Most microSD playing cards are quick sufficient for stashing photographs, recording video and transferring recordsdata, however some will get you a bit extra bang on your buck than others. Should you’re seeking to enhance the storage of your Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck, GoPro or every other machine that also accepts microSD playing cards, we will help. We’ve completely researched the market and a number of other playing cards by means of a set of benchmark checks. Listed here are the very best that we’ve examined, together with some basic recommendation on what to search for when shopping for a brand new card.
Desk of contents
Finest microSD playing cards of 2026
Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Velocity courses: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: Lifetime restricted
A very good UHS-I card is fast sufficient for most individuals’s wants, and the Lexar Professional Silver Plus is the very best worth of those we’ve examined. Paired with Lexar’s USB card reader, it constantly delivered quicker sequential reads and writes than every other UHS-I mannequin throughout our benchmark checks. It’s rated for learn speeds as much as 205 MB/s and write speeds as much as 150 MB/s, each of that are comparatively excessive to start with, however we discovered the latter to succeed in into the 180-190 MB/s vary in artificial benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, ATTO and AJA.
Our 12GB check folder wrote to the cardboard in 76 seconds on common, which was roughly 30 seconds faster than the Samsung Professional Plus and Samsung Professional Final, our two earlier prime picks. It successfully tied the Professional Final to steer all UHS-I playing cards we’ve tried in studying that check file again to our PC. (That one averaged about 67 seconds, when you’re conserving rating at house.) Each Samsung playing cards and some others beat the Silver Plus in some random efficiency benchmarks, although it was nonetheless loads aggressive in that regard. Both manner, it has all of the requisite rankings — U3, V30, A2 — and it’s greater than speedy sufficient for working with 4K movies or shifting recordsdata between gadgets with out main delays (as long as you’ve gotten a reader and/or host machine that may allow these max speeds).
The cardboard itself is waterproof with an IPX7 ranking, and Lexar backs it with a lifetime guarantee. Sizes vary from 128GB to a spacious 1TB. The optional reader — which you should purchase individually or as a part of a bundle — is a bit giant, but it surely conveniently contains each USB-A and USB-C ports, so that you shouldn’t want any dongles to attach it to a telephone or PC.
The Silver Plus’ pricing has normally been the factor that is put it excessive. For a lot of the previous a number of months, the 128GB model bought for round $15, whereas the 256GB, 512GB and 1TB variants have gone for about $23, $40 and $80, respectively. These aren’t the most affordable costs we’ve ever seen, and the mathematics will change a bit if you have to think about a card reader, however they’ve both undercut or matched opponents just like the Professional Plus, Professional Final or SanDisk Excessive regardless of the Silver Plus being the extra performant card general. So, to recap: It’s quick, it’s sturdy and it’s typically moderately reasonably priced. That’s the recipe for a simple suggestion.
- Quickest sequential learn/write efficiency of any UHS-I card we have examined
- Has been cheaper than many slower options
- Has a 1TB possibility
- Lifetime restricted guarantee
- Wants USB reader to succeed in most speeds (as anticipated)
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Storage capability: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | Velocity courses: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted
Storage costs are inclined to fluctuate, nonetheless, particularly with the driving reminiscence and storage demand extra towards information facilities . As of our most up-to-date replace, the — our former “finest for many” choose — is now accessible for lower than the Silver Plus in most capacities, and it’s nonetheless nicely price contemplating when that’s the case.
Its sequential learn and (particularly) write efficiency was slower than Lexar’s card throughout the board however nonetheless on par with or higher than practically each different UHS-I card we’ve examined. Its random reads and writes had been usually second to the pricier , however solely by a bit, so it’s well-suited for a transportable sport console or every other setup the place it’d be requested to entry tiny bits of information scattered all through a tool. It’s held up completely effective in our long-term testing as nicely. That mentioned, the Silver Plus is the higher card when it’s in the identical worth vary, plus Samsung’s has a shorter 10-year guarantee.
