Types of microsd memory cards. How to choose an SD card: which memory card is best for a smartphone and other devices

For most people, microSD is just a form factor, but it really isn't. You can easily insert any microSD card into a standard slot, but not every one of them will work, since cards differ in many ways.

Format

There are three different SD formats in total, available in two form factors (SD and microSD):

• SD (microSD) - drives up to 2 GB, work with any equipment;
• SDHC (micro SDHC) - drives from 2 to 32 GB, work on devices with support for SDHC and SDXC;
• SDXC (microSDXC) - drives from 32 GB to 2 TB (currently maximum 512 GB), only work on SDXC-enabled devices.

As you can see, they are not backwards compatible. Memory cards of the new format will not work on old equipment.

Volume

Support for microSDXC declared by the manufacturer does not mean support for cards of this format with any volume and depends on the specific device. For example, HTC One M9 works with microSDXC, but officially only supports cards up to and including 128 GB.

Another important point is related to the volume of drives. All microSDXC cards use the exFAT file system by default. Windows has been supporting it for more than 10 years, it has appeared in OS X since version 10.6.5 (Snow Leopard), exFAT support has been implemented in Linux distributions, but out of the box it does not work everywhere.

High speed UHS interface

SDHC and SDXC cards can support the Ultra High Speed ​​interface, which provides higher speeds (UHS-I up to 104 MB/s and UHS-II up to 312 MB/s) if the device has hardware support. UHS is backward compatible with earlier interfaces and can work with devices that do not support it, but at standard speed (up to 25 MB/s).

2. Speed

Classifying the write and read speed of microSD cards is as complex as their formats and compatibility. The specs allow four ways to describe card speed, and since manufacturers use them all, there's a lot of confusion.

speed class

The Speed ​​Class is the minimum write speed to the memory card in megabytes per second. There are four in total:

• Class 2- from 2 MB/s;
• Class 4- from 4 MB/s;
• Class 6- from 6 MB/s;
• Class 10- from 10 MB/s.

Cards operating on the high-speed UHS bus have only two speed classes so far:

• Class 1 (U1)- from 10 MB/s;
• Class 3 (U3)- from 30 MB/s.

Since the minimum value of the entry is used in the designation of the speed class, theoretically a card of the second class may well be faster than a card of the fourth. Although, if this is the case, the manufacturer will most likely prefer to state this fact more explicitly.

Max Speed

The speed class is enough to compare cards when choosing, but some manufacturers also use the maximum speed in MB / s in the description, and more often not even the write speed (which is always lower), but the read speed.

Usually these are the results of synthetic tests under ideal conditions, which are unattainable with normal use. In practice, the speed depends on many factors, so you should not focus on this characteristic.

Speed ​​multiplier

Another classification option is a speed multiplier, similar to the one used to indicate the read and write speed of optical discs. There are more than ten of them, from 6x to 633x.

The 1x multiplier is 150 KB/s, which means that the simplest 6x cards have a speed of 900 KB/s. The fastest cards can have a multiplier of 633x, which is 95 MB/s.

3. Tasks

Choose the right card for specific tasks. The biggest and fastest is not always the best. For certain use cases, volume and speed may be excessive.

When buying a card for a smartphone, volume plays a bigger role than speed. The advantages of a large storage are obvious, but the advantages of a high transfer rate on a smartphone are almost not felt, since large files are rarely written and read there (unless you have a smartphone with 4K video support).

Cameras shooting HD and 4K video are a completely different matter: both speed and volume are equally important here. For 4K video, camera manufacturers recommend using UHS U3 cards, for HD - regular Class 10 or at least Class 6.

For photos, many professionals prefer to use several smaller cards to minimize the risk of losing all the pictures in force majeure. As for the speed, it all depends on the photo format. If you shoot in RAW, it makes sense to invest in microSDHC or microSDXC class UHS U1 and U3 - in this case, they will reveal themselves to the fullest.

4. Fakes

No matter how trite it may sound, but buying a fake under the guise of original cards is now easier than ever. A few years ago, SanDisk claimed that a third of the SanDisk memory cards on the market were counterfeit. It is unlikely that the situation has changed much since that time.

To avoid disappointment when buying, it is enough to be guided by common sense. Refrain from buying from untrustworthy sellers and beware of "original" cards that are priced well below the official price.

Attackers have learned how to counterfeit packaging so well that it can sometimes be very difficult to distinguish it from the original. With full confidence, it is possible to judge the authenticity of a particular card only after verification with the help of special utilities:

• h2testw- for Windows;

If you have already experienced the loss of important data due to a broken memory card for one reason or another, then when it comes to choosing, you will most likely prefer a more expensive card from a well-known brand than an affordable "no-name".

In addition to greater reliability and safety of your data, with a branded card you will receive high speed and a guarantee (in some cases even a lifetime).

Now you know everything you need to know about SD cards. As you can see, there are many questions that you will have to answer before purchasing a card. Perhaps the best idea would be to have different maps for different needs. So you can use all the advantages of the equipment and not expose your budget to unnecessary costs.

Over the past twenty years, the file media market has undergone tremendous changes, the crowning achievement of which was the inevitable increase in storage capacities. Not so long ago, storage devices for 128 and 512 megabytes seemed to be the height of evolution, but now they have gone out of use. Due to the sharp increase in the flow of information, the world began to need much more stable and voluminous memory cards while maintaining the same proportions, standards and dimensions. So there were media that make it possible to record up to 512 gigabytes of data. Such a sharp step forward significantly influenced the development of technology, which, in turn, led to the emergence of memory cards of new interfaces and formats: for example, MicroSD, SDXC, SDHC, Compact Flash, etc.

