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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. In case you’ve acquired 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 via numerous benchmark checks. Yow will discover our suggestions for the perfect microSD playing cards beneath, alongside some basic purchasing recommendation value realizing before you purchase.

Desk of contents

Finest microSD playing cards of 2025

Lexar

Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Pace courses: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: Lifetime restricted

A superb UHS-I card is fast sufficient for most individuals’s wants, and the Lexar Professional Silver Plus is the perfect worth of those we’ve examined. Paired with Lexar’s USB card reader, it constantly delivered quicker sequential reads and writes than every other UHS-I mannequin throughout our benchmark checks. It’s rated for learn speeds as much as 205 MB/s and write speeds as much as 150 MB/s, each of that are comparatively excessive to start with, however we discovered the latter to achieve into the 180-190 MB/s vary in artificial benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, ATTO and AJA.

Our 12GB take a look at folder wrote to the cardboard in 76 seconds on common, which was roughly 30 seconds faster than the Samsung Professional Plus and Samsung Professional Final, our two earlier high picks. It successfully tied the Professional Final to steer all UHS-I playing cards we’ve tried in studying that take a look at file again to our PC. (That one averaged about 67 seconds, if you happen to’re preserving rating at house.) Each Samsung playing cards and some others beat the Silver Plus in some random efficiency benchmarks, although it was nonetheless a lot aggressive in that regard. Both manner, it has all of the requisite rankings — U3, V30, A2 — and it’s greater than speedy sufficient for working with 4K movies or transferring information between units with out main delays (as long as you might have a reader and/or host gadget that may allow these max speeds).

The cardboard itself is waterproof with an IPX7 ranking, and Lexar backs it with a lifetime guarantee. Sizes vary from 128GB to a spacious 1TB. The optional reader — which you should buy individually or as a part of a bundle — is a bit massive, however it conveniently contains each USB-A and USB-C ports, so that you shouldn’t want any dongles to attach it to a telephone or PC.

What places the Silver Plus excessive is its worth. On the time of this writing, a 128GB model was accessible for $15, whereas the 256GB, 512GB and 1TB variants have been going for about $23, $40 and $80, respectively. These aren’t the most affordable costs we’ve ever seen, and the maths will change a bit if that you must consider a card reader, however they both undercut or match rivals just like the Professional Plus, Professional Final or SanDisk Excessive regardless of the Silver Plus being the extra performant card total. So, to recap: It’s quick, it’s sturdy and it’s moderately reasonably priced. That’s the recipe for a straightforward suggestion.

Execs

  • Quickest sequential learn/write efficiency of any UHS-I card we have examined
  • Cheaper than many slower options
  • Has a 1TB choice
  • Lifetime restricted guarantee
Cons

  • Wants USB reader to achieve most speeds (as anticipated)

$40 at Amazon (512GB)

Image for the large product module

Picture by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

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

Storage costs are inclined to fluctuate, nonetheless, and the Samsung Pro Plus — our former “greatest for many” decide — continues to be value contemplating if you happen to see it accessible 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 almost 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 bit of, so it’s well-suited for a conveyable recreation console or every other setup the place it’d be requested to entry tiny bits of knowledge scattered all through a tool. It’s held up completely effective in our long-term testing as nicely. 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.

In case you do find yourself grabbing one, although, ensure you 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 a Sonic the Hedgehog-themed version of the Professional Plus with similar efficiency rankings, however that often prices a couple of bucks 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

$17 at Amazon

Image for the large product module

Picture by Jeff Dunn / Engadget

Storage capability: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (“new era” mannequin solely) | Pace 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, significantly in terms of sequential write speeds (slightly below 70 MB/s on CrystalDiskMark). So we don’t suggest it for any kind 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 $67, respectively. The latter two capacities might be significantly effective values if you happen to simply desire a large chunk of area from a good model on a budget. That mentioned, you need to nonetheless seize the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus or Samsung Professional Plus as a substitute if both one is anyplace shut in worth.

Execs

  • Typically 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

$18 at Amazon

Finest microSD Specific playing cards for the Nintendo Change 2

A collection of microSD Express cards rest on the back of a Nintendo Switch 2 gaming console.

Jeff Dunn for Engadget

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

Let’s be clear about this: Until you propose 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 common gadget that natively helps this normal proper now, and microSD Specific playing cards themselves are extremely costly in comparison with extra conventional choices.

Nonetheless, if you happen to do wish to improve a Change 2’s storage, they’re your solely selection. Luckily, figuring out precisely which mannequin to purchase for the console is fairly simple: Get whichever one you could find in inventory, within the capability you need, at a worth you’ll be able to abdomen.