Should you do find yourself grabbing one, although, be sure you get the latest mannequin with learn speeds rated at 180MB/s. An older-generation mannequin with slower sequential reads and random efficiency should still be hanging round at some on-line retailers, so keep away from that one. Samsung additionally sells a Sonic the Hedgehog-themed version of the Professional Plus with equivalent efficiency rankings, however that normally prices a couple of bucks further.
- Fast sequential and random speeds
- Available at trusted retailers
- Has a 1TB possibility
- Slower than our prime choose, particularly with sequential write efficiency
- 10-year guarantee is not the longest
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Storage capability: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB (“new era” mannequin solely) | Velocity courses: U3, V30, A2, Class 10 / (64GB) U1, V10, A1, Class 10 | Guarantee: 10-year restricted
The Samsung Evo Select is a transparent step behind our prime picks, significantly in the case of sequential write speeds (slightly below 70 MB/s on CrystalDiskMark). So we don’t advocate it for any form of digital camera. Nonetheless, it’s completely usable for easy storage growth, and its sequential and random learn speeds had been nonetheless respectable in our benchmarks.
Most significantly, it’s normally cheap: We have beforehand seen the 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB fashions fall as little as $13, $18, $33 and $67, respectively. The latter two capacities could possibly be significantly effective values when you simply desire a big chunk of house from a good model on a budget. That mentioned, it is best to nonetheless seize the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus or Samsung Professional Plus as a substitute if both one is wherever shut in worth.
- Usually discounted
- Acceptable efficiency if worth is chief concern
- Has a 1TB possibility
- Slower than different prime picks, significantly in sequential write and random efficiency benchmarks
- 10-year guarantee is not the longest
Finest microSD Categorical playing cards for the Nintendo Change 2
Jeff Dunn for Engadget
Learn our full information to the best microSD Express cards for the Nintendo Switch 2
Let’s be clear about this: Except you intend to personal a Nintendo Switch 2 within the close to future, you do not want a high-speed microSD Categorical card simply but. Nintendo’s gaming handheld is the one common machine that natively helps this customary proper now, and microSD Categorical playing cards themselves are extremely costly in comparison with extra conventional choices.
Nonetheless, when you do wish to improve a Change 2’s storage, they’re your solely alternative. Happily, figuring out precisely which mannequin to purchase for the console is fairly easy: Get whichever one you could find in inventory, within the capability you need, at a worth you’ll be able to abdomen.
We benchmarked a number of microSD Categorical playing cards for a separate Switch 2 guide, and for essentially the most half, the efficiency variations between them weren’t nice sufficient to justify paying further for any specific mannequin. Loading occasions weren’t fairly equivalent with each check we ran, however the playing cards had been extraordinarily shut in most video games and customary eventualities. The few occasions when there was a notable hole — fast-traveling to a very resource-heavy area in Cyberpunk 2077, as an example — the gulf between the slowest and quickest card was solely ever about 4 or 5 seconds at most. That’s not nothing, but it surely’s additionally not one thing most individuals are more likely to fret over until they’ve a stopwatch helpful.
The SanDisk microSD Categorical Card and Lexar Play Professional. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)
The one time you’d discover a significant pace distinction is when you switch video games to your Categorical card from the Change 2’s inside storage (and vice versa). In that case, the SanDisk microSD Express Card and Lexar Play Pro had been usually the quickest, whereas PNY’s microSD Express Flash Memory Card had significantly sluggish write speeds.
Shifting Mario Kart World to the SanDisk and Lexar fashions, for instance, took round 4 minutes and 35 seconds on common; with the PNY card, it took a bit over seven minutes. That mentioned, the PNY mannequin was the quickest when it got here to shifting video games again to the system storage. Walmart’s Onn microSD Express Card was considerably slower to maneuver video games from the cardboard to system storage, but it surely’s additionally essentially the most reasonably priced card we’ve seen by a good way. Both manner, most individuals aren’t continually shuffling their video games forwards and backwards like this. Efficiency in precise video games is extra essential, and in that regard the outcomes had been constantly a lot tighter.