The choice of file media is a separate task that requires the buyer to know the segment and basic technical parameters, such as data transfer / reception speed and support for various standards. As a purchase recommendation, we have compiled for you the 15 best memory cards, divided into four main categories. The following criteria were adopted for the ranking:

• popularity of the manufacturer among consumers;
• reliability of the drive, terms of full operation;
• compliance of the cost with the quality parameters of the product;
• technical characteristics of the card (data exchange rate, supported standards, memory size, etc.).

Popular memory card manufacturers

Transcend. A renowned Taiwanese company founded in 1988. Differs in a wide range of manufactured products (from RAM modules to miniature storage devices) and the presence of a limited lifetime warranty on products purchased from authorized representatives and in a network of retail stores.

SanDisk. An American brand founded in 1988. At the moment, SanDisk products occupy a third of the media market, and the main direction of the company's development is the development of data warehouses based on flash memory.

Samsung. An international corporation that needs no introduction. Among the huge production capacities, there was a place for the development department of memory modules, which are distinguished by proprietary quality and high cost.

Sony. The eternal competitor of Samsung, which has relied on the release of memory cards for cameras and camcorders. It is distinguished by a non-trivial approach to production and the use of radical solutions (to increase the speed of data exchange, experiments to equip miniature cards with extra memory, etc.)

Kingston. Another representative of the "elite" among file media manufacturers, which began operation in 1997. It occupies a leading position in terms of the volume of the DRAM module market, second in the supply of flash memory and flash cards, and first in the sale of USB drives.

ADATA. The youngest memory module manufacturer founded in 2001 in Taiwan. Positions itself as a fast-growing cutting-edge company…and backs it up with excellent sales numbers in all leading segments with a decent share of the developed market.

The best microSDHC memory cards

If your smartphone is controlled by the Android system, then it probably has a microSD memory card installed. The microSDHC format, in turn, is a "subspecies" of microSD cards. Externally, it is impossible to distinguish microSD from microSDHC. They are the same size, and microSD-enabled devices work just as well with microSDHC.

The reason for the emergence of microSDHC is simple: many years ago, during the creation of the microSD format, no one seriously thought that cards would be larger than 2 GB. Therefore, the file system had a corresponding limitation. Along with the advent of memory cards with a capacity of more than 2 GB, a new standard has also appeared. SDHC cards have a so-called. "classes". Those. if the card says "SDHC Class 10", it means that the read speed is 10 Mb/s.

5 SmartBuy microSDHC Class 10

The lowest price
Country: Taiwan
Average price: 530 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.3

A model for those who are ready to give up stability in favor of a low price. SmartBuy microSDHC is a memory card that is mainly aimed at completing video recorders, smartphones and tablets, rather than special filming equipment through a bundled adapter. It offers consumers a wide range of memory capacities - from 4 to 32 gigabytes - and has a standard nominal data transfer / reception rate (up to 10 Mb / s).

It is worth noting that the narrow specialization of SmartBuy microSDHC is due to one simple fact: the safety of files with a large number of rewriting cycles is not guaranteed in it. And if for ordinary users data loss is not always a big problem, then for photographers, for example, the loss of frames from a shoot can turn into a serious blow to reputation.

4 SanDisk Ultra microSDHC Class 10 UHS-I

Best card for data transfer speed
Country: China
Average price: 594 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.3

Increasingly, smartphone displays have a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels. This high resolution is due to the popularity of HD video. If you want to watch videos in high quality, or you often need to download a lot of photos and videos to your PC, then the SanDisk Ultra microSDHC is exactly the solution you need.

The main characteristics of the memory card:

• Built-in memory: 32 GB. This storage is enough for several hours of FullHD video.
• The card has been assigned the 10th class of data transfer speed. The device transmits data at 48 Mb/s
• As standard, there is an SD adapter for quick connection to a PC, or a camera on full-size Secure Digital cards.

3 Samsung microSDHC EVO Plus

High degree of reliability. Ideal for professional needs
Country: South Korea
Average price: 830 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.7

Samsung's pricing policy in the storage segment has always been loyal to consumers, which is once again proved by the example of Samsung microSDHC EVO Plus. The 32 GB micro card costs almost less than all competitors, but offers owners much more than standard data processing measures.

Reading files from the media is performed at a speed of 95 Mb / s, which is almost the best result in the class (if not for the eternal rivals in the person of the experimenters from Sony). Alas, the transmission speed failed to maintain a bold impulse - only 20 Mb / s under the most favorable conditions. However, the reliability of the map does not hold. It can be used as an addition to DVRs, phones and tablets, but in terms of potential, Samsung microSDHC EVO Plus can become an addition to much more professional equipment.

2 Kingston SDC4/8GB

The best solution for a budget smartphone
Country: USA (made in China)
Average price: 316 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.7

Cards with a high data transfer rate are not justified in all cases. If your phone doesn't shoot video in full resolution, or if you're using your memory card exclusively for music and book storage, then a Class 4 card will suffice. A prominent representative of budget cards is Kingston SDC4. For less than $4, a user gets 8 GB of storage from a well-known manufacturer.