We benchmarked a number of microSD Specific playing cards for a separate Switch 2 guide, and for probably the most half, the efficiency variations between them weren’t nice sufficient to justify paying additional for any explicit mannequin. Loading occasions weren’t fairly similar with each take a look at we ran, however the playing cards have been extraordinarily shut in most video games and customary eventualities. The few occasions when there was a notable hole — fast-traveling to a very resource-heavy area in Cyberpunk 2077, as an example — the gulf between the slowest and quickest card was solely ever about 4 or 5 seconds at most. That’s not nothing, however it’s additionally not one thing most individuals are more likely to fret over until they’ve a stopwatch useful.

Two microSD cards, one mostly black and one mostly red, rest on top of a brown wooden stand above a white window ledge.

The SanDisk microSD Specific Card and Lexar Play Professional. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)

The one time you’d discover a significant velocity distinction is if you happen to 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 significantly sluggish write speeds.

Transferring 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 bit of over seven minutes. That mentioned, the PNY mannequin was the quickest when it got here to transferring video games again to the system storage. Walmart’s Onn microSD Express Card was considerably slower to maneuver video games from the cardboard to system storage, however it’s additionally probably the most reasonably priced card we’ve seen by a good way. Both manner, most individuals aren’t continually shuffling their video games forwards and backwards like this. Efficiency in precise video games is extra necessary, and in that regard the outcomes have been constantly a lot tighter.

What issues most is getting probably the most area to your price range. Sadly, inventory for all microSD Specific playing cards has been spotty because the Change 2’s launch. On your comfort, we’ll checklist out all the fashions we’ve examined up to now and their respective checklist costs beneath. Observe that some lower-capacity variations — the 128GB SanDisk card, for one — promote slower speeds than their extra spacious counterparts.

  • SanDisk microSD Specific Card: 128GB ($64), 256GB ($70), 512GB ($120)

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

  • PNY microSD Specific Flash Reminiscence Card: 128GB ($45), 256GB ($62), 512GB ($120)

  • 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 ($47), 512GB ($85)

A red microSD Express card sits on top of a small black microSD card reader, on top of a brown wooden table, next to a white stone drink coaster.

The Lexar Play Professional on high of Lexar’s RW540 microSD Specific card reader. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)

Broadly talking, we suggest getting not less than 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 suggest holding off upgrading for so long as you’ll be able to, 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 apart from the Change 2, however we did run the fashions above via our standard PC benchmarks as nicely. Unsurprisingly, they’re miles quicker than any conventional card available on the market.

With the 256GB SanDisk card, as an example, sequential learn speeds checked in slightly 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 take a look at 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 take a look at with our smaller 1.15GB take a look at folder, in the meantime, averaged simply 4.5 seconds.

All of it provides as much as efficiency that is not less than 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 better. However you want a dear SD card reader to even see these will increase on a PC, so solely these with a Change 2 in hand or critical money to burn ought to think about one in all this stuff.

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, however it’s tangibly worse when it comes to sequential write speeds, usually prices extra and doesn’t supply a 1TB choice. The Samsung Professional Plus is a bit slower for sequential reads, however it’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 if you happen to’re keen 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 may truly discover in inventory, however it’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 number of of our sequential checks, however that was partly on account of us solely having the ability to safe the 256GB mannequin, which is higher-rated than the 128GB model. It’s a effective selection if you happen to see it on sale at a good vendor, however it’s broadly slower than our high decide and sometimes 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 achieve its marketed speeds with the corporate’s personal “Professional” card reader or different third-party choices, so it fell wanting 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 expenses 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 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 nicely.

PNY XLR8 Gaming

The PNY XLR8 is an reasonably priced 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 competition.

PNY Elite-X

The PNY Elite-X typically goes for reasonable 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 now not seems to be accessible 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 accessible in sizes starting from 32GB to 512GB, with a number of fashions now accessible in 1TB or 1.5TB capacities as nicely. The primary 2TB cards from major brands have began to reach as nicely, which is thrilling, however these are nonetheless pretty uncommon (and really costly) by comparability.

For a lot of, a 128GB or 256GB mannequin must be a candy spot between worth and cupboard space. However if you happen to want extra room — say, for stashing a bunch of video games on a Steam Deck — a 512GB card or better may make extra sense and sometimes offers a greater cost-per-GB ratio. Nowadays, you could find 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 bit of larger). There’s a starker improve while 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 continuously during the last 12 months. The primary 2TB playing cards are a much bigger leap: the 2TB SanDisk Extreme, for instance, now has an inventory worth round $200, which is down a bit from its unique MSRP however nonetheless removed from low cost.

Observe {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 supply as much as 130 MB/s.

Once we discuss microSD playing cards at present, we largely discuss 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. This may virtually by no means be a problem today, however some older units (a Nintendo 3DS, as an 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 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 while you’re making an attempt to entry (learn) or save (write) lengthy, fixed streams of knowledge, reminiscent of opening a big video or copying a giant batch of information from a PC. If you wish to use a microSD card for media storage, that is significantly necessary. Random efficiency, in the meantime, is about how shortly 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 necessary if you happen to use a card with a gaming gadget or a single-board laptop just like the Raspberry Pi, the place it typically has to quickly save and entry small bits of knowledge in random places.