What issues most is getting essentially the most house on your price range. Sadly, inventory for all microSD Categorical playing cards has been spotty because the Change 2’s launch. In your comfort, we’ll checklist out the entire fashions we’ve examined so far and their respective checklist costs under. Observe that some lower-capacity variations — the 128GB SanDisk card, for one — promote slower speeds than their extra spacious counterparts.
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Samsung microSD Categorical Card for Nintendo Change 2: 256GB ($60)
The Lexar Play Professional on prime of Lexar’s RW540 microSD Categorical card reader. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)
Broadly talking, we advocate getting a minimum of 256GB of storage, as Change 2 video games are inclined to have a lot bigger file sizes than video games for Nintendo’s earlier handheld. However we additionally advocate holding off upgrading for so long as you’ll be able to, if solely as a result of all of those playing cards ought to (tariff shenanigans apart) come down in worth as time goes on.
There’s no level in shopping for a microSD Categorical card for something in addition to the Change 2, however we did run the fashions above by means of our regular PC benchmarks as nicely. Unsurprisingly, they’re miles quicker than any conventional card available on the market.
With the 256GB SanDisk card, as an example, sequential learn speeds checked in slightly below 900 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark and ATTO, whereas sequential writes topped out round 650 MB/s. Sustained writes speeds had been slower (round 210 MB/s), however that was nonetheless quick sufficient to maneuver our 12GB check file to the cardboard in 52 seconds on common. It took a mere 20 seconds to learn the file again to our PC. The write check with our smaller 1.15GB check folder, in the meantime, averaged simply 4.5 seconds.
All of it provides as much as efficiency that is a minimum of twice as quick as the very best UHS-I fashions we’ve examined by way of sequential reads and writes, with three or 4 occasions the speeds in some instances. The gulf in random reads and writes is comparable, and in some benchmarks even better. However you want an expensive SD card reader to even see these will increase on a PC, so solely these with a Change 2 in hand or severe money to burn ought to take into account one among these items.
Different notable microSD playing cards
Samsung Professional Final
The Samsung Pro Ultimate was the closest competitor to the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus throughout our benchmark checks, but it surely’s tangibly worse by way of sequential write speeds, usually prices extra and doesn’t provide a 1TB possibility. The Samsung Professional Plus is a bit slower for sequential reads, but it surely’s shut sufficient in any other case and normally simpler to search out at a lower cost.
Lexar Skilled Gold
We have not used it ourselves, however when you’re prepared to pay for a extra highly effective UHS-II card constructed for heavy-duty video recording, the Lexar Professional Gold has tested well elsewhere and may ship considerably quicker sequential write speeds than our UHS-I picks above. It’s one of many few UHS-II playing cards we might truly discover in inventory, but it surely’s dear, with a 128GB mannequin usually priced within the $35 to $40 vary.
SanDisk Excessive
The SanDisk Extreme successfully matched the Professional Plus in a couple of of our sequential checks, however that was partly as a consequence of us solely having the ability to safe the 256GB mannequin, which is higher-rated than the 128GB model. It’s a effective alternative when you see it on sale at a good vendor, but it surely’s broadly slower than our prime choose and infrequently prices extra.
SanDisk GamePlay
The SanDisk GamePlay performs equally to the SanDisk Excessive however prices an excellent bit further as of our newest replace. We couldn’t get it to succeed in its marketed speeds with the corporate’s personal “Professional” card reader or different third-party choices, so it fell in need of our prime picks.
SanDisk Pokémon
The SanDisk Pokémon does outperform its marketed learn and write speeds, however not by sufficient to outpace the Lexar Silver Plus or Samsung Professional Plus. It primarily costs further for having an image of Pikachu (or Gengar, or Snorlax) on a product you’ll by no means have a look at.
