Reading speed for most memory cards is always faster than writing speed.

Manufacturers

Among the most famous and well-established manufacturers of microSD cards stand out:

• Kingston;
• Transcend;
• Sandisk.

Recently, SanDisk and Silicon Power have become popular due to the fact that they offer inexpensive, but high-quality solutions.

Choosing a memory card for a smartphone

Modern flagship phones have an internal storage of at least 8-16GB, but this is not enough for some users. In this case, you can solve the problem by using additional flash memory. But you need to know how to choose a memory card for a smartphone so that it lasts a long time and does not fail at an unforeseen moment.

Why do you need

A memory card is needed to expand the memory on a smartphone when the internal storage is not enough to store existing data (photos, audio, video recordings, etc.). It connects to a special connector in the housing.

Modern models of smartphones have a slot for microSD memory cards. It allows you to reduce the size and make the most of the usable space inside the case.

Before buying a MicroSD card, make sure your gadget supports it. This information can be found:

• on the website of the smartphone manufacturer;
• in the instructions for the model;
• looking at the case for a slot that says “MicroSD” or a drawn memory card.

WHAT SIZE MEMORY CARD TO CHOOSE?

The size of the memory card determines how many pictures or minutes of video you can record. Naturally, more capacious cards are more expensive. But we live in the age of multi-Omega cameras and the coming era of 4K video. SLR cameras have crossed the 50 megapixel line, and mirrorless cameras are already equipped with 42 megapixel sensors. And even in mobile phones, you can find the resolution of images over 40 million pixels! The average number of pixels is 24 million. Canon EOS-1D X Mark II writes video at 800 Mbps. One forty-second video from this camera takes about 5 GB! And the higher the resolution of the picture and video, the more space will be required on the flash drive.

The size of a file directly depends on the number of details stored in it, that is, on its quality. If you shoot photos in RAWJPEG format, the size of one shot can be over 100 MB! Now there is an ultra-high definition 4K video format, where one minute can take up the volume of an average amateur photo shoot.

It makes little sense to purchase memory cards with a volume of less than 16 GB today. If you plan to actively take pictures and shoot a little video, then we recommend memory cards with a capacity of 16 and 32 GB. In this case, you should not shoot all the material on one card, it is better to split the session into several flash drives. The point is not so much the unreliability of memory cards (they are just very reliable), but rather the fact that we can lose them. When shooting video, the size of the memory card should be selected so that it is enough for the entire shooting day. Below we give a table for modern multi-Omega-pixel cameras, which will allow you to roughly estimate how many pictures and minutes of video can be recorded on memory cards of different sizes.

Memory capacity	Full HD H.264 video	Photo RAWJPEG
8 GB	10 minutes	80 photos
16 GB	21 minutes	160 photos
32 GB	43 minutes	320 photos
64 GB	1 hour 27 minutes	650 photos
128 GB	2 hours 54 minutes	1280 photos

WHAT TO PAY ATTENTION TO?

As long as the memory card is inside the device, it is protected. But as soon as you remove it, it immediately becomes vulnerable. At least once, the photographer will definitely drop it, leave it on the table under the scorching sun, in a photo bag in severe frost, or even worse. douse it with water! What can we say about travel: at the airport, luggage will be illuminated with X-rays. We recommend choosing memory cards that are protected from all of the listed negative influences.

MEMORY CARD TYPE

There are several types of memory cards on the market today. The one specified in the description of your device will suit you. For example, most cameras today are compatible with SD (Secure Digital) memory cards, which have two subtypes: SDHC (high-capacity cards) and SDXC (ultra-high-capacity cards). Cameras released several years ago may not be compatible with SDXC memory cards, and digital camera models released before 2006 may not be compatible with SDHC.

The maximum capacity for SDHC is 64 GB, and for SDXC is 512 GB.

In some professional cameras, as well as in cameras of the past, CF (Compact Flash) flash drives are widely used. Today they are not much superior in their characteristics to other types, however, they are the first in terms of volume and recording speed. However, before purchasing a fast CF memory card, make sure your camera can handle this fast transfer rate. In particular, there must be support for the UDMA (Direct Memory Access) function from the side of the camera.

There are also CFast 2.0 memory cards with ultra-high read (up to 515 MB / s) and write (up to 440 MB / s) speeds. Their maximum size is 128 GB, the minimum is 64 GB. This is a relatively new format and is supported by several professional cameras. But it is already clear that due to its high speed characteristics, it will be in demand in the future.

