Which memory cards are better. Which class of memory card do you prefer?

Today's article is brief educational program on SD memory cards. These flash cards are widely used in modern technology: in mobile phones, GPS-navigators, cameras and camcorders.

SD is by far the most popular memory card standard today. The vast majority of devices that work with memory cards support this particular standard.

SD memory cards come in three different sizes. This made it possible to cover different devices: from miniature audio players to professional video cameras.

So what are the SD card form factors :

microSD– these cards are intended for use in mobile phones, smartphones, tablets and other compact devices.

- These cards are slightly larger than microSD cards. Until recently, they were used in mp3 players and other portable equipment. But today they have lost their popularity and are used less and less.

SD– maps largest size. They are used in cameras, camcorders, video recorders and other relatively large portable equipment. New generation cards SDHC and SDXC are exactly the same size as SD.

By the way, in a device designed to work with large SD cards, you can insert a smaller form factor card. To do this, you need to use a special adapter:But without unnecessary necessity, it is better not to do this, because. usually microSD cards work much slower than full-fledged SD cards.

Exists four generations of SD memory cards :

• SD 1.0- holds the amount of information from 8 MB to 2 GB
• SD 1.1– up to 4 GB
• SDHC– up to 32 GB
• SDXC– up to 2 TB

In the case of SD cards, there is backward compatibility: i.e. SDXC-capable devices understand the SDHC format and the older SD format (but not vice versa!).

Memory cards differ not only in size or volume. One of the main parameters is speed exchange information with the device.

SD card speed manufacturers designate either in the form class, or in the form multiplier:

• SD class 2– write speed not less than 2 MB/ With 13x;
• SD Class 4– write speed not less than 4 MB/s, which corresponds to the multiplier 26x;
• SD class 6– write speed not less than 6 MB/s, which corresponds to the multiplier 40x;
• SD class 10– write speed not less than 10 MB/s, which corresponds to the multiplier 66x;
• SD class 16– write speed not less than 16 MB/s, which corresponds to the multiplier 106x.

As you can see, the speed class of the card directly indicates the speed of its operation in MB / s. To find out what class your memory card has - just look at its front part: it should be indicated there. For example, in this case, the card tenth speed class:

Before buying an SD memory card, you need to find out what speed class your device requires. This information must be specified in the instructions for it.

The speed class is important for those who are going to shoot video. For example, Full HD video recording requires a recording speed of 3 MB/s, which corresponds to a Class 4 memory card. Using a slower card will cause shooting problems. However, in some cases, the video streaming rate can reach 6 MB/s. Therefore, for movie shooting, it is better to buy memory cards ranging from Class 6 and higher.

How transfer information directly from the SD card to the computer? To do this, there are special devices called card readers. The card reader can be either external (connected via a USB connector) or built into a computer or laptop.

After connecting the card reader to the computer, insert your memory card into the appropriate slot. After that, go to Windows in “Computer” - the flash drive will appear in the “Devices with removable media” section. You can open it and perform file operations.

built-in internal card reader

In conclusion, I want to say that when buying an SD card, it is better not to chase cheapness, but to purchase a card from a well-known manufacturer (I would recommend Transcend). Because Losing the captured photos or videos due to a failed card will be very disappointing.

Not sure which microSD card to buy? Capacity is not the only criterion. What is the use of a “capacious” drive if the write speed is only 2 Mb / s? Large files will be uploaded to it very slowly. The technology used and the frequency of the bus also matter. Browse through the MicroSD card ratings to find the one with the right features and price.

The specifications of the SD drive are listed on it. But all the parameters with explanations on such a small device simply do not fit. Therefore, the information is given in an abbreviated form.

• Capacity/Memory. It is measured in Megabytes (“MB”), Gigabytes (“GB”) and Terabytes (“TB”). It depends on how many files will fit on the card. Now 16 GB media is popular. 32 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB. A card with a small capacity is marked "SD", with a high capacity - "SDHC", with an extended one - "SDXC".
• Recording speed. May be indicated on front side drive.
• Class. On the MicroSD case, the parameter is indicated as a number inside the letter "C". For example, "Class 7" is 7 Mb/s, "Class 9" is 9 Mb/s. A multiplier may be specified instead of a class. To calculate the speed, multiply it by 0.15 and get the result in Megabits per second. Marking "x200" is 30 Mb / s, "x400" - 60 Mb / s.
• UHS-I. If the media has a designation in the form of the letter "U" with a number, then it is made using the "Ultra High Speed" technology. The maximum write speed in such cards reaches 104 Mb/s. The minimum depends on the model: U1 - 10 Mb / s, U3 - 30 Mb / s.
• UHS II. These drives have another row of contacts. It should also be on the SD-MicroSD adapter. The peak speed of the cards is 312 Mb/s. it the new kind MicroSD cards, so many devices do not support it.
• VSC. Technology - Video Speed ​​Class. The designation is the letter "V".
• If there is a Roman numeral II on the case, then the UHS-II bus is used.