SanDisk Excessive Professional
The SanDisk Extreme Pro is an in depth analog to the Samsung Professional Final however, as of this writing, is both unavailable at most trusted retailers or priced too excessive by comparability. The Lexar Skilled Silver Plus has quicker sequential write speeds as nicely.
PNY XLR8 Gaming
The PNY XLR8 is an reasonably priced card that comes with as much as 512GB of house. Its sequential and random writes speeds checked in a bit bit above these of Samsung’s Evo Choose, plus it comes with a lifetime guarantee. However its sequential reads had been a lot, a lot slower, placing it out of rivalry.
PNY Elite-X
The PNY Elite-X typically goes for reasonable and wasn’t too far off the random learn/write efficiency of Samsung’s Professional Plus in CrystalDiskMark. Just like the XLR8, it’s additionally barely above the Evo Choose in write speeds. However its sequential reads had been too far behind all of our prime picks, and it now not seems to be accessible in capacities above 256GB.
What to search for in a microSD card
Capability
The very first thing to determine when shopping for a microSD card is how a lot cupboard space you want. Trendy playing cards are generally accessible in sizes starting from 32GB to 512GB, with a number of fashions now accessible in 1TB or 1.5TB capacities as nicely. The primary 2TB cards from major brands have began to reach as nicely, which is thrilling, however these are nonetheless pretty uncommon (and really costly) by comparability.
For a lot of, a 128GB or 256GB mannequin ought to be a candy spot between worth and cupboard space. However when you want extra room — say, for stashing a bunch of video games on a Steam Deck — a 512GB card or better might make extra sense and infrequently offers a greater cost-per-GB ratio.
Pricing and inventory ranges are in all places as of our most up-to-date replace due to ongoing AI-driven shortages, however you’ll be able to usually nonetheless discover a respectable 128GB card for round $15, an excellent 256GB card for lower than $30 and a stable 512GB card for round $40 (with quicker fashions priced a bit larger). There’s a starker improve once you go as much as 1TB playing cards, which regularly price nearer to $100, although we’ve seen some fall into the $70 to $80 vary during the last yr. The primary 2TB playing cards are a much bigger leap: the 2TB SanDisk Extreme, for instance, presently has an inventory worth round $290, which is manner up from what we noticed in 2025.
Observe {that a} microSD card’s efficiency might differ relying on what capability you purchase. SanDisk says its 128GB Extreme card delivers sequential write speeds as much as 90 MB/s, for instance, whereas the higher-capacity fashions in the identical line provide as much as 130 MB/s.
Once we discuss microSD playing cards at the moment, we largely consult with playing cards that use the microSDXC (eXtended Capacity) standard, which have a capability between 32GB and 2TB. Your machine must help this for it to work with a microSDXC card. This can nearly by no means be a difficulty nowadays, however some older gadgets (a Nintendo 3DS, as an example) are solely appropriate with microSDHC (Excessive Capability) playing cards, which vary from 2GB to 32GB.
Learn and write speeds
MicroSD playing cards are primarily judged on their learn and write speeds, that are normally measured in megabytes per second (MB/s). Typically, most microSD playing cards have quicker learn speeds than write speeds.
These metrics can then be damaged down into sequential and random efficiency. Sequential learn and write speeds matter once you’re attempting to entry (learn) or save (write) lengthy, fixed streams of information, reminiscent of opening a big video or copying an enormous batch of recordsdata from a PC. If you wish to use a microSD card for media storage, that is significantly essential. Random efficiency, in the meantime, is about how rapidly a card can learn and write small recordsdata scattered all through the machine.
Since random learn/write speeds are a lot decrease than sequential ones, storage machine makers have a tendency to not promote them as loudly. However they’re essential when you use a card with a gaming machine or a single-board laptop just like the Raspberry Pi, the place it typically has to quickly save and entry small bits of information in random places.