Advantages and disadvantages of the card:

• Built-in memory - 8 GB. This volume is quite enough for 1000 music tracks in 320 kb/s quality, or for 8000 high-resolution photos.
• Comes with an adapter for a full size SD card
• The disadvantage is the data transfer rate "Class 4". This card is not suitable for shooting video in FullHD

• When choosing a card, be guided by the tasks that you face most often. Cards with a high read / write speed are more suitable for video, while a low speed is enough for photos.
• Not all cards are suitable for intensive use. Continuous photography often overloads the card, which can lead to overheating and failure of the card. Therefore, for professional photography, it is better to buy professional-grade cards.
• Pay attention to reviews. What the manufacturer writes in the technical description does not always correspond to real user experience.
• Take measurements with special programs right before buying. Marriage is not excluded even from reputable manufacturers. And so, you can have a complete picture of how high-quality the card fell into your hands.
• Do not buy overly cheap cards from Chinese online stores. You run the risk of buying a cheap fake 8 GB card instead of a 128 GB card, which lacks a write limiter. This means that when you load 128 GB files onto such a card, you will get 16 overwrite cycles per 8 GB. (This recording principle is similar to the working mechanism of a car DVR)

1 Transcend TS*USDHC10

The best card in terms of "price-quality"
Country: China (Taiwan)
Average price: 906 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.8

If you need a plug-and-forget memory card, the Transcend TS*USDHC10 is the solution. Its cost is 40% higher than that of Kingston SDC4, but we get a card with a "margin of safety". It has a high data transfer rate, and in the coming years it will definitely not become obsolete.

Map Features:

• Support for UHS standard: data transfer rate increased to 20 Mb/s
• Speed ​​class Class 10: writing to the card reaches 10 Mb/s
• Supplied with an adapter
• Disadvantage: users complain about the low number of write cycles. On average, failures occur after a year. At the same time, the card displays data even after a failure, allowing you to make a backup copy.

The best microSDXC memory cards

Today, even inexpensive smartphones shoot video in 1080x1920 resolution. "Flagships" can produce video in 4K, (i.e. with a frame width of more than 4 thousand pixels). It is convenient to mount such a video due to the good clarity of the frame, but it is extremely inconvenient to store it. After all, in just a few minutes, your smartphone can shoot a video of 3-4 GB. Here another problem appears - to shoot such a video, you need a memory card with a high write / read speed. Otherwise, it will simply not be possible to capture the best moments of reality. Secure Digital XC cards are designed to solve two problems that the SDHC standard can no longer handle:

1. The updated file system allowed the creation of maps up to 2 terabytes
2. The data transfer rate reaches 300 Mb/s and allows you to shoot/play back high-definition video.

If you plan to actively use the storage of your smartphone, work with video and photos in high resolution, then the Digital XC card is exactly what you need. And our rating will help determine the best representatives of this category.

5 Leef microSDXC Class 10

Memory capacities up to 128 GB
Country: USA (Russia)
Average price: 2,206 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.3

The product developed by domestic masters cannot be classified as top-end - it has too little popularity and free information from users. Leef microSDXC is a strong mid-ranger of the market, pampering owners with balanced technical characteristics and annoying with irreversible and uncorrectable bugs.

The write and read speeds (peak) are 24 and 42 Mb / s, respectively, which, with volumes from 64 to 128 gigabytes and the absence of any support for additional formats (UHS), is an excellent result. The disadvantage is related to the unpredictable stability of the memory card. There are frequent cases when, without any manipulation, the device spontaneously went into read mode and did not give users the opportunity to format the memory or correct errors that occurred. Leef microSDXC is a good model, but with a big limitation of applicability.

4 Kingston SDCA10/64GB

Best card for read/write speed
Country: China (Taiwan)
Average price: 2 320 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.3

Kingston once again demonstrates that nothing is impossible. In its new SDCA10 card, the manufacturer has managed to achieve record speeds for writing / reading data. The read speed is 10MB/s faster than Samsung. This makes the SDCA10 one of the fastest cards in the segment.

SDCA10 Features:

• Possible volume 16/32/64 GB
• Upload speed - 90 Mb/s, write speed - 45 Mb/s.
• Low heating even during intensive use
• In rare cases, it happens that the reading speed does not correspond to the declared one. It's better to test the card before buying
• Users complain about the low reliability of the card

3 Samsung microSDXC EVO Plus 80MB/s

When the choice is made in favor of reliability
Country: South Korea
Average price: 6 477 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.5

Samsung has quite a lot of experience in creating storage devices. Among the company's products are full-size hard drives and ultra-compact drives. It is to such devices that EVO Plus belongs. The bright, white-and-red card boasts a record volume (up to 128 GB) and a high read/write speed, as well as a good "margin of safety".

Map Features:

• Stylish design. Against the background of gray and black cards, Samsung's bright red device looks much more attractive. In addition, this card is hard to lose. It stands out among the things in your wallet/pocket/bag.
• Optimal data transfer rate. Today, read / write speeds of 80/20 MB / s are more than enough.
• UHS Class 1 support.
• Reliability. Users note that the card meets the declared parameters, withstands long write cycles without overheating, and does not fail.

2 ADATA Premier microSDXC Class 10 UHS-I U1 + SD adapter

The best choice for an inexpensive smartphone or tablet
Country: China (Taiwan)
Average price: 2,414 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.6

ADATA cards are characterized by a low price while maintaining high parameters. microSDXC UHS-I is ideal if you want to get a high-quality device with high recording speed for little money. The card supports the SDA 3.0 data transfer standard, thanks to which the card works faster.

Main characteristics:

• Support for the UHS-I standard in accordance with the SDA 3.0 specification allows you to achieve a read speed of 50 MB / s.
• Although the card belongs to the new SDXC standard, its price is in line with older SDHC cards.
• The write speed is relatively low, at 10 Mb/s

1 SanDisk Extreme microSDXC Class 10

Good choice for professional equipment
Country: USA
Average price: 2,990 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.9

One of the few optimized memory cards on the market today that do not experience serious problems with the operational part. Enlisting a lifetime warranty, it offers users a decent set of technical "chips" built on the ability to store large amounts of information (up to 128 gigabytes) and the speed of access to them. Data is written to the micro-card at a speed of 60 Mb / s, and files are read from the media at 90 Mb / s (which, according to experienced consumers, is not the limit for it).

