Maximum microSD playing cards are instant sufficient for enhancing cupboard space and making easy document transfers, however some supply a bit extra price than others. In case you’ve were given a tool that also accepts microSD playing cards — whether or not it’s an older gaming hand held, the brand new Nintendo Transfer 2, an motion digital camera, a drone or an Android pill — we’ve scoured the marketplace and put just about 20 best contenders via various benchmark assessments. You’ll be able to to find our suggestions for the most efficient microSD playing cards underneath, along some normal buying groceries recommendation before you purchase.
Desk of contents
Highest microSD playing cards of 2025
Lexar
Garage potential: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Velocity categories: U3, V30, A2, Magnificence 10 | Guaranty: Lifetime restricted
A just right UHS-I card is fast sufficient for most of the people’s wishes, and the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus is the most efficient price of those we’ve examined. Paired with Lexar’s USB card reader, it persistently delivered quicker sequential reads and writes than every other UHS-I type throughout our benchmark assessments. It’s rated for learn speeds as much as 205 MB/s and write speeds as much as 150 MB/s, either one of which can be fairly excessive first of all, however we discovered the latter to succeed in into the 180-190 MB/s vary in artificial benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, ATTO and AJA.
Our 12GB check folder wrote to the cardboard in 76 seconds on reasonable, which was once kind of 30 seconds sooner than the Samsung Professional Plus and Samsung Professional Final, our two earlier best alternatives. It successfully tied the Professional Final to steer all UHS-I playing cards we’ve attempted in studying that check document again to our PC. (That one averaged about 67 seconds, if you happen to’re preserving ranking at house.) Each Samsung playing cards and a couple of others beat the Silver Plus in some random efficiency benchmarks, even though it was once nonetheless masses aggressive in that regard. Both approach, it has the entire considered necessary rankings — U3, V30, A2 — and it’s greater than fast sufficient for operating with 4K movies or transferring recordsdata between gadgets with out main delays (as long as you’ve gotten a reader and/or host tool that may permit the ones max speeds).
The cardboard itself is water-resistant with an IPX7 ranking, and Lexar backs it with a life-time guaranty. Sizes vary from 128GB to a spacious 1TB. The not obligatory reader — which you’ll be able to purchase one at a time or as a part of a package — is a little massive, however it very easily comprises each USB-A and USB-C ports, so that you shouldn’t want any dongles to glue it to a telephone or PC.
What places the Silver Plus excessive is its value. On the time of writing, a 128GB type is to be had for $13, whilst the 256GB, 512GB and 1TB variants had been going for approximately $23, $41 and $82, respectively. The ones aren’t the most cost effective costs we’ve ever observed, and the mathematics will trade a little if you wish to have to think about a card reader, however they both undercut or fit competition just like the Professional Plus, Professional Final or SanDisk Excessive regardless of the Silver Plus being the extra performant card general. So, to recap: It’s instant, it’s sturdy and it’s fairly inexpensive. That’s the recipe for a very simple advice.
- Quickest sequential learn/write efficiency of any UHS-I card we now have examined
- Inexpensive than many slower possible choices
- Has a 1TB choice
- Lifetime restricted guaranty
- Wishes USB reader to succeed in most speeds (as anticipated)
Picture via Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Garage potential: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Velocity categories: U3, V30, A2, Magnificence 10 | Guaranty: 10-year restricted
Garage costs have a tendency to vary, alternatively, and the Samsung Professional Plus — our former “perfect for many” pick out — remains to be price taking into consideration if you happen to see it to be had for a number of greenbacks lower than the Silver Plus within the potential you need. Its sequential learn and (particularly) write efficiency was once slower than Lexar’s card around the board however nonetheless on par with or higher than just about each different UHS-I card we’ve examined. Its random reads and writes had been usually 2d to the pricier Samsung Professional Final, however most effective via a bit, so it’s well-suited for a conveyable recreation console or every other setup the place it’d be requested to get right of entry to tiny bits of information scattered all the way through a tool. It’s held up completely high quality in our long-term trying out as nicely. That stated, the Silver Plus is the easier card when it’s in the similar value vary, plus Samsung’s has a shorter 10-year guaranty.