IMPORTANT. There can be several markings on one carrier: both “C”, and “U”, and “V”. The card will not continuously operate at the peak speeds that are specified in the specifications. These are the maximum possible values.

How to choose a card?

First, read the instructions for the device for which you are looking for a card. See what SD formats it supports. Often there are restrictions like "MicroSD up to 64 GB". This means that the gadget will not fit 128 GB media.

The choice of drive depends on the conditions in which you will use it. Which memory cards are best for a smartphone, camera, camcorder? Are there any priority features?

To shoot videos, you need high speed. Otherwise, the recording will slow down or even be interrupted. For HD video, it is recommended to use SD class 10 or higher. For 4K - U3. And if you decide to work with 8K, look for V60 or V90.

Such speeds are for professionals: operators, editors, filmmakers, bloggers. For "home shooting" V-cards are hardly suitable. And it's not even about the price. If you're into amateur videos, you won't need half of the drive's features. The same goes for car DVRs. But in action cameras, V-drives will come in handy.

For extreme sports (such as Go-Pro motorcycle racing or rock climbing), choose wearables that can "handle" such actively life. It will be a shame if the card fails and you lose valuable footage. The specifications say whether it is affected by temperature, sudden jumps, concussions or impacts. See also under what conditions the warranty expires.

If you want to take UHS-II for a phone, laptop or any other gadget, it must support this technology. That is - to read information from the second row of contacts. Otherwise, what's the point in them?

The best memory cards

It is impossible to say unequivocally which memory cards are worse or better. They are used for different purposes. One drive is suitable for the camera, the other for the phone, the third for storing information. Yes, users have different preferences. Browse through the rating that describes the pros and cons of various microSDs. So you can choose the right option.

Transcend

Transcend has several top-notch SD media. One of them is TS*USDHC10U1. This is a class 10 card made with UHS-1 technology. Available in 8, 16 and 32 GB options. Stable recording speed - 45 Mb / s. And a very high read speed - 90 Mb / s.

This card will work well in DVRs. Ideal for smartphones and tablets. You can watch HD video, listen to music, run applications and games. There will be no brakes or departures. The price of the drive is from 1200 rubles for 32 GB, 800 rubles for 16 GB and 500 rubles for 8 GB.

• These memory cards have a long service life.
• High reading speed.
• Good combination of price and quality. This is the best microSD storage you can buy for the price.
• There are practically no defective products.

• The maximum capacity is only 32 GB.

SanDisk UHS-3

Now let's turn our attention to SanDisk products. For example, on Extreme MicroSDXC Class 10 UHS Class 3. Its write speed - 40 Mb / s - is not suitable for filming in 4K. Reading speed also does not break records - it is about 60 Mb / s. So why is this one of the best cards microSD memory? As the name suggests, it uses UHS-3 technology. At the same time, its maximum capacity is 64 GB. Such indicators are quite enough for smartphones, tablets and laptops of the middle price category. With video in FullHD resolution, this SD card will definitely cope.

However, the drive itself is quite expensive - from 3000 rubles for 64 GB. And it is better not to connect it to the GoPro 4 Black camera. In it, the MicroSD will get very hot. But if you do not shoot in 2.7K and 4K, then there will be no problems.

• 64 GB options available.
• Very low chance of breakage.
• Good speed performance. Although it is not suitable for action cameras and professional equipment.

• Price.
• Do not use this card in devices that shoot 4K resolution.
• Doesn't work well with GoPro 4 Black camera.

Another member of the SanDisk family is the Extreme Plus UHS-I U3. And here he has speed indicators that can be envied: writing - 90 Mb / s, reading - 95 Mb / s. The maximum volume is 128 GB. There is support for 4K. This is a great option for video equipment. When recording in high resolution, there will be no freezes or crashes. The price of the product is from 2000 rubles for 32 GB, 5000 rubles for 64 GB and 8000 rubles for 128 GB. With such characteristics, it is quite acceptable.

The manufacturer's website indicates that the card is suitable for extreme conditions. You can shoot videos in the mountains or hiking. Even if your camera or smartphone breaks down, the drive will keep your files.

• There are models for 128 GB.
• High speed. You can record 4K without any problems.

• Such indicators will be useful only in a professional video camera. For a regular phone or tablet, they will be useless.

The first thing you should pay attention to in the SanDisk Ultra is the capacity. In such a small card fits as much as 200 gigabytes. On it you can download several seasons of the series or movies in HD. Music lovers will like it - after all, 10,000 music tracks will "fit" on it.

The drive is made according to the UHS-1 standard. Reading speed - 90 Mb / s. You can watch movies on the screen of your tablet or laptop - there will be no breaks or loss of quality. The write speed is about 40 Mb/s. Shooting in 4K resolution, of course, will not work. But for "home" use, it is suitable.