Yes, with such characteristics, it is not very advisable to install SanDisk Extreme microSDXC on smartphones and other "smart" gadgets. Its purchase will be fully justified only when you need to be constantly ready to process large amounts of information (working with photos and videos, cyclic recording of a DVR camera, etc.). Against the background of such results, the issue of cost is rather secondary.

Best Compact Flash Memory Cards

Compact Flash cards: appeared back in 1994. But despite the years, the standard has not lost its relevance, and is actively used now. The capacity of Compact Flash memory cards reaches 512 GB, which makes these cards one of the most capacious drives on the market today.

Due to the high transfer rate, such memory cards are primarily focused on photographic equipment. When we shoot a video, it is automatically uploaded to the temporary memory buffer. When using cards with a low bit rate, the buffer overflows and video recording ends. In the case of CF cards, a buffer overflow is almost impossible, since the transfer rate is one of the highest.

However, Compact Flash cards, despite their name, cannot be called "compact". These are the largest cards on the market. But, given that they are used in professional large-sized photographic equipment, this disadvantage cannot be called obvious. In our ranking are the best Compact Flash cards that are ideal for a modern camera.

2 Transcend TS32GCF133

Best price for 32 GB
Country: China
Average price: 1,860 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.4

Many professional photographers and cameramen fundamentally clear the internal storage after the next photo / video shoot. Therefore, it does not always make sense to buy a capacious card. If you are not used to storing photo archives on your device, or you use several cards at once, then the 32 GB Transcend TS32GCF133 will be a profitable and practical purchase.

Main characteristics:

• Read speed - 20 Mb / s, write speed - 10 Mb / s
• Suitable for high-resolution burst shooting with a professional camera
• Not suitable for shooting 4K video.

1 SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash 160MB/s

Best data transfer rates at a low price
Country: China
Average price: 4,190 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.8

Memory cards for modern photo/video equipment require a high speed of information exchange. The SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash boasts a read speed of 160MB/s. At the same time, the recording speed is not significantly behind and is 140 MB / s. The card is equipped with a video processing accelerator and is optimized specifically for professional video equipment.

Map Features:

• Support for VPG-65 standard. The card is ideal for recording 4K video by meeting the required bandwidth above the 65 Mbps threshold.
• The presence of modifications with a memory capacity of 16 to 256 GB.
• Support udma 6 interface to connect to PC as SATA disk.
• 30-year manufacturer's warranty (only for countries that support a lifetime warranty).

Best Secure Digital HC Memory Cards

The difference between a Secure Digital HC format card and similar micro versions lies not only in overall dimensions, but also in application. Discarding the technical part, these models are components for photo and video equipment, as well as a number of functional devices that have an interface for this standard.

Currently, there is a systematic decrease in the popularity of this type of cards due to the presence of appropriate adapters in micro-analogues. They are less reliable, but add versatility than the full-sized Secure Digital HC, alas, they cannot boast.

3 Sony SF-G32

Best data transfer rate (300 Mbps)
Country: Japan
Average price: 5 490 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.7

Sony's uncommon love for experimenting with its own products sometimes gives stunning results. In the memory card segment, the Sony SF-G32 is a clear example of this, crowning the genius of the Japanese company with the highest data processing speeds.

Obviously, the SF-G32 was created primarily for professionals in the field of photography and video. The standard (and to some extent modest) 32 gigabytes of memory was supplemented by colossal file read / write speeds - 300 MB / s at the peak. At the same time, the model showed enviable stability and only in very rare cases (which is proved by the comments) “let down” the user. The fact of cost prevented the Sony SF-G32 from gaining a foothold in the top of sales - consumers were not ready to pay such a high price (even taking into account obvious advantages), which is why the model began to gradually leave store shelves.

2 SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC

Reliable storage medium. Balanced Features
Country: USA
Average price: 1,353 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.8

Not enjoying great popularity among domestic buyers, SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC is one of the most reliable memory cards with an optimal (but, by and large, standard) set of technical characteristics. Produced only in the amount of 32 gigabytes, this model has good indicators of the speed of writing / reading files - 95 and 90 Mb / s, respectively. There is support for the UHS standard at speed class 3, thanks to which the card is able to work with older models of video and cameras.

According to users, SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC noticeably speeds up continuous and 4K shooting, which is due to the presence of a small margin in speed in the card (data write speed sometimes goes over 100 Mb / s). It is not known how detrimental this “loading” is to the working resource of the mini-module, but the presence of such an opportunity goes to the asset of the model.

1 Transcend TS*SDHC10

The most popular memory module. Profitable price
Country: Taiwan
Average price: 703 rubles.
Rating (2018): 4.9

One of the most popular SDHC drives, loved by users for the quality of its functions and the duration of its impeccable service. Despite the fact that a decent number of years have passed since the release of the series, these cards continue to be actively used by lovers of photography and video shooting. Of course, the amount of memory for the new modes (Ultra HD and 4K) has already moved into the category of “modest”: 32 gigabytes will not surprise anyone for a long time. However, the data transmission parameters still remain at the optimum level, which is achieved thanks to the 10 (maximum) speed class.

The most eloquent thing about the opinion of consumers is the almost complete absence of negative reviews. Transcend TS*SDHC10 is a card that has been proven over the years, and largely due to the huge credit of trust, it is still not forgotten and remains among the best drives in its segment.

Summary testing of 20 SDHC memory cards with a capacity of 32 GB

Now, no matter what store you go to, there are a huge number of memory cards from various manufacturers on the shelves. They differ from each other in format, class, and, ultimately, in the speed of reading and writing data. But how big is the difference in practice? This is what we will check in our new testing!