In case you do finally end up grabbing one, even though, remember to get the latest type with learn speeds rated at 180MB/s. An older-generation type with slower sequential reads and random efficiency would possibly nonetheless be placing round at some on-line outlets, so steer clear of that one. Samsung additionally sells Sonic the Hedgehog-themed variations of the Professional Plus with similar efficiency rankings, however the ones generally charge a couple of greenbacks further.Â
- Fast sequential and random speeds
- Readily to be had at depended on outlets
- Has a 1TB choice
- Slower than our best pick out, particularly with sequential write efficiency
- 10-year guaranty is not the longest
Picture via Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Garage potential: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (“new technology” type most effective) | Velocity categories: U3, V30, A2, Magnificence 10 / (64GB) U1, V10, A1, Magnificence 10 | Guaranty: 10-year restricted
The Samsung Evo Make a selection is a transparent step in the back of our best alternatives, in particular relating to sequential write speeds (slightly below 70 MB/s on CrystalDiskMark). So we don’t suggest it for any kind of digital camera. Nonetheless, it’s completely usable for easy garage enlargement, and its sequential and random learn speeds had been nonetheless first rate in our benchmarks.
Most significantly, it’s generally affordable: We have prior to now observed the 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB fashions fall as little as $13, $18, $33 and $67, respectively. The latter two capacities may well be in particular high quality values if you happen to simply need a massive chew of area from a credible logo at the affordable. That stated, you must nonetheless seize the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus or Samsung Professional Plus as a substitute if both one is anyplace shut in value.
- Continuously discounted
- Applicable efficiency if value is leader worry
- Has a 1TB choice
- Slower than different best alternatives, in particular in sequential write and random efficiency benchmarks
- 10-year guaranty is not the longest
Highest microSD Categorical playing cards for the Nintendo Transfer 2
A choice of microSD Categorical playing cards relaxation at the again of a Nintendo Transfer 2 gaming console.
(Jeff Dunn for Engadget)
Learn our complete information to the perfect microSD Categorical playing cards for the Nintendo Transfer 2
Let’s be transparent about this: Until you intend to possess a Nintendo Transfer 2 within the close to long run, you don’t want a high-speed microSD Categorical card simply but. Nintendo’s gaming hand held is the one standard tool that natively helps this same old presently, and microSD Categorical playing cards themselves are extremely dear in comparison to extra conventional choices.
Nonetheless, if you happen to do wish to building up a Transfer 2’s garage, they’re your most effective selection. Thankfully, figuring out precisely which type to shop for for the console is beautiful simple: Get whichever one you’ll be able to to find in inventory, within the potential you need, at a worth you’ll be able to abdomen.
We benchmarked a number of microSD Categorical playing cards for a separate Transfer 2 information, and for essentially the most section, the efficiency variations between them weren’t nice sufficient to justify paying a lot further for any explicit type. Loading instances weren’t slightly similar with each check we ran, however the playing cards had been extraordinarily shut in maximum video games. When there was once an opening — fast-traveling to a in particular resource-heavy area in Cyberpunk 2077, for example — the gulf between the slowest and quickest card was once most effective ever about 3 seconds at maximum. That’s no longer not anything, however it’s no longer one thing you’re more likely to be troubled over until you’ve gotten a stopwatch at hand.
The SanDisk microSD Categorical Card and Lexar Play Professional.
(Jeff Dunn for Engadget)
The one time you’d understand a big velocity distinction is if you happen to switch video games on your Categorical card from the Transfer 2’s interior garage (and vice versa). If that’s the case, the SanDisk microSD Categorical Card and Lexar Play Professional had been usually the fastest, whilst PNY’s microSD Categorical Flash Reminiscence Card had in particular sluggish write speeds.
