Best micro SD cards for your smartphone
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In the 1950s, IBM created the first disk drive. It was as large as a vending machine, more expensive than a house, and could only hold 3.75 megabytes of data, which is about the size of one song in MP3 format. Now, over 60 years later, smartphones can store much more data, even though they can fit in your pocket. Technology has certainly advanced!
However, it seems like smartphones never have enough storage space. They are filled with large apps, offline music, high-resolution photos, and videos, which take up a lot of GBs. With the increasing popularity of 4K and 8K video formats, it seems like storage space on smartphones may become an even bigger issue.
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- 512GB micro SD cards (or larger)
- High-endurance micro SD cards
- Fastest micro SD cards
- Affordable micro SD cards
- Conclusion
512GB micro SD cards (or larger)
Samsung Evo Select
Available in a broad range of capacities, the Samsung Evo Select can provide all the space you may ever need on your phone. The largest offering in the series packs a whopping 512GB! This particular model is also not that expensive, considering the capacity.
You can fit 77,000 high-quality audio tracks, 150,000 high-res photos, or 24 hours of 4K 60fps video on that card. For consumers who don't need quite as much space, the 128GB micro SD variant is the most cost-efficient in the series.
The Samsung Evo Select micro SD cards offer up to 100MB/s sequential read speeds, which is more than enough for everyday tasks. These micro SD cards work great with tablets, laptops, action cameras, DSLR's, drones, smartphones, Android devices and more.
SanDisk Extreme 1TB
If you want the highest possible capacity and speed for whatever reason, you have to go to extremes. The SanDisk Extreme 1TB microSD card offers read speeds up to 160MB per second and comes with a record-setting 1000GB capacity. Of course, you must be prepared for the extreme price, too.
The 1TB version normally costs around $299.99 but there are sweet deals out there and you should look out for them (the SanDisk Extreme 1TB micro SD card is discounted on Amazon right now).
If you pair this card with a Galaxy S10+ 1TB phone, you'll end up with more onboard storage than many laptop and desktop computers. The SanDisk Extreme 1TB is the biggest micro SD card available at the moment, though you should check if your phone supports SD cards with such capacity.
There's also a lifetime warranty for this one, so you'll have peace of mind if you decide that you need that much storage on your phone. If you don't need that much storage, there's the 512GB variant, and it's considerably cheaper too.
High-endurance micro SD cards
Kingston Endurance
The Kingston Endurance is the best micro SD card for every video enthusiast out there. It's optimized to withstand write intensive applications such as home security & surveillance cameras, which means it will work great if you like to record long videos with your smartphone.
SanDisk High Endurance Video
It's true that high-endurance micro SD cards are perfect for dash cams, home monitoring systems and other video-intensive applications but that doesn't mean you can't use them in a smartphone. Quite on the contrary.
Opting for such a card will grant you extra durability, especially if you overwrite the card often (record lots of videos, frequently install and delete apps.) You can get a 256GB model for around $40 and that's a bargain.
Samsung PRO Endurance
Another solid option from Samsung - the Pro Endurance series. This microSD card is shockproof , waterproof, temperature proof, x-ray proof and magnetic proof. You don't sacrifice speed, though. It offers up to 100 MB/s read and 30MB/s write speeds, while maintaining best-in-class endurance up to 43,800 hours of 4K and Full HD (1080p) recording and playback.
Fastest micro SD cards
SanDisk Extreme Pro
SanDisk's top-grade micro SD cards offer read/write speeds up to 200/140MB per second making them one of the fastest micro SD cards out there (smartphones support UHS-I speeds, capped at 140MB/s but still, the Extreme Pro will get you right there.)
This kind of performance allows them to function flawlessly with the latest high-end Android phones. The A2 rating indicates they're fast enough to work great with apps, while the V30 rating ensures they can be used for recording 4K video and bursts of photos.
This card comes in four capacities, from 64GB right up to 1TB. You can get a nice 256GB micro SD card version and it will solve all your storage issues, no matter if we're talking about multimedia or apps.
Affordable micro SD cards
Samsung Evo Plus 128gb
You don't have to cough out huge amounts of money to get a good micro SD card. The Samsung's Evo Plus range is one of the best-selling micro SD cards out there and for a good reason.
Lexar 128GB Micro SD Card
Another affordable microSD card comes from Lexar and offers the same 128GB capacity for under $20. It's a good allrounder, not as popular as the aforementioned brands and models but a solid option nonetheless.
You get up to 100MB/s read speed and up to 30MB/s write speed, water resistance, A1 rating for continuous 1500 read IOPS, 500 write IOPS, and of course, a great price.
How to pick the best microSD card for your phone?
Choosing the right microSD card for your phone can be overwhelming with so many options available. Here are some factors to consider to help you pick the best one for your needs:
- Storage capacity: Determine how much storage you need based on what you plan to store on the card, such as photos, videos, music, or apps. MicroSD cards range in size from measly gigabytes up to 1TB or more (the largest commercially available microSD card at the moment is 1.5TB, but it's pretty expensive).
- Speed class: The speed class determines how quickly the card can read and write data. The higher the speed class, the faster the card can transfer data. If you plan to use your card for high-speed tasks like recording 4K video or taking burst photos, opt for a higher speed class like Class 10 or UHS-1.
- Application Performance Class (A rating): If you'll be using your microSD card for storing and running apps, look for a card with an Application Performance Class rating, such as A1 or A2. These cards are optimized for app performance and can help speed up app load times and overall phone performance.
- Brand and reliability: Choose a reputable brand like SanDisk, Samsung, or Kingston to ensure your card is reliable and durable. A low-quality card can fail or corrupt your data, so it's worth investing in a good-quality card from a trusted brand.
Conclusion
There are both good and bad news to consider when it comes to microSD cards. The bad news is that many flagship phones are no longer including a microSD slot. However, the good news is that storage is becoming more and more affordable. It's now possible to purchase a 1TB microSD card for a relatively low price. If your phone has a microSD slot, you'll be able to use it for a long time with one of these cards.
This list will be regularly updated with new entries, so be sure to check back from time to time. By doing so, you can stay informed on the most recent additions to the best microSD cards for your smartphone (given that it supports one) and never have any storage problems.
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