One of the best 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 little bit extra worth than others. In the event 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, an action camera, a drone or an Android tablet — we’ve scoured the market and put shut to twenty prime contenders by way of numerous benchmark checks. You’ll find our suggestions for the perfect microSD playing cards beneath, 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 | Pace lessons: 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” choose — remains to be price contemplating in the event you 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 typically second to the pricier Samsung Pro Ultimate, however solely by a little bit, 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 information scattered all through a tool. It’s held up completely effective in our long-term testing as effectively. That stated, the Silver Plus is the higher card when it’s in the identical worth vary, plus Samsung’s has a shorter 10-year guarantee.

In the event you do find yourself grabbing one, although, be sure you get the latest 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 scores, however these often value a couple of bucks additional. 

Execs

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

Cons

• Slower than our prime 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) | Pace lessons: 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 prime picks, notably with regards to sequential write speeds (just below 70 MB/s on CrystalDiskMark). So we don’t advocate it for any form of digital camera. 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 $67, respectively. The latter two capacities may very well be notably effective values in the event you simply desire a large chunk of area from a good model on a budget. That stated, you need to nonetheless seize the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus or Samsung Professional Plus as an alternative if both one is anyplace shut in worth.

Execs

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

Cons

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

$13 at Amazon

Finest microSD Specific playing cards for the Nintendo Change 2

Learn our full information to the best microSD Express cards for the Nintendo Switch 2

Let’s be clear about this: Except you intend to personal a Nintendo Switch 2 within the close to future, you do not want a high-speed microSD Specific card simply but. Nintendo’s gaming handheld is the one widespread system that natively helps this normal proper now, and microSD Specific playing cards themselves are extremely costly in comparison with extra conventional choices.

Nonetheless, in the event you do need to enhance a Change 2’s storage, they’re your solely selection. Thankfully, figuring out precisely which mannequin to purchase for the console is fairly simple: Get whichever one yow will discover in inventory, within the capability you need, at a worth you may abdomen.

We benchmarked a number of microSD Specific playing cards for a separate Switch 2 guide, and for essentially the most half, the efficiency variations between them weren’t nice sufficient to justify paying a lot additional for any specific mannequin. Loading occasions weren’t fairly equivalent with each check we ran, however the playing cards have been extraordinarily shut in most video games. When there was a niche — fast-traveling to a very resource-heavy area in Cyberpunk 2077, as an illustration — the gulf between the slowest and quickest card was solely ever about 3 seconds at most. That’s not nothing, but it surely’s not one thing you’re more likely to fret over except you’ve got a stopwatch helpful.

The one time you’d discover a serious velocity distinction is in the event you switch video games to your Specific card from the Change 2’s inside storage (and vice versa). In that case, the SanDisk microSD Express Card and Lexar Play Pro have been typically the quickest, whereas PNY’s microSD Express Flash Memory Card had notably sluggish write speeds.

Shifting Mario Kart World to the SanDisk and Lexar fashions, for instance, took round 4 minutes and 35 seconds on common; with the PNY card, it took a little bit over seven minutes. That stated, the PNY mannequin was the quickest when it got here to shifting video games again to the system storage. Both manner, most individuals aren’t continuously shuffling their video games backwards and forwards like this. Efficiency in precise video games is extra essential, and in that regard the outcomes have been persistently a lot tighter.

What issues most is getting essentially the most area to your price range. Sadly, inventory for all microSD Specific playing cards has been spotty because the Change 2’s launch. In your comfort, we’ll record out all the fashions we’ve seen at retailers to this point and their respective record costs beneath. The one one we haven’t examined is the Walmart Onn mannequin, which additionally occurs to be essentially the most inexpensive. Additionally notice that some lower-capacity variations — the 128GB SanDisk card, for one — promote slower speeds than their extra spacious counterparts.

• SanDisk microSD Specific Card: 128GB ($60), 256GB ($73), 512GB ($125)

• Lexar Play Professional: 256GB ($60), 512GB ($120), 1TB ($220)

• PNY microSD Specific Flash Reminiscence Card: 128GB ($47), 256GB ($61)

• Samsung microSD Specific Card for Nintendo Change 2: 256GB ($60)

• GameStop Specific microSD Card for Nintendo Change 2: 256GB ($60), 512GB ($100), 1TB ($190)

• Walmart Onn microSDXC Specific Card: 256GB ($36), 512GB ($66)

Broadly talking, we advocate getting at the very least 256GB of storage, as Change 2 video games are inclined to have a lot bigger file sizes than video games for Nintendo’s earlier handheld. However we additionally advocate holding off upgrading for so long as you may, if solely as a result of all of those playing cards ought to (tariff shenanigans apart) come down in worth as time goes on.