Transferring Mario Kart Global to the SanDisk and Lexar fashions, as an example, took round 4 mins and 35 seconds on reasonable; with the PNY card, it took a bit over seven mins. That stated, the PNY type was once the quickest when it got here to transferring video games again to the device garage. Both approach, most of the people aren’t continuously shuffling their video games backward and forward like this. Efficiency in exact video games is extra necessary, and in that regard the consequences had been persistently a lot tighter.
What issues maximum is getting essentially the most area in your price range. Sadly, inventory for all microSD Categorical playing cards has been spotty because the Transfer 2’s release. To your comfort, we’ll listing out all the fashions we’ve observed at outlets to this point and their respective listing costs underneath. The one one we haven’t examined is the Walmart Onn type, which additionally occurs to be essentially the most inexpensive. Additionally be aware that some lower-capacity variations — the 128GB SanDisk card, for one — market it slower speeds than their extra spacious opposite numbers.
Samsung microSD Categorical Card for Nintendo Transfer 2: 256GB ($60)
The Lexar Play Professional on best of Lexar’s RW540 microSD Categorical card reader.
(Jeff Dunn for Engadget)
Widely talking, we advise getting a minimum of 256GB of garage, as Transfer 2 video games have a tendency to have a lot better document sizes than video games for Nintendo’s earlier hand held. However we additionally suggest preserving off upgrading for so long as you’ll be able to, if most effective as a result of all of those playing cards must (tariff shenanigans apart) come down in value as time is going on.
There’s no level in purchasing a microSD Categorical card for the rest but even so the Transfer 2, however we did run the fashions above via our same old PC benchmarks as nicely. Unsurprisingly, they’re miles quicker than any conventional card available on the market.
With the 256GB SanDisk card, for example, sequential learn speeds checked in slightly below 900 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark and ATTO, whilst sequential writes crowned out round 650 MB/s. Sustained writes speeds had been slower (round 210 MB/s), however that was once nonetheless instant sufficient to transport our 12GB check document to the cardboard in 52 seconds on reasonable. It took a trifling 20 seconds to learn the document 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 a minimum of two times as instant as the most efficient UHS-I fashions we’ve examined on the subject of sequential reads and writes, with 3 or 4 instances the speeds in some instances. The gulf in random reads and writes is the same, and in some benchmarks even better. However you wish to have a dear SD card reader to even see the ones will increase on a PC, so most effective the ones with a Transfer 2 in hand or severe money to burn must imagine this type of issues.
Different notable microSD playing cards
Samsung Professional Final
The Samsung Professional Final was once the nearest competitor to the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus throughout our benchmark assessments, however it is tangibly worse on the subject of sequential write speeds, generally prices extra and doesn’t be offering a 1TB choice. The Samsung Professional Plus is a little slower for sequential reads, however it’s shut sufficient another way and generally more uncomplicated to search out at a lower cost.
Lexar Skilled Gold
We have not used it ourselves, however if you happen to’re prepared to pay for a extra tough UHS-II card constructed for heavy-duty video recording, the Lexar Skilled Gold has examined nicely in other places and must ship considerably quicker sequential write speeds than our UHS-I alternatives above. It’s one of the vital few UHS-II playing cards shall we if truth be told to find in inventory, however it’s dear, with a 128GB type most often priced within the $35 to $40 vary.
SanDisk Excessive
The SanDisk Excessive successfully matched the Professional Plus in a couple of of our sequential assessments, however that was once partially because of us most effective having the ability to safe the 256GB type, which is higher-rated than the 128GB model. It’s a high quality selection if you happen to see it on sale at a credible dealer, however it’s widely slower than our best pick out and continuously prices extra.
SanDisk GamePlay
The SanDisk GamePlay plays in a similar way to the SanDisk Excessive however prices a just right bit further 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 best alternatives.