If you format the card using standard OS utilities or in a device that does not support the SDXC standard, it will end up with a different file system (for example, FAT32). The SD Association warns that the card will then lose compatibility with devices that support SDXC. Fortunately, for some card readers, cameras, etc., updating the driver or firmware is enough.

⇡ Speed ​​increase: fast, faster, even faster!

Along with the volume of memory cards, the data transfer speed also grew. In the early days of SD, it was measured in multiples or "velocities". One multiplier (or one "speed") equaled 150 KB/s, just like CDs had in their time. But these multipliers sometimes indicated the maximum access speed obtained under ideal conditions, whether it was reading or writing, and this is not the best option for the buyer. Therefore, the SD Associations decided to put an end to such disgrace, and in 2006 (SD Specifications V. 2.0), together with SDHC standard cards, four speed classes were approved for them: 0, 2, 4 and 6th. Each class denoted the minimum data transfer rate in decimal megabytes per second - for both reading and writing. In addition to the zero class. It includes all cards released before the adoption of the specified specification, regardless of performance. A single standard for marking memory cards was also approved: the number indicating the speed class fit inside the capital letter C.

Memory card speed classes

Alas, humanity is arranged in such a way that it always lacks land, oil, minerals or the speed of memory cards. Therefore, the next specification (SD Specifications V. 3.01 - the same one that describes SDXC cards) introduced the 10th speed class, which has a nominal value of 10 MB / s (again, in decimal format), and the UHS-I bus (Ultra High Speed, version 1), which could be used in SDHC and SDXC format cards. The use of this bus increases the maximum theoretical data transfer rate to 104 MB/s (in the case when this bus is supported by a card reader or other device) and does not entail any problems with backward compatibility between new cards and older readers (provided that the latter support SDHC or SDXC formats).

On memory cards that support the UHS bus, you can find a mark in the form of a Roman numeral 1, and also a UHS bus speed marking - the numbers 1 or 3 inscribed in a capital letter U. UHS class 1 is equivalent to the usual SDHC speed class 10 (10 MB / s ), and the third speed class, as you might guess, should provide an access speed (sequential read and write) of at least 30 MB / s.

Then, in June 2011, the SD version 4.0 specification appeared, describing the UHS-II bus, which should increase the maximum throughput up to 312 MB / s. In addition, the use of the UHS-II bus provides for an increase in contacts on the card by eight pieces. Separately, I would like to note the preservation of backward compatibility between UHS-II and UHS-I cards.

Memory cards that support the UHS-II bus are labeled with the Roman numeral II.

At the time of this writing, 312 MB/s data transfer is still a fantasy. And there are very few memory cards themselves that support the UHS-II bus, they cost like a good SSD drive, and a larger one. Take for example Panasonic Micro P2: 32 or 64 GB capacity, maximum sequential read speed - 2 Gb / s. The price is about 11 or 16 thousand rubles, respectively.

Memory card with UHS-II bus

It turns out that over the 14 years of its existence, SD memory cards have undergone many changes and have been divided into several formats. But only readers, but not cards, are backward compatible with previous formats (see diagram).

⇡ Options for labeling memory cards. How not to make a mistake when buying?

Let us now briefly summarize what has been said above. At the time of this writing, two SD memory card formats can be found on sale: SDHC and SDXC. They differ from each other in the maximum volume and file system. The maximum capacity of SDHC is 32 GB, and SDXC 2 TB, although in reality it is very difficult to find an SDXC card with a capacity of more than 128 GB. We managed to find the very “largest” card with a capacity of 256 GB only from Lexar. In Amazon, it costs $399, but it was not found in Russian stores.

Before proceeding to the further choice of a memory card, it is worth figuring out what capacity you need. If more than 32 GB, then you should go for SDXC and check all devices in which you plan to use this card for compatibility with this standard. It is especially worth checking old card readers and cameras, because modern equipment (if we are not talking about a laptop with Linux and a three-year-old camera) should not have any problems with SDXC (or rather, with the exFAT file system). If your camera does not support SDXC, then you should search the Internet for a new firmware and a description for it - sometimes the manufacturer can add SDXC support in the new firmware. As, for example, it was done with the Pentax K-x camera.

So, speed. In order to determine the approximate data transfer rate of a memory card, you need to look at its speed class and whether it supports the UHS-I or UHS-II bus.

On some memory cards from among those that took part in our summary testing, we also found not only the marking of the usual tenth class, but also the speed indicated in the "multipliers" - this is a normal, albeit rare, phenomenon.

The best option would be the card, on the packaging or on the front side of which the established write or read speed is indicated, tested by the manufacturer. Buying such memory, you can be sure that the sequential read or write speed will be higher than the minimum allowable level for the 10th class. And for very expensive memory cards (for example, SanDisk Extreme Pro), sequential read and write speeds declared on packages can reach 90 MB / s. But in practice, memory cards with the indicated speed are more expensive than others, which is quite normal - you have to pay separately for fast and tested memory. In addition, sometimes there are markings like “up to 60 MB / s” without indicating what type of data transfer this speed refers to - reading or writing.

The following image shows examples of the designation of speed classes on memory cards. OltraMax card: just tenth grade; Transcend card: Class 10 supporting UHS-I bus and Class 1 UHS speed; SanDisk: Class 10, UHS-I, Class 1 UHS-I, and advertised at 95 MB/s.

⇡ Test participants, specifications

Our summary testing involves 20 different memory cards from various manufacturers - popular and not so popular. Among them there are both specimens without the declared data transfer rate (but not lower than the 10th class), and cards with a data transfer rate of up to 90 MB / s. If the speed was indicated on the packaging of the card, but it was not written what it refers to (reading or writing), then so much the worse for the cunning manufacturer. In our table, we recorded this speed in the "read" and "write" cells marked "total".