In tablets and smartphones, where compactness is especially important, along with ordinary SD cards, their smaller versions. microSD can be used. They are often used in action cameras and some cameras. Today, microSD cards are not inferior to their full-size counterparts in anything. neither speed nor volume. They can also be used in cameras with a standard SD slot via an adapter. The maximum microSD memory capacity is 200GB on the SanDisk Ultra microSDHC / microSDXC UHS-I model. You can read more about microSD memory cards on the pages of our magazine.

Best Samsung Micro SD Card for Different Devices

Choosing a memory card: type, volume, speed

Every owner of a digital camera or smartphone with a camera sooner or later thinks about buying a memory card. Even if the device already has several gigabytes of internal memory, you will need a large flash drive with a high recording speed to save photos and videos. It may seem that all the cards are the same, but there are many pitfalls in this topic. We show you how to choose the best memory card.

HOW TO DETERMINE THE OPTIMUM WRITE AND READ SPEED?

Many people do not pay attention to the speed of the memory card. But in vain, because it is more important than volume, because it determines the scope of the flash drive. For example, you won’t be able to record Full HD on a slow card. the recording will be constantly interrupted. If you shoot a series of frames with a slow flash drive, the camera may freeze for a long time while recording it. Once we had to wait three whole minutes for a series of images from a 42-megapixel camera to be recorded onto a Class 10 card. High-speed photo capture of more than 10 frames per second is no longer surprising, and 4K and 360 ° video formats raised the bar for recording speed to new heights. So how to distinguish a fast memory card from a slow one and find the best one for your device?

Previously, flash cards were divided into classes: 2, 4, 6 and 10. In fact, this is the write speed in megabytes per second: class 2. 2 MB / s, class 6. 6 MB / s. The tenth grade implies that a flash drive can record pictures at a higher speed than 10 MB / s. Such fast flash drives, in addition to the letter C, are marked with the letter U with the number 1 or 3. The manufacturer always indicates on the card the real read and write speed (for example, 45 MB / s), and on the right. the class of the card. A similar situation with Compact Flash and microSD.

MEMORY CARD STANDARD UHS-I and UHS-II

Today, UHS-II memory cards are being actively introduced. Fujifilm X-T1, Fujifilm X-Pro2 and Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II are already working with them. The file write speed reaches 250 MB / s, and the read speed reaches 280 MB / s. Such high rates make it possible to realize all the possibilities of modern technology. Externally, the flash drives of the old and new standards are no different, but this is only from the front side. On the reverse side of UHS-II cards, the contacts are arranged in two rows. But most importantly, UHS-II is backward compatible: they can be used in cameras and camcorders that do not support this standard. Obviously, the future is theirs.

Some manufacturers of photographic equipment have tried to introduce their own types of flash drives. But at the moment, almost all camera models are compatible with one of the above types, and for using your own types of flash drives, either a separate or a combined slot is provided.

HOW TO CHOOSE MEMORY CARD SPEED CLASS?

If you plan to shoot video in Full HD, then a memory card of at least 6 speed class, and better. 10 or higher, are suitable for you. The same maps are suitable for everyday shooting. For continuous shooting, it is better to choose faster flash drives. about 45 MB / s. This will allow you to photograph in short, continuous bursts. With slow flash drives, you run the risk of missing an interesting shot while your camera is recording previous shots.

Shooting moving objects places even greater demands on speed: you have to shoot almost continuously in burst. And here the ideal speed of the memory card is already 80 MB / s and higher.

Finally, for professionals shooting long bursts, the fastest flash drives with speeds of 90 MB / s and above are essential. Writing speed is key, and you shouldn’t skimp on it. A professional camera with a high-speed memory card is capable of shooting a continuous series of frames until it runs out of free space.

Reading speed is less important for the camera. It is always higher or equal to the write speed. By choosing a memory card with a high write speed, you will definitely not experience problems with read speed.

UHS support

Ultra High Speed ​​(UHS) is an ultra-high speed data technology. Cards supporting UHS technology have a speed that is no longer measured in megabits, but in tens of megabits per second. All UHS cards are Speed ​​Class 10.

In terms of UHS support, when choosing a memory card, you need to know the following:

• The version of the UHS standard. There are UHS-I and UHS-II. the cards are marked with Roman numerals I and II, respectively. UHS-I cards are supported by most modern devices. smartphones, tablets, cameras. So far, UHS-II cards are used only in some top models, since additional pins are soldered into them, and they require a non-standard connector. Check in the instructions which version of UHS your device supports.
• UHS speed. It is indicated on the front side of the card by a number inscribed in the letter “U”: either 1 or 3. In the first case, the card operates with data at a speed of 10 Mbps or more. In the second. at a speed of 30 Mbit / s.