SanDisk Pokémon
The SanDisk Pokémon does outperform its marketed learn and write speeds, however no longer via sufficient to outpace the Lexar Silver Plus or Samsung Professional Plus. It necessarily fees further 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 Excessive Professional is an in depth analog to the Samsung Professional Final however, as of this writing, is both unavailable at maximum depended on outlets or priced too excessive via comparability. The Lexar Skilled Silver Plus has quicker sequential write speeds as nicely.
PNY XLR8 Gaming
The PNY XLR8 is an inexpensive card that includes as much as 512GB of area. Its sequential and random writes speeds checked in a bit bit above the ones of Samsung’s Evo Make a selection, plus it comes with a life-time guaranty. However its sequential reads had been a lot, a lot slower, placing it out of rivalry.
PNY Elite-X
The PNY Elite-X continuously is going for inexpensive and wasn’t too some distance off the random learn/write efficiency of Samsung’s Professional Plus in CrystalDiskMark. Just like the XLR8, it’s additionally quite above the Evo Make a selection in write speeds. However its sequential reads had been too some distance in the back of all of our best alternatives, and it not seems to be to be had in capacities above 256GB.
What to search for in a microSD card
Capability
The very first thing to determine when purchasing a microSD card is how a lot cupboard space you wish to have. Fashionable playing cards are often to be had in sizes starting from 32GB to 512GB, with a number of fashions now to be had in 1TB or 1.5TB capacities as nicely. The primary 2TB playing cards from main manufacturers have began to reach as nicely, which is thrilling, however the ones are nonetheless somewhat uncommon (and really dear) via comparability.
For plenty of, a 128GB or 256GB type must be a candy spot between value and cupboard space. But when you wish to have extra space — say, for stashing a number of video games on a Steam Deck — a 512GB card or better may just make extra sense and continuously supplies a greater cost-per-GB ratio. In this day and age, you’ll be able to discover a respectable 128GB card for round $15, a just right 256GB card for lower than $30 and a forged 512GB card for round $40 (with quicker fashions priced a bit larger). There’s a starker building up whilst you pass as much as 1TB playing cards, which continuously charge nearer to $100, even though we’ve observed some fall into the $70 to $80 vary extra incessantly over the past 12 months. The primary 2TB playing cards are a larger jump: the 2TB SanDisk Excessive, as an example, now has an inventory value round $200, which is down a little from its unique MSRP however nonetheless some distance from affordable.
Be aware {that a} microSD card’s efficiency would possibly fluctuate relying on what potential you purchase. SanDisk says its 128GB Excessive card delivers sequential write speeds as much as 90 MB/s, as an example, whilst the higher-capacity fashions in the similar line be offering as much as 130 MB/s.
Once we discuss microSD playing cards nowadays, we usually discuss with playing cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capability) same old, that have a potential between 32GB and 2TB. Your tool must enhance this for it to paintings with a microSDXC card. This may nearly by no means be a topic at the moment, however some older gadgets (a Nintendo 3DS, for example) are most effective suitable with microSDHC (Top Capability) playing cards, which vary from 2GB to 32GB.
Learn and write speeds
MicroSD playing cards are basically judged on their learn and write speeds, which can be generally measured in megabytes consistent with 2d (MB/s). Usually, maximum microSD playing cards have quicker learn speeds than write speeds.
Those metrics can then be damaged down into sequential and random efficiency. Sequential learn and write speeds subject whilst you’re looking to get right of entry to (learn) or save (write) lengthy, consistent streams of information, reminiscent of opening a big video or copying a large batch of recordsdata from a PC. If you wish to use a microSD card for media garage, that is in particular necessary. Random efficiency, in the meantime, is ready how temporarily a card can learn and write small recordsdata scattered all the way through the tool.
Since random learn/write speeds are a lot not up to sequential ones, garage tool makers have a tendency to not market it them as loudly. However they’re necessary if you happen to use a card with a gaming tool or a single-board laptop just like the Raspberry Pi, the place it continuously has to hastily save and get right of entry to small bits of information in random places.