Before proceeding to the description of our test subjects, I would like to remind you about the cost of memory cards. In the table, we have indicated two prices. The first is the average retail price taken from 3DNews, and the second is derived from other sources. Since the prices are average, the cards we have chosen in Moscow online stores can be found cheaper than indicated in the table. Everything will depend on the total number of offers on the market, the relevance of a particular memory card and, quite likely, on the fluctuations in the dollar in recent months.

⇡ Transcend Premium TS32GSDHC10, Premium 300x TS32GSDU1 and Ultimate 600x TS32GSDHC10U1

The trio from Transcend can serve as another illustration of the description of the labeling of memory cards. On the youngest card (Premium TS32GSDHC10) only the 10th speed class is indicated, but on the other two (Premium 300x TS32GSDU1 and Ultimate 600x TS32GSDHC10U1) the 10th general and first UHS class are indicated, as well as the speed in “multipliers”, which are almost are equal to the speeds in MB / s indicated on the packaging. Manufacturers who want to make their cards more attractive to the buyer do something like this, because “300x” and “600x” at first glance look “bigger” than 43.5 or 87.9 MB / s, respectively.

Although the fastest memory card, Transcend Ultimate 600x TS32GSDHC10U1, has one advantage over other test participants. The manufacturer stated that it uses MLC-memory, while on the packaging (and in the specifications) of other cards it is not possible to find a word about the chips used. However, the MLC (Multi-Level Cell) marking, by definition, can designate cells with both two and three (also called TLC) charge levels. Both options are used in memory cards.

⇡ Kingston Ultra SD10V/32GB, Elite SD10G3/32GB and Ultimate SDA10/32GB

There will also be three memory cards from Kingston, another well-known manufacturer of drives, in our testing. On the youngest card, Kingston SD10V/32GB, only the tenth speed class is indicated, but for other cards, Kingston Elite SD10G3/32GB and Ultimate SDA10/32GB, speeds of 30 and 60 MB/s are declared for reading, respectively. For Kingston Ultimate and 35 MB / s, the write speed is also declared.

⇡ SanDisk Ultra SDSDU-032G-U46, Extreme SDSDXS-032G-X46 and Extreme Pro SDSDXPA-032G-X46

SanDisk cards are a welcome exception in our test. And the thing is that all three cards of this company we use have the maximum access speed. At the youngest card, SanDisk Ultra (SDSDU-032G-U46), it is 30 MB / s for sequential reading, while for SanDisk Extreme Pro - 95 and 90 MB / s for sequential reading and writing, respectively.

⇡ ADATA ASDH32GCL10-R, ASDH32GUICL10-R and ASDH32GUI1CL10-R

ADATA is a manufacturer of storage devices of various types and purposes. The company's product line includes RAM, external hard drives, solid state drives and SD cards. It was the last three devices from ADATA that we took for the test.

Before us is an almost standard set of three cards: the simplest ADATA ASDH32GCL10-R class 10 without access speeds and two more complicated cards. So, ADATA ASDH32GUICL10-R has a total speed of up to 30 MB / s, and the most pumped one, ADATA ASDH32GUI1CL10-R, has 95 MB / s for sequential reading and 45 MB / s for writing.

⇡ Silicon Power SP032GBSDH010V10, Elite SP032GBSDHAU1V10 and Superior SP032GBSDHCU1V10

Silicon Power can be called a direct competitor to ADATA, because on the official website of this company you can find almost the same range of products as on the website of the previous manufacturer.

The cheapest Silicon Power card - SP032GBSDH010V10 - has only the 10th speed class, but other models have speeds of 40 and 15 MB / s (Silicon Power Elite SP032GBSDHAU1V10), as well as 90/45 MB / s (Silicon Power Superior SP032GBSDHCU1V10) for reading and writing, respectively.

⇡ OltraMax OM032GSDHC10, OM032GSDHC10UHS-1 and OM032GSDHC10UHS-1 95 MB/s*

OltraMax, unlike all other participants in the test, is practically unknown to the average consumer. But inside the packages of two fast OltraMax cards it is written that the company uses Samsung components - this is a good advertisement for the card manufacturer. The only pity is that in order to see such advertising, you need to buy a memory card and open the package.

The OltraMax trio is almost no different from the previous triplets. The simplest and cheapest card from this manufacturer, OltraMax OM032GSDHC10, is only rated 10th class, the average memory card, OltraMax OM032GSDHC10UHS-1, also cannot boast of any marks other than 10th class and UHS-I. But the coolest card, OltraMax OM032GSDHC10UHS-1 95 MB/s*, promises a speed of about 95 MB/s, which is very interesting.

⇡ Qumo QM32GSDHC10 and Toshiba FlashAir SD-F32AIR(BL8

The next two cards are slightly off the list. We received only one Class 10 drive from Qumo for testing. And the Toshiba FlashAir SD-F32AIR(BL8) stands out for being able to share content over Wi-Fi.

Memory cards with Wi-Fi have long been considered something unusual or innovative - many manufacturers have such models, but their small variety hints at modest popularity. Judging by the characteristics, you should not expect high speeds from Toshiba FlashAir SD-F32AIR (BL8 - this card does not even support the UHS-I memory bus. But it has Wi-Fi and even the ability to distribute wireless Internet, if you add a name to the card settings and password to access another network

Let's try to find out what class of memory card you should equip your smartphone, tablet, laptop, camcorder or camera with when such a need arises, and what class of memory card is best for each of these devices?

To do this, let us consider in detail what classification of memory cards currently exists, and how one miniature storage device differs from another.

Before you know what the class of a storage device means, you should clarify the concept of the speed of information carriers. There are two different values ​​for this parameter, the first is the read or transfer rate, and the second is the write rate. The read speed is almost always faster than the write speed, while it is not directly related to the class of equipment: it may even turn out that a flash drive with the designation “class 4” will be read faster than a class 10 flash drive.