Velocity rankings
Should you have a look at a microSD card, you’ll see a buffet of numbers, letters and symbols. Most of those consult with the cardboard’s speed class and efficiency rankings, that are decided by the SD Association.
A card’s Video Velocity Class, or V-rating, particulars its minimal sequential write pace, which is very essential when recording video from a digital camera. It ranges from V6 to V90. Many of the playing cards we examined had a V30 ranking, so that they have a sequential write pace of a minimum of 30 MB/s. This ought to be sufficient to help as much as 4K video at decrease bitrates. Larger-rated V60 and V90 playing cards are normally higher for capturing 8K, however they arrive at a a lot larger price.
The UHS Velocity Class, or U-rating, additionally refers to a card’s minimal sequential write pace. It is available in two varieties: U3, which mandates a minimal of 30 MB/s, and U1, which is rated for 10 MB/s.
The older Velocity Class ranking overlaps with the opposite two methods. It’s signified by a C image and goes from Class 2 to Class 10, with the quantity (once more) indicating minimal sequential write pace. This ranking is much less related these days, however you should still see a “C10” brand on some playing cards.
The Utility Efficiency spec, marked by an A logo, is an indicator of random learn/write speeds. That is measured in IOPS, or enter/output operations per second, slightly than MB/s. There are two classes right here: A1 playing cards provide a minimal random learn pace of 1,500 IOPS and a minimal random write pace of 500 IOPS, whereas A2 playing cards bump these as much as 4,000 IOPS and a couple of,000 IOPS, respectively. Each rankings additionally assure sequential write speeds of a minimum of 10 MB/s.
To maintain it easy, most individuals ought to search for a card with V30, U3 and A2 rankings. It’s completely attainable to get a stable card with out these: A U1 card may be price it when you simply want an affordable, high-capacity possibility, for instance. V60 and V90 playing cards are price a glance when you’re severe about taking pictures high-resolution photographs and video as nicely. However general, playing cards with the certifications above ought to present the very best mix of worth and efficiency at the moment.
It’s essential to emphasise that these rankings are baselines. Most V30 playing cards provide considerably larger write speeds than 30 MB/s, as an example, and a few A1 playing cards can outperform some A2 fashions in apply. The speeds marketed by producers aren’t all the time one hundred pc correct, both: Generally the cardboard can be slower in real-world use, different occasions it could truly be a bit quicker.
Samsung
UHS bus speeds
The opposite spec to notice is the cardboard’s bus interface. Most microSD playing cards accessible at the moment are UHS-I, which has a theoretical most pace of 104 MB/s. There are additionally UHS-II playing cards, which have an additional row of pins on the again and might attain as much as 312 MB/s. (A UHS-III customary technically exists as nicely however hasn’t seen extensive adoption.) These are labeled on the cardboard with a Roman numeral I or II.
UHS-II playing cards are usually those with these larger V60 or V90 rankings. Should you shoot a number of 4K to 8K video or steadily use burst mode to seize extremely high-res photographs, the efficiency positive aspects of an excellent UHS-II card can prevent time.
Nonetheless, these are usually way more costly than UHS-I playing cards: This 128GB Lexar Professional Gold mannequin, as an example, is a relative discount at $35. Whereas that is lower than many UHS-II fashions we’ve seen previously, it is nonetheless greater than double the widespread road worth of our prime choose above. You want a tool that’s appropriate with the UHS-II interface to see any advantages, too, and inventory for UHS-II playing cards is commonly spottier. For now, the upper speeds aren’t definitely worth the worth premium for most individuals, so we caught largely to UHS-I playing cards with our suggestions.
Not like conventional UHS-I playing cards, a microSD Categorical card just like the SanDisk mannequin on the fitting comes with a second row of pins to allow its improved efficiency. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)
microSD Categorical and the Nintendo Change 2
Absolutely the quickest microSD playing cards you should purchase, nonetheless, are based mostly on a unique interface referred to as SD Express. This has technically been around for a number of years and now includes its personal subset of speed classes, however the gist is that it is a lot quicker than UHS-I or UHS-II: SanDisk’s not too long ago launched microSD Express card, one of many first commercially accessible fashions, advertises sequential learn speeds as much as 880MB/s. That’s faster than some older SSDs.