Velocity rankings
In case you have a look at a microSD card, you’ll see a buffet of numbers, letters and emblems. A lot of these discuss with the cardboard’s velocity magnificence and function rankings, which can be made up our minds via the SD Affiliation.
A card’s Video Velocity Magnificence, or V-rating, main points its minimal sequential write velocity, which is particularly necessary when recording video from a digital camera. It levels from V6 to V90. Lots of the playing cards we examined had a V30 ranking, so they’ve a sequential write velocity of a minimum of 30 MB/s. This must be sufficient to enhance as much as 4K video at decrease bitrates. Upper-rated V60 and V90 playing cards are generally higher for taking pictures 8K, however they arrive at a far larger charge.
The UHS Velocity Magnificence, or U-rating, additionally refers to a card’s minimal sequential write velocity. It is available in two sorts: U3, which mandates no less than 30 MB/s, and U1, which is rated for 10 MB/s.
The older Velocity Magnificence ranking overlaps with the opposite two programs. It’s signified via a C image and is going from Magnificence 2 to Magnificence 10, with the quantity (once more) indicating minimal sequential write velocity. This ranking is much less related at the moment, however you should still see a “C10” brand on some playing cards.
The Utility Efficiency spec, marked via an A logo, is a hallmark of random learn/write speeds. That is measured in IOPS, or enter/output operations consistent with 2d, somewhat than MB/s. There are two classes right here: A1 playing cards be offering a minimal random learn velocity of one,500 IOPS and a minimal random write velocity of 500 IOPS, whilst A2 playing cards bump the ones as much as 4,000 IOPS and a couple of,000 IOPS, respectively. Each rankings additionally ensure sequential write speeds of a minimum of 10 MB/s.
To stay it easy, most of the people must search for a card with V30, U3 and A2 rankings. It’s completely imaginable to get a forged card with out the ones: A U1 card may well be price it if you happen to simply want an affordable, high-capacity choice, as an example. V60 and V90 playing cards are price a glance if you happen to’re interested by taking pictures high-resolution footage and video as nicely. However general, playing cards with the certifications above must give you the perfect mix of value and function nowadays.
It’s necessary to emphasise that those rankings are baselines. Maximum V30 playing cards be offering considerably larger write speeds than 30 MB/s, for example, and a few A1 playing cards can outperform some A2 fashions in observe. The speeds marketed via producers aren’t all the time 100% correct, both: Occasionally the cardboard can be slower in real-world use, different instances it’ll if truth be told be a little quicker.
The Samsung Professional Plus microSD card.
(Samsung)
UHS bus speeds
The opposite spec to notice is the cardboard’s bus interface. Maximum microSD playing cards to be had nowadays are UHS-I, which has a theoretical most velocity of 104 MB/s. There also are UHS-II playing cards, that have an additional row of pins at the again and will achieve as much as 312 MB/s. (A UHS-III same old technically exists as nicely however hasn’t observed large adoption.) Those are categorised at the card with a Roman numeral I or II.
UHS-II playing cards are generally those with the ones larger V60 or V90 rankings. In case you shoot a variety of 4K to 8K video or incessantly use burst mode to seize extremely high-res footage, the efficiency features of a just right UHS-II card can prevent time.
Then again, those are generally a lot more dear than UHS-I playing cards: This 128GB Lexar Skilled Gold type, for example, is a relative discount at $35. Whilst that is lower than many UHS-II fashions we’ve observed up to now, it is nonetheless greater than double the typical boulevard value of our best pick out above. You wish to have a tool that’s suitable with the UHS-II interface to peer any advantages, too, and inventory for UHS-II playing cards is continuously spottier. For now, the better speeds aren’t price the associated fee top class for most of the people, so we caught most commonly to UHS-I playing cards with our suggestions.