There’s no level in shopping for a microSD Specific card for something moreover the Change 2, however we did run the fashions above by way of our common PC benchmarks as effectively. Unsurprisingly, they’re miles quicker than any conventional card available on the market.

With the 256GB SanDisk card, as an illustration, sequential learn speeds checked in just below 900 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark and ATTO, whereas sequential writes topped out round 650 MB/s. Sustained writes speeds have been slower (round 210 MB/s), however that was nonetheless quick sufficient to maneuver our 12GB check 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 efficiency that is at the very least twice as quick as the perfect UHS-I fashions we’ve examined when it comes to sequential reads and writes, with three or 4 occasions the speeds in some circumstances. The gulf in random reads and writes is analogous, and in some benchmarks even higher. However you want an expensive SD card reader to even see these will increase on a PC, so solely these with a Change 2 in hand or severe money to burn ought to take into account one among these items.

Different notable microSD playing cards

Samsung Professional Final

The Samsung Pro Ultimate was the closest competitor to the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus throughout our benchmark checks, but it surely’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, but it surely’s shut sufficient in any other case and often simpler to seek out at a cheaper price.

Lexar Skilled Gold

We’ve 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 will ship considerably quicker sequential write speeds than our UHS-I picks above. It’s one of many few UHS-II playing cards we might really discover in inventory, but it surely’s expensive, with a 128GB mannequin usually priced within the $35 to $40 vary.

SanDisk Excessive

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

SanDisk GamePlay

The SanDisk GamePlay performs equally to the SanDisk Excessive however prices an excellent 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 wanting our prime 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 expenses 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 an in depth 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 little bit 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 prime 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. Fashionable 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 cards from major brands have began to reach as effectively, which is thrilling, however these are nonetheless pretty uncommon (and really costly) by comparability.

For a lot of, a 128GB or 256GB mannequin needs to be a candy spot between worth and cupboard space. 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 gives a greater cost-per-GB ratio. As of late, yow will discover a good 128GB card for round $15, an excellent 256GB card for lower than $30 and a strong 512GB card for round $40 (with quicker fashions priced a little bit increased). There’s a starker enhance if you go as much as 1TB playing cards, which frequently value nearer to $100, although we’ve seen some fall into the $70 to $80 vary extra incessantly over the past yr. The primary 2TB playing cards are an even bigger leap: the 2TB SanDisk Extreme, for instance, now has a listing worth round $200, which is down a bit from its unique MSRP however nonetheless removed from low cost.

Notice {that a} microSD card’s efficiency could 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 discuss microSD playing cards as we speak, we typically confer with playing cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capacity) standard, which have a capability between 32GB and 2TB. Your system must assist this for it to work with a microSDXC card. This can virtually by no means be a problem today, however some older units (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). Typically, 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 making an attempt to entry (learn) or save (write) lengthy, fixed streams of information, akin to opening a big video or copying an enormous batch of recordsdata from a PC. If you wish to use a microSD card for media storage, that is notably essential. Random efficiency, in the meantime, is about how rapidly a card can learn and write small recordsdata scattered all through the system.

Since random learn/write speeds are a lot decrease than sequential ones, storage system makers have a tendency to not promote them as loudly. However they’re essential in the event you use a card with a gaming system 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.

Pace scores

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

A card’s Video Pace Class, or V-rating, particulars its minimal sequential write velocity, which is particularly essential when recording video from a digital camera. It ranges from V6 to V90. A lot of the playing cards we examined had a V30 score, in order that they have a sequential write velocity of at the very least 30 MB/s. This needs to be sufficient to assist as much as 4K video at decrease bitrates. Larger-rated V60 and V90 playing cards are often higher for capturing 8K, however they arrive at a a lot increased value.

The UHS Pace 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 Pace Class score overlaps with the opposite two programs. 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 score is much less related these days, however you should still see a “C10” emblem on some playing cards.