The first card runs at speeds of 10 Mb / s and fits into a standard slot. The second one requires a non-standard one, but works at a speed of 30 Mbps.

UHS-II cards are needed by rare professionals. They are designed to work quickly with heavy, ultra-high quality multimedia content, such as in the television industry. For most users, such opportunities are not only unnecessary, but also inaccessible. For a smartphone, a card labeled UHS-I 3 will already be ultra-fast. you can watch movies in 4K and shoot high-quality video with a steadicam anyway.

Choosing a microSD card: types

Not cards of the same size are the same. For example, microSD has several subtypes: outwardly, they are no different. :

• microSD: 2 to 4 GB, almost out of circulation.
• microSDHC: High Capacity Cards. 4GB to 32GB.
• microSDXC: Ultra High Capacity Cards. 32GB and up (cards up to 2TB are currently available).

The type of card is usually indicated on its front side with a special marking.

Left. MicroSDXC, right. MicroSDHC.

There are two rules to follow when choosing the type of memory card:

• Each new generation of cards is backward compatible with the previous ones. That is, a microSDHC generation card can be inserted into the microSDXC memory card slot and it will work. But the opposite is simply impossible to do. Therefore, before choosing a memory card, open the instructions for your device and find out what type of memory cards it supports.
• Also, check the maximum amount of memory your device supports. If the instructions say that you can insert a memory card up to 32 GB into your smartphone, there is no point in buying a 128 GB microSDXC card for it. it simply does not recognize the “extra” gigabytes.

If you are choosing a memory card for your smartphone, the best option. microSDHC gigabyte for 32. It costs only 600 rubles, you can find it even cheaper.

Choosing a memory card: format

The first thing to know is in what formats they exist.

• 24 x 32 mm SD (Secure Digital) cards are used in laptops, cameras, camcorders, game consoles.
• 11 x 15mm microSD cards are used in smartphones, tablets, audio players, e-books.

Almost all microSD cards come with an SD adapter. It increases the size of a miniature memory card. Using an adapter, the same card can be transferred from a smartphone, for example, to a camera. MicroSD card with adapter is currently the most convenient and economical choice.

Speed ​​class

Memory cards vary in data processing speed. Depending on it, they are divided into classes: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. These numbers indicate the read and write speed: from 2 Mbit / s to 10 Mbit / s and above. So a card with a speed class of 10 can theoretically read and write data much faster, just 10 is a solid minimum.

The speed class is indicated on the face of the card with a number inscribed in the letter “C”.

The card on the left runs at 10 Mbps. The map on the right is 4 Mbps.

Everything is clear here: the higher the speed, the better. There are no restrictions here. Focus on how you want to use the card: if you want to record 4K video on it, then choose speed class 10. For the average smartphone user, class 4 is quite enough, but you are unlikely to find such dinosaurs.

How to choose a memory card for a smartphone and other equipment

It may be needed, for example, for smartphones with a small amount of permanent memory. And also for cameras, video recorders and so on.

Fortunately, choosing a memory card today is much easier than 10 years ago, when every manufacturer of technology experimented with its own formats. Today everything “settled down”, and this greatly facilitated our task.

In most cases, we need a memory card for a smartphone. On it, you can, for example, store media files (photos, videos), thus unloading a small amount of permanent memory from these files. True, not all models of modern smartphones support the use of maps.

How much card should you choose?

Of course, you will be told that “the more, the better”, but this is not entirely true. First, many devices have a limit on the size of the supported card. Second, why pay for the extra gigabytes you won’t be using. Our recommendations are as follows.

32 GB (holds 40 min of Full HD video): Suitable for smartphones, tablets and compact cameras, provided you are not keen on shooting in high resolutions and RAW format

64 GB (accommodates 1.5 hours of Full HD video): optimal for smartphone owners, also a good option for any cameras and DVRs.

128 GB (almost 3 hours of Full HD video): useful for laptops, photo and video equipment. Even when shooting in RAW, you can have more than 1000 photos, which is quite enough.

256 GB or more: Think of it as an intermediate storage option (for example, for transferring files) or for professional use.

If you are choosing a memory card for your dash cam, be sure to read our guide on the choice. It’s not as simple as with smartphones.

What does the class of the memory card say??

MicroSD cards are available in Grade 2, 4, 6 and 10 and these are the things to really look out for. These numbers indicate the supported data transfer rate, and while the microSD card can write data at a minimum speed of 2 MB / s, then a Class 10 memory card operates at a minimum of 10 MB / s. It’s not that hard. It is important to understand that we are talking about the minimum write speed, and with good memory cards, the data read speed can reach up to 95 MB / s.