In contrast to conventional UHS-I playing cards, a microSD Categorical card just like the SanDisk type at the proper comes with a 2d row of pins to permit its progressed efficiency.
(Jeff Dunn for Engadget)
microSD Categorical and the Nintendo Transfer 2
Absolutely the quickest microSD playing cards you’ll be able to purchase, alternatively, are in response to a unique interface referred to as SD Categorical. This has technically been round for a number of years and now comprises its personal subset of velocity categories, however the gist is that it is a lot quicker than UHS-I or UHS-II: SanDisk’s lately launched microSD Categorical card, one of the vital first commercially to be had fashions, advertises sequential learn speeds as much as 880MB/s. That’s sooner than some older SSDs.
It’s a considerable improve that has in large part held up in our trying out, however only a few standard gadgets natively enhance SD Categorical nowadays. The primary main exception is the Nintendo Transfer 2, which is most effective suitable with the more moderen same old, because it’s had to stay alongside of the efficiency calls for of latest hand held video games.
But even so SanDisk, producers like Samsung, Lexar and PNY have already introduced microSD Categorical playing cards to head with the console. The presumption is that having the sort of standard tool include the tech will most effective additional its adoption and power costs down.
However it’s nonetheless early days, and presently all microSD Categorical playing cards charge a lot more than the most efficient UHS-I and even UHS-II choices. Past the Transfer 2, it’s imaginable to benefit from those playing cards’ awesome speeds with a devoted SD Categorical card reader, however that provides much more to the general charge. It’s additionally price noting that SD Categorical playing cards aren’t backwards suitable with UHS-II (or UHS-III), so if you happen to 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 lovers going ahead, and the tech must have various enchantment if extra units that enhance the interface do arrive.
For extra on how the primary wave of Categorical playing cards carry out at the Transfer 2, we now have put in combination a devoted purchasing information only for Nintendo’s console.
A be aware on card readers and achieving marketed speeds
Whilst the UHS-I interface has a theoretical most of 104 MB/s, some UHS-I playing cards can exceed that velocity via proprietary extensions. Then again, you wish to have a suitable card reader and host tool to benefit from that further efficiency. In case you discover a UHS-I card promoting speeds larger than 104 MB/s, that is what’s occurring. You’ll be able to see those limits in motion with an unique Nintendo Transfer or Steam Deck: Each of the ones gaming gadgets enhance the UHS-I interface however don’t transcend its legit velocity, knocking down any sequential features some playing cards could have in other places. (Variations in random learn and write speeds can nonetheless subject, even though.) The similar factor will occur if you happen to plug a extra tough UHS-II or SD Categorical card into a tool that doesn’t settle for the ones interfaces.
The takeaway: Your microSD card will most effective be as instant because the slowest hyperlink to your chain.
Guaranty
Many microSD playing cards are designed to be sturdy, with coverage from water, excessive temperatures, X-rays and drops. Nonetheless, in case of disaster, an extended guaranty is all the time just right to have. Many makers be offering lifetime or 10-year restricted warranties, even though we’ve spotted that “staying power” playing cards advertised to resist extra hours of writing are generally lined for a shorter time period. As an example, Samsung’s Professional Staying power, a type aimed toward safety cameras and different tracking gadgets, comes with a five-year guaranty.
Averting counterfeits
The reminiscence card marketplace has had a selected downside with scammers promoting pretend merchandise. To protect in contrast, most effective purchase from a identified logo and a credible store reminiscent of Highest Purchase, B&H Picture or Adorama. In case you store at Amazon, most effective purchase if the shipper and dealer is Amazon.com. (That stated, a handful of customers have reported receiving counterfeits even from Amazon immediately up to now, so workout warning.) Consider: If a worth turns out too just right to be true, it most certainly is. Be cautious of any store providing a considerably lower cost than everybody else.
