the Lexar Professional Gold has tested well elsewhere and may ship considerably quicker sequential write speeds than our UHS-I picks above. It’s one of many few UHS-II playing cards we might truly discover in inventory, but it surely’s dear, with a 128GB mannequin usually priced within the $35 to $40 vary.

SanDisk Excessive

The SanDisk Extreme successfully matched the Professional Plus in a number of of our sequential assessments, however that was partly on account of us solely with the ability to safe the 256GB mannequin, which is higher-rated than the 128GB model. It’s a advantageous alternative in the event you see it on sale at a good vendor, but it surely’s broadly slower than our high decide and infrequently prices extra.

SanDisk GamePlay

The SanDisk GamePlay performs equally to the SanDisk Excessive however prices a superb bit additional as of our newest replace. We couldn’t get it to achieve 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 basically fees additional for having an image of Pikachu (or Gengar, or Snorlax) on a product you’ll by no means have a look at.

SanDisk Excessive Professional

The SanDisk Extreme Pro 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 house. Its sequential and random writes speeds checked in just a little 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 competition.

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 obtainable 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 space for storing you want. Fashionable playing cards are generally obtainable in sizes starting from 32GB to 512GB, with a number of fashions now obtainable in 1TB or 1.5TB capacities as effectively. The primary 2TB cards from major brands 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 value and space for storing. However in the event you want extra room — say, for stashing a bunch of video games on a Steam Deck — a 512GB card or higher might make extra sense and infrequently offers a greater cost-per-GB ratio. Today, you could find a good 128GB card for round $15, a superb 256GB card for lower than $30 and a stable 512GB card for round $40 (with quicker fashions priced just a little greater). There’s a starker improve if you go as much as 1TB playing cards, which regularly price nearer to $100, although we’ve seen some fall into the $70 to $80 vary extra often during the last 12 months. The primary wave of 2TB playing cards are a fair larger leap: the 2TB SanDisk Extreme, for instance, now has an inventory value just below $250.

Observe {that a} microSD card’s efficiency might differ relying on what capability you purchase. SanDisk says its 128GB Extreme 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.

After we speak about microSD playing cards immediately, we typically consult with playing cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capacity) standard, 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 today, however some older gadgets (a Nintendo 3DS, as an illustration) 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 often 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 if you’re attempting to entry (learn) or save (write) lengthy, fixed streams of information, comparable to opening a big video or copying a giant batch of recordsdata from a PC. If you wish to use a microSD card for media storage, that is notably vital. Random efficiency, in the meantime, is about how shortly a card can learn and write small recordsdata 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 in the event you 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 information in random places.

Velocity rankings

Should you have a look at a microSD card, you’ll see a buffet of numbers, letters and symbols. Most of those consult with the cardboard’s speed class and efficiency rankings, that are decided by the SD Association.

A card’s Video Velocity Class, or V-rating, particulars its minimal sequential write pace, which is particularly vital when recording video from a digicam. 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 pace of at the very least 30 MB/s. This must be sufficient to assist as much as 4K video at decrease bitrates. Increased-rated V60 and V90 playing cards are often higher for capturing 8K, however they arrive at a a lot greater price.

The UHS Velocity Class, or U-rating, additionally refers to a card’s minimal sequential write pace. 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 techniques. It’s signified by a C image and goes from Class 2 to Class 10, with the quantity (once more) indicating minimal sequential write pace. 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 pace of 1,500 IOPS and a minimal random write pace 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 at the very least 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 stable card with out these: A U1 card could be price it in the event you simply want an affordable, high-capacity choice, for instance. V60 and V90 playing cards are price a glance in the event you’re severe about capturing high-resolution pictures and video as effectively. However general, playing cards with the certifications above ought to present the perfect mix of value and efficiency immediately.

It’s vital to emphasise that these rankings are baselines. Most V30 playing cards provide considerably greater write speeds than 30 MB/s, as an illustration, and a few A1 playing cards can outperform some A2 fashions in follow. The speeds marketed by producers aren’t at all times 100% correct, both: Typically the cardboard shall 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 obtainable immediately are UHS-I, which has a theoretical most pace 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 extensive adoption.) These are labeled on the cardboard with a Roman numeral I or II.

UHS-II playing cards are usually those with these greater V60 or V90 rankings. Should you shoot numerous 4K to 8K video or often use burst mode to seize extremely high-res pictures, the efficiency good points of a superb UHS-II card can prevent time.