What does UHS mean?

Another memory card information that may catch your eye is UHS-1 or UHS-3 compatibility. Such microSD memory cards began to appear in 2009. In theory, a UHS card can support data transfer rates up to 321 MB / s, but you should focus on the minimum speed: 10 MB / s for UHS-1 and 30 MB / s for UHS-3. In fact, if you plan to use the card in a smartphone, you shouldn’t focus on this, smartphones do not support UHS.

How to choose the right memory card for your smartphone

It would seem that it is difficult to buy a memory card. We decided on the required volume, found a profitable offer and bought it. It is because of this user approach that some manufacturers have stopped producing flagship smartphones with expandable memory. If you have a microSD card handy, take a look at how much is written on it. It is this information that will help you make the right choice.

What is the Difference Between SDHC and microSDXC?

When buying a memory card, you should pay attention to these large four letters, but the difference between these two standards is only in the amount of data supported. SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) can store up to 32 gigabytes of data, while SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity) can handle 64 gigabytes or more. The problem is that not all devices support SDXC cards and such a large amount of memory. Check the information about the capabilities of your smartphone before buying a memory card for 64 or 128 gigabytes.

Why deal with all this?

This is the question to start with. Imagine buying a new modern flagship smartphone with memory card support, such as the LG G4. Such a smartphone should easily cope with all tasks, but suddenly you notice that the camera and other applications of your smartphone are not working as fast as you expected. This is possible if you are using a memory card that is not fast enough to store photos and from which your applications take data. However, nothing prevents you from paying a little attention to the issue and choosing the memory card with which the smartphone can delight you constantly.

Watch This Before you Buy MicroSD Cards. MicroSD Explained in Detail ������

What else is important to know?

It would be a good idea to purchase a memory card from one of the trusted manufacturers such as SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston. It is also worth paying attention to the cost. If you suddenly find a suspiciously cheap memory card, you should be wary of it.

Which memory card to choose for the DVR

Today we will talk about memory cards for DVRs and action cameras. I think you know that not every memory card will work correctly in your recorder. How do I choose the right memory card? What to look for when choosing a memory card and which models / brands to recommend?

How to format a memory card

Attention, like all manufacturers in their instructions, we advise you to format any memory card once every 2 months at least if you want to extend its life. This can be done both with the built-in means of a camera or recorder, and on your computer. Never format an Sdxc memory card (often with a capacity of 64gb or more) in Sdhc-compatible devices. Your card reader or adapter must be able to work with Sdxc.

You can use a special PC or MAC program called SD Card Formatter. Set the options in the settings as shown in the figure on the right.

How to choose a memory card

Without going into the technical details of memory chips (MLC NAND is better) and specifications, pay attention to the 2 main characteristics of the card indicated right on it. These are speed class (class 10) and UHS parameter (U1 or U3).

• 2 channel device
• 1 channel device with an average recording bit rate
• QHD (2k) device

Ordinary Class 10 memory cards with the U1 index and write speeds from 18 to 22 mb / s are still suitable for you. It should be borne in mind that a class 10 card provides a minimum speed of 10mb / s, and this may not be enough in most modern DVRs. Therefore, you should not just be guided by the class. Do not look at loud writing on the packaging of memory cards. Usually, the speed is indicated not for writing, but for reading. It is the recording that is important to us, as a rule, this characteristic is many times more modest than reading, so marketers try to hide it. If you have:

• 4k action camera / dvr
• DVR with QHD resolution for 2 cameras
• very high bitrate recording device

Most likely you will need a Class 10 memory card with the U3 index. It provides minimum recording speeds up to 30mb / s. In some cases, this will not be enough, so for 4k with a bitrate of more than 70-100mbit / s, we recommend top (or pre-top) cards with the U3 index in the lineup of various brands, where the write speed is from 50mb / s.

How to find out the speed of the WRITE to the memory card?

Only empirically through special programs. Before buying, you need to look for tests on the memory card of your choice on the Internet and see the write speed. Alternatively, you can test the memory card yourself using the CrystalDiskMark program. Please note that many cards show the maximum write speed only if you have a card reader with USB3.0 support, the same should be your USB port in your laptop or computer. When testing, the computer should not perform any other tasks.