The price of the product is from 5000 rubles.

• 200 gigabyte memory.
• High reading speed.

• The recording speed does not allow for high-definition filming.

Kingston is a fairly well-known brand. The company provides a lifetime warranty on all of its products. So the acquired Kingston UHS-I U3 is unlikely to ever fail. It is suitable for video and photo equipment, game consoles, action cameras. The SD card has an impressive read-write speed of 95 and 90 Mb/s.

This model has an affordable price. The line has drives with a capacity of 32 and 64 GB. They can be purchased for 800 and 2000 rubles, respectively. But the 128 GB option is expensive - about 5,000 rubles.

Another representative of "high-speed" cards is Kingston SDCA3. It is unlikely to be used in smartphones, as its characteristics are more suitable for professional equipment. Write - 80 Mb / s, read - 90 Mb / s.

Of course, the drive can be purchased for phones. But it is expensive - 1500 rubles for 32 GB, 2500 rubles for 64 GB and 5000 rubles for 128 GB.

And here is Kingston for mobile phones. For SDCA10 average speed records - 45 Mb / s. But for smartphone cameras, it is ideal. Even if the device shoots in HD. But the reading speed on high level- 90 Mb/s. Recording a video in 4K will not work, but watching it is fine.

The price of the card is quite high for such parameters: 1300 rubles for 32 GB and 2500 rubles for 64 GB.

Conclusion

These are the best microSD memory cards at the moment. They have advantages and disadvantages. These drives are used in various fields of activity. Therefore, one product is unlikely to suit everyone at once. And technology doesn't stand still. Someday there will be carriers with higher rates.

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 in such multipliers it was sometimes indicated maximum speed access obtained under ideal conditions, whether it be read or write, 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 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.

by the most the best option there will be a 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 package. 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 quick cards OltraMax says that the company uses Samsung components, which 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

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 the main technical parameters, such as data transmission / 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. Features a wide range of products (from RAM modules to miniature storage devices) and the presence of a limited lifetime warranty on products purchased from official representatives and in 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 when in large numbers rewriting cycles in it is not guaranteed. 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. Perfect option 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. bright representative budget card is the 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 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 high speed write/read. 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 valid 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 enough great experience 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 required constant readiness to the processing of large amounts of information (working with photos and videos, cyclic recording of the 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.

because of high speed transmission, such memory cards are focused primarily 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 continuous shooting high definition 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 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. Available only in 32 gigabytes, this model has good performance file write / read speeds - 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.

Everyone has to buy memory cards. Cameras and action cameras usually do not have their own built-in memory. Photographers are divided into two categories - those who buy what consultants in the store advise (and then suffer from glitches and brakes) and those who understand which memory card to buy after examining at least the markings on the case. In this material, we will try to decipher the information that is printed on most CompactFlash® and SD memory cards. This information will be useful to absolutely everyone and will help to avoid many problems when using your wonderful cameras!

Let's start with CompactFlash® memory cards, which are commonly used in advanced cameras. These are usually fast, fairly reliable (significantly more resistant to temperature changes!) and expensive storage media. You need to be especially careful when choosing a CompactFlash®, because most likely a top-end camera will be used in work where it is important to get absolutely everything that it is capable of from technology.

Before deciphering the CompactFlash® marking, it is worth noting that these cards can be roughly divided into two generations. Older cards that run on the IDE protocol used for vintage (now) desktop hard drives. The new cards have acquired support for the SATA protocol and greatly increased in speed. Backward compatibility between the cards of these generations is complete. SD memory cards are still in absolute leapfrog. Due to the fact that these cards work with their own protocols, it is often found that one type of card is limited in capacity, and the other type simply does not work with your camera! Here you need to be careful. We'll talk about this below.

1 CompactFlash® memory cards are labeled CompactFlash so that an inexperienced photographer does not “miss” the choice 🙂

2 UDMA rating: Ultra Direct Access Mode determines how modern and theoretically fast CompactFlash® cards are. The first generations of UDMA 1 cards had a data transfer rate of 16.7 megabytes, and the new UDMA 7, 10 times faster - 167 Mb / s.

3 This is usually the write speed in megabytes per second. This is one of the most important speed parameters of a memory card. For daily use, cards with a recording speed of 16-20 MB / s are suitable, for burst shooting in JPG or for shooting in RAW it is better to use cards with a speed of 45 MB / s, and for shooting FullHD video and shooting in RAW + JPG - 80 MB /With

4 Everything is simple here - this is the capacity of the card. Big cards(64-512 gigabytes) will suit videographers, and photographers are better off with smaller volumes of 16-32 or even 8 gigabytes. There is logic here - the smaller the memory card, the less photo lost if something goes wrong.