Whenever you obtain a card, take a look at its packaging for any irregularities. You’ll be able to run benchmark assessments like CrystalDiskMark or BlackMagic Disk Velocity Take a look at to ensure its speeds aren’t enormously not up to what’s marketed (or imaginable, given its specifications). You’ll be able to additionally use tool that’s designed to ensure the actual potential and function of your card, reminiscent of H2testw and FakeFlashTest.
Some of the microSD card readers we now have used for trying out.
(Jeff Dunn for Engadget)
How we check microSD playing cards
We have put about 20 microSD playing cards via a chain of assessments to ensure their sequential and random efficiency. Those incorporated benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, BlackMagic Disk Velocity Take a look at, ATTO Disk Benchmark and AJA Machine Take a look at, in addition to a couple of “real-world” assessments. We copied and pasted a small folder of footage about 1.15GB in dimension to and from each and every card, then did the similar with a bigger 12.2GB folder containing a couple of document sorts and subfolders, timing the method each and every time. We additionally checked how each and every card carried out at the Steam Deck, downloading video games of various sizes — together with Stardew Valley, Aperture Table Activity, Steel Tools Emerging: Revengeance and Apex Legends — then timing how lengthy it took to release each and every recreation and cargo save recordsdata. We do a couple of runs of each and every check to ensure our findings and account for attainable outliers.
The place acceptable, we used a Kingston USB 3.2 UHS-II reader to check each and every card on each Home windows 11 and macOS Sequoia. Then again, if a card may well be bundled with (or is in particular marketed to make use of) a proprietary reader, we principally examined with that, since we determine that’s the only maximum consumers will finally end up the usage of. For Home windows trying out, 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 attach over USB-C, we used CalDigit’s TS4 dock to check the corresponding card at the MacBook.
We examined the 128GB model of each and every card on every occasion shall we, even though we had been most effective ready to check higher-capacity fashions for a couple of choices. We additionally reformatted each and every card earlier than trying out with the SD Affiliation’s Reminiscence Card Formatter device.
For microSD Categorical playing cards, we ran each and every type via a chain of assessments particular to the Transfer 2, since that’s the most effective standard tool that if truth be told helps the tech. You’ll be able to learn extra about that procedure in our separate purchasing information related above.
Contemporary updates
August 2025: We’ve fleshed out our recommendation on purchasing a microSD Categorical card for the Nintendo Transfer 2. We plan on trying out a couple of more moderen releases from Kingston, SanDisk, Lexar and PNY in a long run replace.
Would possibly 2025: We’ve up to date this information to verify our recommendation is correct and to replicate the brand new Nintendo Transfer 2’s use of microSD Categorical playing cards. We’ve additionally added trying out notes for the Lexar Play Professional microSD Categorical card and the extra same old PNY XLR8. We’ve got rid of mentions of a couple of playing cards that experience reputedly been discontinued, together with the unique Kingston Canvas Cross Plus, the Lexar Skilled 1066x and the 2021 Samsung Evo Make a selection. We plan to check extra new microSD Categorical playing cards for a long run replace.
February 2025: We’ve up to date this information with a brand new best pick out: the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus. The Samsung Professional Plus, our earlier advice, remains as a runner-up. We’ve additionally added SanDisk’s lately launched microSD Categorical card as a pick out for many who need absolutely the quickest card imaginable, albeit with heavy caveats. This is likely one of the first microSD playing cards to make use of the SD Categorical bus interface, so we’ve incorporated extra main points on what that includes in our “what to search for in a microSD card” segment. Finally, we’ve got rid of our write-up for SanDisk’s Apex Legends card, as it seems that to had been discontinued, and incorporated trying out notes for a few the corporate’s more moderen releases.
November 2024: We have checked again with this information to verify our suggestions are nonetheless correct and made gentle edits for readability.
August 2024: We’ve up to date this information to notice the lately launched 1TB fashions for 3 of our best alternatives: the Samsung Professional Plus, the Kingston Canvas Cross Plus and the Samsung Evo Make a selection. We’ve additionally made certain all pricing main points are as up to the moment as they are able to be.