It’s a considerable improve that has largely held up in our testing, however only a few common gadgets natively help SD Categorical at the moment. The primary main exception is the Nintendo Switch 2, which is only compatible with the newer customary, because it’s wanted to maintain up with the efficiency calls for of latest handheld video games.
Apart from SanDisk, producers like Samsung, Lexar and PNY have already launched microSD Categorical playing cards to go along with the console. The presumption is that having such a well-liked machine embrace the tech will solely additional its adoption and drive costs down.
However it’s nonetheless early days, and proper now all microSD Categorical playing cards price way more than the very best UHS-I and even UHS-II choices. Past the Change 2, it’s attainable to reap the benefits of these playing cards’ superior speeds with a devoted SD Categorical card reader, however that provides much more to the ultimate price. It’s additionally price noting that SD Categorical playing cards aren’t backwards appropriate with UHS-II (or UHS-III), so when you attempt to plug one into a tool with a UHS-II slot, it’ll be restricted to UHS-I speeds. Nonetheless, they’re a should for Nintendo followers going ahead, and the tech ought to have loads of enchantment if extra devices that help the interface do arrive.
For extra on how the primary wave of Categorical playing cards carry out on the Change 2, we have put collectively a dedicated buying guide only for Nintendo’s console.
A observe on card readers and reaching marketed speeds
Whereas the UHS-I interface has a theoretical most of 104 MB/s, some UHS-I playing cards can exceed that pace by means of proprietary extensions. Nonetheless, you want a appropriate card reader and host machine to reap the benefits of that further efficiency. Should you discover a UHS-I card promoting speeds larger than 104 MB/s, that is what’s happening. You’ll be able to see these limits in motion with an unique Nintendo Change or Steam Deck: Both of those gaming gadgets help the UHS-I interface however don’t transcend its official pace, flattening any sequential positive aspects some playing cards might have elsewhere. (Variations in random learn and write speeds can nonetheless matter, although.) The identical factor will occur when you plug a extra highly effective UHS-II or SD Categorical card into a tool that doesn’t settle for these interfaces.
The takeaway: Your microSD card will solely be as quick because the slowest hyperlink in your chain.
Guarantee
Many microSD playing cards are designed to be sturdy, with safety from water, excessive temperatures, X-rays and drops. Nonetheless, in case of disaster, an extended guarantee is all the time good to have. Many producers provide lifetime or 10-year restricted warranties, although we’ve seen that “endurance” playing cards marketed to resist extra hours of writing are normally coated for a shorter time frame. For instance, Samsung’s Pro Endurance, a mannequin aimed toward safety cameras and different monitoring gadgets, comes with a five-year guarantee.
Avoiding counterfeits
The reminiscence card market has had a specific downside with scammers promoting faux merchandise. To protect in opposition to this, solely purchase from a identified model and a good retailer reminiscent of Finest Purchase, B&H Photograph or Adorama. Should you store at Amazon, solely purchase if the shipper and vendor is Amazon.com. (That mentioned, a handful of customers have reported receiving counterfeits even from Amazon immediately previously, so train warning.) Bear in mind: If a worth appears too good to be true, it in all probability is. Be cautious of any retailer providing a considerably lower cost than everybody else.
When you obtain a card, verify its packaging for any irregularities. You’ll be able to run benchmark checks like CrystalDiskMark or BlackMagic Disk Speed Test to confirm its speeds aren’t drastically decrease than what’s marketed (or attainable, given its specs). You may as well use software program that’s designed to confirm the true capability and efficiency of your card, reminiscent of H2testw and FakeFlashTest.
