
A U1 card offers a minimum write speed of 10MB/s, (same as a C10 card) while a U3 card offers a minimum of 30MB/s. The Ultra High Speed (UHS) speed class is represented by a “U” with the number 1 or 3 inside the letter. These, however, are not common anymore and would be quite slow for the performance requirements of most devices nowadays. Other, slower speed classes include C2 (2MB/s), C4 (4MB/s) and C6 (6MB/s). This is adequate for extra storage, or for anyone who isn’t shooting action photography or 4K videos. The most common (and fastest) speed class is C10, which means the card has a minimum write speed of 10MB/s. The first one, simply known as the speed class, is shown as a "C" with a number inside the curves of the letter. There are three types of speed classes for SD and microSD cards: speed class, UHS speed class and video class. MicroSD cards generally don’t feature the read or write speed on their labels, but these speeds are usually mentioned in the card description. The write speed isn’t included on an SD card’s label, but can be usually found in the product description. This is especially important when taking photos in burst mode (great for action photos with minimal blur) or recording 4K videos. The higher the write speed, the faster a camera will perform. This is also expressed as MB/s and reflects how fast the memory card can record data when you snap a photo. The number that photographers should look for, however, is the write speed. For example, uploading images to a computer would take longer with a 95MB/s read speed than it would with a 150MB/s. Read speed, sometimes also called transfer speed, determines how fast files will uploaded from the card to a computer. In addition to GB capacity, SD cards include another number on their label: the card’s read speed, indicated by MB/s. While SDHC cards have a capacity of up to 32 gigabytes (GB), SDXC range from 64GB to up to 2 terabytes (TB). The only difference between the two is their storage capacity. There are two main types of SD and microSD cards: SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) and SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity). Here’s a rundown of the most important factors to keep in mind when shopping for SD cards and microSD cards, and what all of that confusing jargon on their labels means: The numbers and letters written on a card’s label - like U3 or V30, for example - show you what a card is suitable for, whether it’s best for some extra storage for your smartphone or to shoot high-quality photos and videos with a top-of-the-line DSLR or mirrorless camera. SD card and microSD card buying guideĪs mentioned, there’s more to buying an SD or microSD card than just price and storage capacity. These can cost from $20 to over $100 depending on their storage capacity. However, if you’re a photography enthusiast, you’ll need both plenty of storage for high-resolution images and a minimum write speed - that is, how quickly the card can record the image - of 30MB/s (megabytes per second), which can help you capture even the fastest moving action shots. How much should you pay? Well, if you simply want to add extra storage to save photos from your smartphone, a 128GB microSD (which can cost as little as $15) will do. Generally speaking, higher prices correlate with cards that worker faster and have more storage capacity. Prices for SD and microSD cards start as low as $10 but can run to upwards of $300. These cards allow you to store more photos, videos, apps, music and games without using up your device’s internal storage. On the other hand, microSD cards - which can also be used with cameras, if you use an adapter - are best suited for smartphones, tablets, drones, GoPros and even gaming consoles, like the Nintendo Switch. It can also prevent your camera from shooting in data-intensive formats like fast-action burst photos or 4K videos. Using a low-quality SD card or one without the appropriate specifications for your device can cause occasional compatibility issues or errors while taking photos or recording video. SD cards are most commonly associated with digital cameras, whether it be a point-and-shoot or an expensive DSLR used by professionals. Buying the right card will also help make your devices operate at optimum speeds and keep your digital files safe for as long as you need. There’s more to SD cards and microSD cards than simply storing photos and videos.