Of the two numbers that describe the characteristics of the media, this will be the larger number: the higher the reading speed, the easier and faster you can transfer information to an external device. Recording speed is important for hardware performance, and it is this speed that allows you to record high-definition video. You can find out if the manufacturer offers a good high-speed recording mode by looking at the back of the package.

Since some unscrupulous manufacturers indicate overestimated characteristics on their products, it is better to purchase memory cards from well-known brands, but, in any case, it is always possible to check the speed data yourself. It is easy to check the speed with the help of special programs, for example, USB-Flash-Banchmark and Check Flash, which can be downloaded for free, or with the H2testw utility.

Existing card types

A modern digital storage medium comes in different sizes: mini, micro and full-size version, while the smallest dimensions are designed for a smartphone, tablet or mobile phone, and those that are larger are used in camcorders and cameras.

For a long time CompactFlash, or CF cards, sized 43 x 36 x 3.3 mm were the main media, and although the age of these formats has already passed, nevertheless, they are still used in some DVRs today.

The most common type of digital storage equipment today is the SD Card (Secure Digital Memory Card) or SD card.

This device, which does not exceed the size of a postage stamp, with dimensions of 32 x 24 x 2.1 mm, has surpassed CF cards in all parameters, and almost all modern technology is compatible with it. Devices with higher capacity began to be abbreviated as SDHC, and ultra-high capacity as SDXC.

A micro SD or micro sd card is simply a miniature version of an SD card, measuring 11 x 15 x 1 mm, which is inserted into devices with limited space, such as phones. However, if necessary, it can even be installed in a laptop if you use a special adapter that exists for this. There is also a mini SD with dimensions of 21.5 x 20 x 1.4 mm, since some types of equipment are equipped with just such slots.

Classes of SD memory cards

Let's say that we already know what size the storage device should be, how much memory we need for optimal operation. It remains only to find out what the class of a memory card is, what this SD card parameter affects in order to select the required one. It is from this characteristic that the speed at which we can transmit or receive the information of interest to us will depend.

So, this is a parameter that determines the degree of speed of an SD memory card, according to which all devices are divided into:

1. Class 2 - speed from 2 mb/s to 4 mb/s. Since the write speed is very low, this class of flash drive should not be used in camcorders or digital cameras. The relative cheapness of the card compensates for the lack of speed, so it can be safely used for sound and image playback, that is, in audio or video players, since in this case high speed is not needed.
2. Class 4 - speed from 4 Mb / s and above. For amateur home photography in digital cameras, class four can be used. The fourth class, in addition, is installed in the DVR and some inexpensive non-professional video cameras.
3. Class 6 - guaranteed speed from 6 Mb / s and above. A flash drive of this level can already be installed in semi-professional camcorders and SLR cameras that shoot in RAW format. They allow you to get a fairly high quality shooting.
4. Class 10 - the speed is from 10 Mb / s and above. A class 10 flash drive can be equipped with a car recorder, professional video and photo equipment with Full HD recording. Class 10 allows continuous shooting, RAW shooting and image saving, which is of great importance for professional photographers. However, such devices are somewhat more expensive, for example, a microsdhc class 10 memory card will cost at least 1000 rubles.
5. SD Class 16 - speed of at least 16 Mb / s, however, it is still very difficult to buy this card in our country, since it has not yet been widely sold.
6. Ultra High Speed ​​(UHS) - These ultra high speed cards can only be used with compatible devices, which is usually written in the instructions. Class 10 UHS I is a high-speed card, the write speed of which can reach 50 Mb / s or more.

There is a UHS specification that regulates the speed of equipment. According to the UHS-I standard, the data exchange rate must be at least 50 Mb / s and up to 104 Mb / s, according to the UHS-II standard - at least 156 Mb / s and up to 312 Mb / s. The class 10 uhs i card allows you to achieve the highest level of real-time recording and, in addition, get large-sized HD video.

How to determine the class of a memory card? You just need to look at it carefully: the circled number is not the front of the digital storage medium and will be the desired value.

How to choose a flash drive

Please note that the latest memory device formats may not be suitable for older hardware. For example, if a smartphone supports the micro SD format, this does not mean that it will also support high-speed micro SDXC. Therefore, to find out this possibility, it is better to familiarize yourself with the documentation for the smartphone in advance.

Micro SD, like SD media, comes in two formats (SDHC up to 32 GB and SDXC from 64 to 512 GB) and is used in all modern smartphones and tablets. The tenth speed class of such information carriers is no different from their full-size counterparts. Thus, the higher the classes of sdhc memory cards, the faster the data transfer occurs, which is the main advantage of those micro SD cards that are more expensive for the same capacity.

For example, a microsdhc class 10 32GB memory card, costing about 1500 rubles. Ideal for modern digital devices such as phones, camcorders, smartphones, PDAs, audio players and game consoles. If you do not save on the class of equipment, pursuing momentary profit, then you can get long-term excellent results in the future use of technology: high-quality pictures and amazing videos, as well as funds from their sale.

Surely, you have repeatedly encountered the problem of choosing a memory card for a camera, tablet, DVR or smartphone, even if the device has built-in memory, it will not be enough to fully work with photos and videos. Of course, at first glance it will seem to you that they are all the same not only in appearance, but also in internal characteristics, but this is not so. Today I will tell you how to choose the right flash drive for your phone, etc., so that your valuable memories remain in a reliable source. At the end of the article, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with an interesting video clip, as well as view the best models in different price categories.