A couple of of the microSD card readers we have used for testing. (Jeff Dunn for Engadget)
How we check microSD playing cards
We have put about 20 microSD playing cards by means of a collection of checks to confirm their sequential and random efficiency. These included benchmarks like CrystalDiskMark, BlackMagic Disk Speed Test, ATTO Disk Benchmark and AJA System Test, in addition to a couple of “real-world” checks. We copied and pasted a small folder of photographs about 1.15GB in dimension to and from every card, then did the identical with a bigger 12.2GB folder containing a number of file sorts and subfolders, timing the method every time. We additionally checked how every card carried out on the Steam Deck, downloading video games of various sizes — together with Stardew Valley, Aperture Desk Job, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Apex Legends — then timing how lengthy it took to launch every sport and cargo save recordsdata. We do a number of runs of every check to confirm our findings and account for potential outliers.
The place relevant, we used a Kingston USB 3.2 UHS-II reader to check every card on each Home windows 11 and macOS Sequoia. Nonetheless, if a card could possibly be bundled with (or is particularly marketed to make use of) a proprietary reader, we primarily examined with that, since we determine that’s the one most consumers will find yourself utilizing. For Home windows testing, we used an Alienware gaming PC with an Intel Core i9-10900F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. For macOS, we used a 2021 16-inch MacBook Professional with an Apple M1 Professional chip, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. If a reader couldn’t join over USB-C, we used CalDigit’s TS4 dock to check the corresponding card on the MacBook.
We examined the 128GB model of every card each time we might, although we had been solely capable of check higher-capacity fashions for a couple of choices. We additionally reformatted every card earlier than testing with the SD Affiliation’s Memory Card Formatter tool.
For microSD Categorical playing cards, we ran every mannequin by means of a collection of checks particular to the Change 2, since that’s the solely common machine that really helps the tech. You’ll be able to learn extra about that course of in our separate shopping for information linked above.
Latest updates
December 2025: We’ve examined the Samsung P9 Categorical microSD Categorical card and famous it in our Change 2 part above. We’ve additionally made a couple of edits to spotlight current worth will increase and inventory shortages pushed by the continued AI growth.
November 2025: We’ve examined Walmart’s Onn microSD Categorical Card and edited our notes on the very best playing cards for the Nintendo Change 2 accordingly.
September 2025: We’ve fleshed out our recommendation on shopping for a microSD Categorical card for the Nintendo Change 2.
Could 2025: We’ve up to date this information to make sure our recommendation is correct and to mirror the brand new Nintendo Change 2’s use of microSD Categorical playing cards. We’ve additionally added testing notes for the Lexar Play Professional microSD Categorical card and the extra customary PNY XLR8. We’ve eliminated mentions of some playing cards which have seemingly been discontinued, together with the unique Kingston Canvas Go Plus, the Lexar Skilled 1066x and the 2021 Samsung Evo Choose. We plan to check extra new microSD Categorical playing cards for a future replace.
February 2025: We’ve up to date this information with a brand new prime choose: the Lexar Skilled Silver Plus. The Samsung Professional Plus, our earlier suggestion, stays as a runner-up. We’ve additionally added SanDisk’s not too long ago launched microSD Categorical card as a choose for individuals who need absolutely the quickest card attainable, albeit with heavy caveats. This is without doubt one of the first microSD playing cards to make use of the SD Categorical bus interface, so we’ve included extra particulars on what that entails in our “what to search for in a microSD card” part. Lastly, we’ve eliminated our write-up for SanDisk’s Apex Legends card, because it seems to have been discontinued, and included testing notes for a few the corporate’s more moderen releases.
November 2024: We have checked again with this information to make sure our suggestions are nonetheless correct and made gentle edits for readability.
August 2024: We’ve up to date this information to notice the not too long ago launched 1TB fashions for 3 of our prime picks: the Samsung Professional Plus, the Kingston Canvas Go Plus and the Samsung Evo Choose. We’ve additionally made positive all pricing particulars are as updated as they are often.
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