5 The number of “xes” X demonstrates the real speed of the card - the number on the memory card must be DIVIDED by the ominous 6.6666. For example 1000x/6.666 = 150 MB/s).

SD memory cards are extremely common today. Even in professional cameras, they are replacing the much larger CompactFlash® cards. But there are several pitfalls here. The first generation of SD memory cards had a capacity strictly from 128MB to 2GB. Next came the SDHC standard, followed by SDXC. For a long time these cards were formatted in FAT16 / 32 (with a limit on the maximum size of a single file of 4GB).
The difference between SDHC and SDXC is simple. SDHC (High Capacity) ranges from 2GB to 32GB, and SDXC (eXtended Capacity) ranges from 32GB to 1TB.
SDXC cards now support the NTFS file system. This not only removed the limit on the maximum file size, but also added two very important features. Now you can encrypt data on the card on the fly and securely restrict access to some files, but most importantly, there is significant protection against damage to the file system and individual files. The fact is that NTFS is a journaling system. That is, the OS knows whether the file was written to the end or whether it was damaged. This reduces the likelihood of finding "broken files" on the card and, as a result, all sorts of disappointments.

It is very important to understand that your device must support the selected type of memory card! If your device only supports SDHC, it's useless to try to install SDXC there! Add microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC here - it becomes scary! But let's deal with the labeling.

1 The brand and, what is sometimes important, the purpose of the card. Someone makes their cards better compatible with an Android smartphone, someone with a professional camera. It is at this place on the camera body that there may be a corresponding inscription.

2 Reading speed: it is important that this is read speed - not write speed! The write speed on the cards is also often indicated, but not all and always separately.

3 Card type: the same SD, SDHC, SDXC or their micro variants! There are also mini options, but this is already quite a rarity!

4 This rating also refers only to reading speed. By analogy with CompactFlash®: divide the number of "x" by 6.6666 = and get the write speed in megabytes per second. For example 1000x divided by 6.666 = 150 MB/s.

5 Card class. This parameter confuses many, but this is just a guaranteed minimum write speed to the card. A good option for old models of cards. Do not take class cards lower than ten! That is, Class 10 is our minimum and period. This is extremely important if you are going to write video to the card at least occasionally. or RAW photo.

6 UHS (Ultra High Speed) rating almost completely repeats the concept of a card class, but UHS is primarily a new data bus standard. The numbers 1-2-3 in this very place on the card label indicate the minimum write speed to the memory card. 1 - 10mb/s, 2 - 20mb/s, 3 - 30mb/s. It is important to understand here that, unlike ordinary class 10 memory cards, memory cards that support the UHS 1 bus, attention, in UHS compatible devices, provide you with even more stable video or photo recording during continuous shooting. UHS 2 and 3 are super fast.

7 And this is already a very complicated thing. UHS bus version. There are two versions of this bus at the moment - UHS I and UHS II. The second version is distinguished by the second row of contacts on the body of the memory card. This doubles the bandwidth of the bus. That is, it is more stable to record parallel data streams. For example, RAW+JPG for continuous shooting. And the overall performance is actually doubled. The ambush is that only a few cameras support the UHS II bus today, and some cameras that should support it are deprived of this possibility for some reason and UHS II cards work in them at half their capabilities!

8 Everything is simple here. This is the capacity of the card. Today it is from 2GB to 512GB. 1TB cards are expected. The pleasure won't come cheap!

A small note. SD memory cards have a hardware switch on the side. This vile latch tightly blocks the ability to write to a memory card! Handle your memory cards carefully - if the latch breaks off or just dangles in the groove, then it will be impossible to write data to the memory card! Alas, the mechanism is miniature, made of plastic and often fails. I now have at least two cards where the tongue in the raised position (you can write) is glued with superglue.

In conclusion, I would like to warn readers of the site against buying counterfeit or suspiciously cheap memory cards. There are two problems here. One is obvious - low-quality memory may not work for a long time, or the actual capacity of the memory card may turn out to be much less than stated on the case marking! Some craftsmen from China are programming the memory card controller so that it shows that its capacity is 64GB, when in fact there is a cheap 4GB memory module! It is extremely difficult to check this when buying.
Another unexpected problem that cost me a lot of nerves and lost time is the fragile plastic of memory card cases. The fact is that the case of one fake card turned out to be so fragile that the top of the card, breaking off into the connector, was sandwiched under the contacts near the connector wall. My expensive MacBook PRO Retina went to the service for a long time to disassemble the slot, since it turned out to be almost impossible to bend all the contacts in the slot and pull out the plastic stuck there.
Buy cards in trusted reliable stores and don't get fooled by ultra-cheap deals and unfamiliar brands.
We tested cards from SunDisk, Transcend, Lexar, PNY, Silicon Power, KingMax, and Sony. Usually, you should not expect dirty tricks from genuine products of these brands.