Type of

There are many types of devices on the market. The characteristics of a suitable one are indicated in the description of the device for which it is intended. Most cameras use the SD type. In turn, this type is divided into two subtypes - cards of higher and extra large capacity. Digital cameras manufactured in 2005 or earlier may not be compatible with the large capacity card. And models released a few years earlier may not support an extra large capacity card. Professional cameras are mainly equipped with a CF (CompactFlash) flash card. They are slightly different from other types in some characteristics, such as larger storage capacity and faster write speeds. But before buying one, you should make sure that the camera can provide a high transfer rate. Also, the device must be equipped with a direct memory access function. Tablets and smartphones, which tend to be compact, support a smaller version of microSD, as do dash cams. These may support some models of pocket cameras.

Miniature cards are not inferior to other types either in terms of properties or functionality!

The speed and storage capacity of microSD is the same as SD. Many camera manufacturers develop their own types of flash drives. In this case, the camera must have two separate slots or a combination.

How much memory card do you need?

The size of the memory card will help you determine how many pictures or movies can fit on it. Of course, more capacitive devices are much more expensive. Modern SLR cameras, even mobile devices have an image resolution of up to 40 million pixels, and I advise you to put at least 16 GB of memory in the video recorder. On average, the number of pixels ranges from 12 to 20 million. Therefore, the higher the resolution of the photo, the more space it takes up.

Therefore, for home use, I chose 16 GB, if you are no longer an amateur, then 32 GB, but 64 and 128 are only for professionals!

The volume that the image occupies on the map depends on the quality of the image, that is, the amount of small details. The same applies to video files. More space is occupied by those videos that have higher quality and resolution. So, video in RAW format weighs up to 30 megabytes per frame. Few people like the situation when the memory of a flash drive runs out at the most inopportune moment. To avoid trouble, you need to buy a memory card, the volume of which reaches 32 gigabytes. Below is a very useful table that clearly tells you how many 3.5 megabyte JPGs and Full HD movies can be recorded on memory cards of various sizes.

Which class of memory card is better?

Surely you do not pay attention to such a parameter as speed. But it is no less important than volume, because it is responsible for the scope. A slow memory card will not be able to provide decent Full HD video recording, because the shooting will be interrupted. Shooting a series of frames on a flash drive at low speed will cause the camera to freeze. This is a rather inconvenient circumstance that can be avoided if you learn how to correctly distinguish a slow card from a fast one. On SD cards, which are the most common, the speed class is indicated, it happens:

This number indicates the write speed. That is, the second class indicates a speed of 2 megabytes per second, the fourth at four megabytes, and so on. Only the last class indicates a speed that can reach over ten megabytes per second. The device always indicates the actual write speed, whether it is 45 MB/s or 60 MB/s. The same goes for Compact Flash cards. For Full HD video, at least speed class 6 is suitable, but 10 is better. The same flash cards are suitable for everyday shooting. Faster cards are suitable for shooting people and events when several shots are taken in a row. In this way, you can shoot in a short continuous burst. And slower flash drives can miss interesting shots while the device is recording previous shots. If you need to shoot moving objects, then the requirements for speed are even more stringent. You need to shoot in a series almost continuously, so the best speed in this case is 45 MB / s. Allowable for motion capture speed of 3 MB / s, it will also minimize the interval between bursts during recording on the memory card made frames. For a professional photographer, you need a flash drive with a speed of 100 MB / s. In this way, you can shoot a continuous series of pictures until the memory runs out.

A less important parameter is reading speed. It is either higher or equal to the write speed. Therefore, if you bought a memory card with a high write speed, then be sure that the read speed will be sufficient.

It's important to know

The memory card is fully protected while it is in the device. But it is in great danger if removed from a camera or mobile device. Falls, scorching sun, severe frost - all this negatively affects the flash drive. Worse, if water spills on it or the card is X-rayed at the airport. So it is better to buy a memory card that has protection against such negative effects.

The best memory cards

Based on the above characteristics, you can choose the right memory card for your tablet, camera, video recorder, and for everything else. Each parameter of the device is important in its own way in different shooting conditions. Therefore, the choice must be made based on the type of camera or mobile device. Pay attention to the rating of the best memory cards of 2014-2015, as there are the best models that are reliable. Undoubtedly, you need to focus on the opinions of buyers, because a proven device is trustworthy. Check out the video story on this topic to consolidate the material.

The best SD memory card

• Kingston SDHC 16GB Class 10 (SD10V/16GB) - recommended for everything
• Transcend SDHC 16GB Class 10 (TS16GSDHC10)
• Transcend SDHC 32GB Class10 UHS-I 300X (TS32GSDU1) - recommended for everything
• Kingston SDHC 32GB UHS-I Class 3 (U3) (SDA3/32GB) - the choice of professionals
• Transcend SDXC 64GB Class 10 (TS64GSDXC10)
• Kingston SDXC 64GB Class 10 (SDX10V/64GB)
• Kingston SDXC 128GB Class 10 (SDX10V/128GB) - the choice of professionals

The best microSD card

• Transcend MicroSDHC 16GB Class 10 + SD adapter (TS16GUSDHC10)
• Kingston MicroSDHC 16GB Class 10 + SD adapter (SDC10/16GB)
• Kingston MicroSDHC 32GB Class 10 + SD adapter (SDC10/32GB)
• Transcend MicroSDHC 32GB Class 10 + SD adapter (TS32GUSDHC10)
• Kingston microSDXC 64GB Class 10 + SD Adapter (SDCX10/64GB)

All these models can be placed anywhere, as the kit includes an adapter to SD. That is, with a small one we get a large one, you just have to decide on the volume.

Best Compact Flash Memory Card

• Transcend CompactFlash 16GB 400x (TS16GCF400)
• SanDisk CompactFlash Extreme 32GB (SDCFX-032G-X46)