Pace rankings

In case 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 speed class and efficiency rankings, 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 necessary 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 velocity of not less than 30 MB/s. This must be sufficient to assist as much as 4K video at decrease bitrates. Greater-rated V60 and V90 playing cards are often higher for capturing 8K, however they arrive at a a lot larger price.

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 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 velocity. This ranking is much less related these days, however you should still see a “C10” emblem on some playing cards.

The Software 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 supply 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 rankings additionally assure sequential write speeds of not 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 doable to get a strong card with out these: A U1 card could be value it if you happen to simply want an affordable, high-capacity choice, for instance. V60 and V90 playing cards are value a glance if you happen to’re critical about taking pictures high-resolution images and video as nicely. However total, playing cards with the certifications above ought to present the perfect mix of worth and efficiency at present.

It’s necessary to emphasise that these rankings are baselines. Most V30 playing cards supply considerably larger write speeds than 30 MB/s, as an example, 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 might truly be a bit quicker.

The Samsung Pro Plus microSD card.

Samsung

UHS bus speeds

The opposite spec to notice is the cardboard’s bus interface. Most microSD playing cards accessible at present 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 nicely however hasn’t seen vast adoption.) These are labeled on the cardboard with a Roman numeral I or II.

UHS-II playing cards are usually those with these larger V60 or V90 rankings. In case you shoot numerous 4K to 8K video or continuously use burst mode to seize extremely high-res images, the efficiency positive aspects of an excellent UHS-II card can prevent time.

Nonetheless, these are usually way more costly than UHS-I playing cards: This 128GB Lexar Professional Gold mannequin, as an example, is a relative discount at $35. Whereas that is lower than many UHS-II fashions we’ve seen prior to now, it is nonetheless greater than double the frequent avenue worth 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 definitely worth the worth premium for most individuals, so we caught largely to UHS-I playing cards with our suggestions.

Unlike traditional UHS-I cards, a microSD Express card like the SanDisk model on the right comes with a second row of pins to enable its improved performance.

In contrast to conventional UHS-I playing cards, a microSD Specific card just like the SanDisk mannequin on the best comes with a second row of pins to allow its improved efficiency. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)

microSD Specific and the Nintendo Change 2

Absolutely the quickest microSD playing cards you should buy, nonetheless, are based mostly on a unique interface known 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 not too long ago launched microSD Express card, one of many first commercially accessible 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 common units natively assist SD Specific at present. 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 latest handheld video games.

Moreover SanDisk, producers like Samsung, Lexar and PNY have already launched microSD Specific 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 Specific playing cards price way more than the perfect UHS-I and even UHS-II choices. Past the Change 2, it’s doable to benefit from these playing cards’ superior speeds with a devoted SD Specific card reader, however that provides much more to the ultimate price. It’s additionally value noting that SD Specific playing cards usually are not backwards appropriate 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 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 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. Nonetheless, you want a appropriate card reader and host gadget to benefit from that additional efficiency. In case you discover a UHS-I card promoting speeds larger than 104 MB/s, that is what’s happening. You possibly can 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 aspects some playing cards could have elsewhere. (Variations in random learn and write speeds can nonetheless matter, although.) The identical factor will occur if you happen to 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 supply lifetime or 10-year restricted warranties, although we’ve seen that “endurance” playing cards marketed to face up to extra hours of writing are often lined for a shorter time period. For instance, Samsung’s Pro Endurance, a mannequin aimed toward safety cameras and different monitoring units, 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 reminiscent of Finest Purchase, B&H Picture or Adorama. In case 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 instantly prior to now, 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 cheaper price than everybody else.

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

A few of the microSD card readers we've used for testing.

Just a few of the microSD card readers we have used for testing. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)

How we take a look at microSD playing cards

We have put about 20 microSD playing cards via a sequence 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 number 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 recreation and cargo save information. We do a number of runs of every take a look at 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 at any time when we may, although we have been solely in a position to take a look at 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.

For microSD Specific playing cards, we ran every mannequin via a sequence of checks particular to the Change 2, since that’s the solely common gadget that truly helps the tech. You possibly can learn extra about that course of in our separate shopping for information linked above.

Current updates

November 2025: We’ve examined Walmart’s Onn microSD Specific Card and edited our notes on the perfect playing cards for the Nintendo Change 2 accordingly.

September 2025: We’ve fleshed out our recommendation on shopping for a microSD Specific card for the Nintendo Change 2.

Might 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 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 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 not too long ago launched microSD Specific card as a decide for many who need absolutely the quickest card doable, albeit with heavy caveats. This is without doubt 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 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.

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