Guarantee

You’ve probably seen that many memory card manufacturers offer long warranties, ranging from 3 to 5 years or more. And even a lifetime warranty. Alas, this warranty has limitations, usually indicated in small print in the terms and conditions, and of course, does not apply to devices with frequent data overwriting, such as action cameras and DVRs. Therefore, do not rely on full warranty service when used in registrars. For example, here is a screenshot of the Samsung card warranty terms using one example:

Why Not Any Card Will Work

Modern DVRs record in HD / FullHD / QHD resolution, and every year there is a tendency for the number of pixels to grow. But, in addition to the resolution, there is also a bit rate. This is the speed of the recorded stream to the memory card, depending on the model, even with the same resolution, this parameter can vary quite a lot. The manufacturer of the DVR often writes in the instructions. support for MicroSD memory cards (the most popular format) up to 32/64/128 / 256GB class 10. But he usually does not write anything about the bitrate of his stream. You can find out these numbers only by looking at the technical information of the recorded video or the profile thread of the forum of the selected gadget model.

programs

• Mydisktest. a program for testing USB Flash drives for bad areas
• Panasonic SD formatter. heals and restores almost any flash drive for mobile devices and not only
• Check Flash. designed to check the performance of flash drives, and also allows you to determine the instantaneous read / write speed using tests

Recording speed and class

The higher the class of the card, the faster the data exchange between devices (writing and reading files) will be. At the moment there are cards with three recording classes:

• Speed ​​Class (letter C). Writing speed can vary from 2 to 10 MB / s.
• UHS Spees Class (U). Speed ​​from 10 to 30 MB / s.
• Video Speed ​​Class (V). 6 to 90 MB / s.

The final speed depends on the class. For example, a Class 10 memory card (Video Speed ​​Class 10) has a write speed of 10 MB / s or more. Such flash drives are used to record videos in FullHD format, as well as for streaming.

Sandisk extreme

, and this is for a model with only 32 GB of memory. A very expensive but also durable card that differs from the standard models. It is shockproof, waterproof, and X-ray resistant. It is appropriate to use it in extreme conditions. The maximum card size of this line is 128 GB.

Price is the main disadvantage of this model. However, the technical characteristics fully justify the high price.

• Lifetime warranty.
• Recording speed.
• The ability to apply under any conditions.

There is also a more advanced version of this card, the SanDisk Extreme Pro. It differs from the previous one (without the Pro console) in a higher recording speed, which allows you to record videos in better quality and faster. But the fact is that the entire line is represented by only two models. with a capacity of 64 and 128 GB. Few users are willing to purchase it. Most often, there is simply no need for such protection, which a flash drive possesses.

Samsung EVO

These cards from “Samsung” cost an average of 500 rubles (the price for the version with 16 GB of memory), they have water and thermal protection, as well as protected from magnetic fields and X-rays. At the same time, the exchange rate is quite high. As for the price, it is slightly higher than the cost of similar models, however, the price tag is due to the presence of protection.

SanDisk Ultra

For only 350 rubles, you can buy an inexpensive and good flash drive for your smartphone. It has classic characteristics, low price, and the manufacturer is reliable and well-known. With its parameters, a flash drive is cheaper than other models, while the model range includes cards with different memory sizes, so there is plenty to choose from.

Transcend MicroSDHC

For 400 rubles, you can purchase a model with a memory capacity of 16 GB. Its characteristics correspond to the previous memory card in the rating, it has a high data exchange rate. However, the entire line has a size limit of 256 GB. In general, Transcend has long established itself as a reliable manufacturer of high-quality devices, so problems with their flash drives should not arise.

• Reliability.
• High write speed.
• Lifetime warranty.

Volume

Modern drives can range in size from one gigabyte to two terabytes (2000 GB). Of course, the price of memory cards strongly depends on the volume. However, when choosing, it should be borne in mind that phones have restrictions on the amount of storage that can be connected to them. Many budget smartphones are designed to connect cards up to 16 GB. Therefore, they will not be able to work with a 32GB drive. Hence the misunderstanding among people whose smartphones cannot see memory cards. The characteristics must indicate with what volume the phone can work with a card. And if you install a 32 GB flash drive in a phone that supports only 16 GB, then it simply does not recognize it.

Silicon power

For a flash drive with 8 GB memory from Silicon Power, you will have to pay 550 rubles. It is expensive for such a volume. In addition, the flash drive belongs to the 4th class, so the write speed will be low. However, it is not intended for recording FullHD-video, it is better to save photos, audio files on it.

Pros. durability. The memory card is actively used in phones that do not have high technical requirements. The disadvantage is the price. With its characteristics (low write speed, small volume), it seems unfair. Therefore, Silicon Power models can be recommended as a last resort. When choosing, you first need to consider the models of manufacturers that are higher in this rating.