The Utility Efficiency spec, marked by an A logo, is an indicator of random learn/write speeds. That is measured in IOPS, or enter/output operations per second, quite 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 couple of,000 IOPS, respectively. Each scores 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 scores. It’s completely attainable to get a strong card with out these: A U1 card is perhaps price it in the event you simply want an inexpensive, high-capacity choice, for instance. V60 and V90 playing cards are price a glance in the event you’re severe about capturing high-resolution images and video as effectively. However total, playing cards with the certifications above ought to present the perfect mix of worth and efficiency as we speak.

It’s essential to emphasise that these scores are baselines. Most V30 playing cards provide considerably increased write speeds than 30 MB/s, as an illustration, and a few A1 playing cards can outperform some A2 fashions in apply. The speeds marketed by producers aren’t at all times one hundred pc correct, both: Generally the cardboard shall be slower in real-world use, different occasions it could really be a bit quicker.

UHS bus speeds

The opposite spec to notice is the cardboard’s bus interface. Most microSD playing cards out there as we speak 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 might attain as much as 312 MB/s. (A UHS-III normal 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 scores. In the event you shoot a number of 4K to 8K video or incessantly use burst mode to seize extremely high-res images, the efficiency positive factors of an excellent UHS-II card can prevent time.

Nonetheless, these are sometimes far 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 previously, it is nonetheless greater than double the frequent road worth of our prime 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 usually spottier. For now, the upper speeds aren’t well worth the worth premium for most individuals, so we caught largely to UHS-I playing cards with our suggestions.

microSD Specific and the Nintendo Change 2

Absolutely the quickest microSD playing cards you should purchase, nonetheless, are primarily based on a special 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 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 widespread units natively assist SD Specific as we speak. The primary main exception is the Nintendo Switch 2, which is only compatible with the newer normal, 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 preferred system 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 far more than the perfect UHS-I and even UHS-II choices. Past the Change 2, it’s attainable to benefit from these playing cards’ superior speeds with a devoted SD Specific card reader, however that provides much more to the ultimate value. It’s additionally price noting that SD Specific 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 enchantment if extra devices that assist the interface do arrive.

For extra on how the primary wave of Specific playing cards carry out on the Change 2, we have put collectively a dedicated buying guide only for Nintendo’s console.

A notice 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 by way of proprietary extensions. Nonetheless, you want a appropriate card reader and host system to benefit from that additional efficiency. In the event you discover a UHS-I card promoting speeds increased than 104 MB/s, that is what’s happening. You’ll be able to see these limits in motion with an unique Nintendo Change or Steam Deck: Both of those gaming units 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 in the event you 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, 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 face up to extra hours of writing are often coated for a shorter time frame. For instance, Samsung’s Pro Endurance, a mannequin geared toward safety cameras and different monitoring units, comes with a five-year guarantee.

Avoiding counterfeits

The reminiscence card market has had a specific downside with scammers promoting pretend merchandise. To protect in opposition to this, solely purchase from a identified model and a good retailer akin to Finest Purchase, B&H Picture or Adorama. In the event 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 immediately previously, so train warning.) Bear in mind: If a worth appears too good to be true, it in all probability is. Be cautious of any retailer providing a considerably cheaper price than everybody else.

When you obtain a card, test its packaging for any irregularities. You’ll be able to run benchmark checks 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, akin to H2testw and FakeFlashTest.

How we check microSD playing cards

We have put about 20 microSD playing cards by way of a collection of checks 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 couple of “real-world” checks. We copied and pasted a small folder of images 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 sport 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 may very well 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 consumers 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 couple of choices. We additionally reformatted every card earlier than testing with the SD Affiliation’s Memory Card Formatter tool.

For microSD Specific playing cards, we ran every mannequin by way of a collection of checks particular to the Change 2, since that’s the solely widespread system that really helps the tech. You’ll be able to learn extra about that course of in our separate shopping for information linked above.

Latest updates

August 2025: We’ve fleshed out our recommendation on shopping for a microSD Specific card for the Nintendo Change 2. We plan on testing a couple of more moderen releases from Kingston, SanDisk, Lexar and PNY in a future replace.

Could 2025: We’ve up to date this information to make sure our recommendation is correct and to mirror the brand new Nintendo Change 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 normal 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.

February 2025: We’ve up to date this information with a brand new prime choose: the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus. The Samsung Professional Plus, our earlier advice, stays as a runner-up. We’ve additionally added SanDisk’s lately launched microSD Specific card as a choose for individuals who need absolutely the quickest card attainable, albeit with heavy caveats. This is likely one of 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 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 prime 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.