The 10 Best SD and microSD Cards of 2021

Inexpensive 16 GB SDHC UHS-I legacy memory card, i.e. with a file size limit (no more than 4 GB). It is not suitable for working in cameras, but for gadgets that are less demanding on speed, it will do just fine. The manufacturer claims to write at speeds up to 60 MB / s, but tests show that 30 MB / s is not always achieved, although in general these are good numbers for the budget segment. But there are no problems with the speed of reading, so watching movies from the card on a smartphone or tablet will not turn into a hassle. We note the high level of “survivability” of this model: the manufacturer not only took care of the reliable tightness of the case and immediately allocated a 5-year warranty, but also introduced X-ray protection so that scanners at the airport would not destroy your beautiful vacation photos.

The best budget option for a smartphone or tablet. Of course, you can use it in cameras, but you should not expect fast work. The main problem with this memory card is the SDHC format, which provides for a file size limit, i.e. a video “weight” of more than 4 GB cannot be recorded. There are also some stability issues with the 64 GB version, so our rating includes a 32 GB card. As for the declared speed characteristics, in laboratory conditions, the read speed even exceeds the factory values, reaching 91 MB / s, but the write speed most often sags to 21 MB / s. In general, the card is quite efficient, implements the capabilities of the UHS-I interface well and costs an average of a little less than 600 rubles, which by today's standards is almost for nothing.

A relatively budget memory card with a very high declared speed.The model supports the UHS-II interface and provides reading data up to 285 MB / s, and writing up to 180 MB / s. In addition, the developer has implemented support for the VSC standard with the V90 speed class, i.e. the card is capable of working without "brakes" with high video resolutions, up to 8K, recording them at speeds up to 90 MB / s. On the other hand, the model is very demanding on the functionality of card readers and on many of them it does not give even half of the declared speed. We also note the claims of buyers related to the packaging: the card is often delivered in a very cheap blister without a protective case and may be damaged during delivery.

A very fast SDHC memory card produced by the American company SanDisk. The model belongs to the popular Extreme PRO series, which is in high demand among camera owners, but is also great for other devices that support the SD form factor. Our top list includes the most requested version with 32 GB of memory, showing the best value for money.The key difference between the model and competitors is the increased speed of reading and writing data, which in its maximum is 260 and 300 MB / s, respectively. The main drawback is the high cost in terms of gigabytes / rubles, but overpaying for quality sometimes turns out to be profitable over a long distance. As the reviews show, the speed declared by the developer is not always achieved and not on all devices, so before buying, you should google the compatibility issue of your camera.

Model SDG3 from the Canvas Go! Plus from Kingston is one of the most affordable and popular options among SDXC memory cards with a capacity of 128 GB. At the same time, it is quite fast, supports the V30 speed class for high-resolution video and the UHS-I interface, and the SDXC format allows you not to think about the size of the recorded files. Another important detail is that the card is able to function without failures in a wide temperature range from -20 to +85 degrees, which will appeal to fans of video and photography outdoors in extreme conditions.Yes, and the manufacturer usually measures a 10-year warranty, but only when purchased from authorized stores. According to customer reviews, this model fully justifies its declared characteristics, it works without failures even in “capricious” cameras, but sometimes there are problems with formatting.

A very popular but expensive professional microSD card model from the American brand SanDisk. The rating includes the most popular modification with a memory capacity of 64 GB, but there are also 32 and 128 GB versions on sale. The card is very fast (write - 100 MB / s, read - 275 MB / s), so it is optimally suited for both smartphones / tablets, and for demanding cameras or action cameras that support shooting in 4K resolution.An important point is the three-year factory warranty, which emphasizes the high reliability of the memory card, which is not always found in the micro SD segment. A bonus for such a high price is a branded card reader, which helps to realize the speed potential of the model, but at the same time, judging by the reviews, it is prone to strong heat during long working sessions.

Affordable 128 GB microSD memory card with a good balance of performance. Supports V10 standard, i.e. quite suitable for recording video in 4K quality, works through the UHS-I interface, squeezing out the maximum in read speed and most of the recording potential. In general, we get a solid option, also with a large amount of memory, which will come in handy for those who like to take a lot of photos in high resolution and constantly record videos. Note that, like all Kingston products, this Micro SD card is distinguished by high operational endurance, capable of operating at temperatures from -20 to +80 degrees.At the same time, keep in mind that in laboratory stress tests for "survivability" during long-term maximum loads, the card warmed up to 45-46 degrees, which indicates a potential risk of overheating of the card reader or the slot in the smartphone/tablet.

This microSD memory card from the Korean company Samsung is presented in several variations, which often leads to confusion. Our rating included a 64 GB version (a smaller volume is not presented in the line), supporting a read speed of 100 MB / s and a write of 90 MB / s. The model works through the UHS-I interface, some batches receive a claimed service life of 10 years, and if more is needed, options are available for 128, 256 and 512 GB. The card is very "survivable" and is not afraid of intensive use, so it is suitable for any type of smartphones / tablets, as well as action cameras. The high popularity of the 64 GB version is affected by the optimal ratio of capacity and speed to the price of the card, but still there are quite a few cheaper analogues on the market. Like it or not, Samsung always requires a little extra for its quality.

Kingston is perhaps the most famous manufacturer of memory cards in the Russian market. Well, one of the best Micro SD cards of this brand is a model with the MLPMR2 index, produced in the microSD-XC standard with support for the UHS-II interface and the V90 speed class, which is responsible for the speed of working with high-definition video (4K and higher). Yes, the modification is not the most affordable, but it is it that provides the best ratio of cost to performance and operational reliability, both according to experts and buyers, according to their reviews. As a result, we get the best option for any application, even a smartphone or tablet, even a camera that is demanding in terms of speed. As a bonus, there is a wide range of storage options, with 64 and 128 GB being the most popular.

Quite a budget Micro SD memory card, especially considering the capacity of 64 GB, which is considered the best option for a modern smartphone or tablet. It is in high demand and is well rated by market experts, although it has an important drawback in the form of a low data recording speed. In laboratory tests, the recording was "accelerated" to 21 MB / s, but on average the card is written at 10-12 MB / s, so it is not suitable for devices that require high speeds. At the same time, there are no problems with reading data, the capabilities of the UHS-I interface are implemented to the maximum. Note that the model is made according to the SDXC standard, so it has no file size restrictions, which is useful if you plan to shoot long videos on your gadget in FullHD quality.