Nonetheless, these are rather more costly than UHS-I playing cards: This 128GB Lexar Professional Gold mannequin, as an illustration, is a relative cut price at $35. Whereas that is lower than many UHS-II fashions we’ve seen up to now, it is nonetheless greater than double the widespread road value of our high decide 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 usually spottier. For now, the upper speeds aren’t well worth the value premium for most individuals, so we caught largely to UHS-I playing cards with our suggestions.

microSD Categorical and the Nintendo Change 2

Absolutely the quickest microSD playing cards you should purchase, nonetheless, are primarily based on a unique interface referred to as SD Express. This has technically been around for a number of years and now includes its personal subset of speed classes, however the gist is that it is a lot quicker than UHS-I or UHS-II: SanDisk’s lately launched microSD Express card, one of many first commercially obtainable 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 fashionable gadgets natively assist SD Categorical immediately. The primary main exception is the Nintendo Switch 2, which is only compatible 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 Categorical playing cards to go along with the console. The presumption is that having such a preferred gadget embrace the tech will solely additional its adoption and drive costs down.

However it’s nonetheless early days, and proper now all microSD Categorical playing cards price rather more than the perfect UHS-I and even UHS-II choices. Past the Change 2, it’s attainable to reap the benefits of these playing cards’ superior speeds with a devoted SD Categorical card reader, however that provides much more to the ultimate price. It’s additionally price noting that SD Categorical playing cards aren’t backwards appropriate with UHS-II (or UHS-III), so in the event you 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 pace by way of proprietary extensions. Nonetheless, 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 greater than 104 MB/s, that is what’s happening. You may see these limits in motion with an unique Nintendo Change or Steam Deck: Both of those gaming gadgets assist the UHS-I interface however don’t transcend its official pace, flattening any sequential good points some playing cards might have elsewhere. (Variations in random learn and write speeds can nonetheless matter, although.) The identical factor will occur in the event you plug a extra highly effective UHS-II or SD Categorical 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, an extended 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 resist extra hours of writing are often lined for a shorter time frame. For instance, Samsung’s Pro 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 specific drawback with scammers promoting pretend merchandise. To protect in opposition to this, solely purchase from a identified model and a good retailer comparable to Finest Purchase, B&H Picture or Adorama. Should you store at Amazon, solely purchase if the shipper and vendor is Amazon.com. (That stated, a handful of customers have reported receiving counterfeits even from Amazon straight up to now, so train warning.) Keep in mind: If a value appears too good to be true, it most likely is. Be cautious of any retailer providing a considerably cheaper price than everybody else.

When you obtain a card, examine its packaging for any irregularities. You may run benchmark assessments like CrystalDiskMark or BlackMagic Disk Speed Test to confirm its speeds aren’t drastically decrease than what’s marketed (or attainable, given its specs). You may also use software program that’s designed to confirm the true capability and efficiency of your card, comparable to H2testw and FakeFlashTest.

How we check microSD playing cards

We have put about 20 microSD playing cards by way of a collection of assessments to confirm their sequential and random efficiency. These included benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, BlackMagic Disk Speed Test, ATTO Disk Benchmark and AJA System Test, in addition to a number of “real-world” assessments. We copied and pasted a small folder of pictures about 1.15GB in measurement 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, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Apex Legends — then timing how lengthy it took to launch every recreation and cargo save recordsdata. 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. Nonetheless, if a card might 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 every time we might, although we have been solely capable of check higher-capacity fashions for a number of choices. We additionally reformatted every card earlier than testing with the SD Affiliation’s Memory Card Formatter tool.

Latest updates

Could 2025: We’ve up to date this information to make sure our recommendation is correct and to replicate the brand new Nintendo Change 2’s use of microSD Categorical playing cards. We’ve additionally added testing notes for the Lexar Play Professional microSD Categorical 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 Categorical playing cards for a future replace, plus a number of different current releases from Kingston, SanDisk, Lexar and PNY.

February 2025: We’ve up to date this information with a brand new high decide: the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus. The Samsung Professional Plus, our earlier suggestion, stays as a runner-up. We’ve additionally added SanDisk’s lately launched microSD Categorical card as a decide for many who need absolutely the quickest card attainable, albeit with heavy caveats. This is without doubt one of the first microSD playing cards to make use of the SD Categorical 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 more moderen releases.

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

August 2024: We’ve up to date this information to notice the lately 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.