You'll find microSD cards in the pockets of every photographer, but the uses for these tiny, portable storage devices go far beyond swapping cards during a photoshoot. Slot them into your device, or use plug-and-play adapters to access any content you've stored on them, such as photos or videos. While they don't typically have the storage capacity of dedicated external storage solutions, they can significantly boost the storage capacity of existing devices and provide peace of mind when used as backup storage.
I've spent countless hours sifting through a myriad of products to identify the best cards on the market. I personally use these storage cards in all my devices, and they've never let me down. With prices increasing, if you need more storage, now is the time.
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Over the years, I've conducted hands-on testing of numerous microSD cards across various devices, evaluating features such as capacity, price, performance, and durability. This experience has given me a comprehensive understanding of their performance in real-world scenarios and the downfall of trusting poor-quality or counterfeit cards.
Also: The best network-attached storage devices you can buy: Expert tested
Based on this extensive testing, these are my top picks for the best microSD cards. The SanDisk Extreme microSDXC stands out as the best overall choice for its consistent quality, performance, and reasonable price. Read on for the rest of my top picks.
In our May update, we added the SanDisk 256GB high-endurance video microSDXC card to our favorites and the onn 128 GB memory card to our alternatives.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I is a top-quality, reliable microSD card that can be used with a variety of consumer electronics.
Why we like it: Tell me you need a microSD card, and chances are, this is the one I'll recommend. I've been using SanDisk microSD cards in smartphones, tablets, action cams, dashcams, and drones for years now, and it's always reliable.
This is consistently one of the highest-rated microSD cards in online reviews, but be careful, as there are many low-quality knockoffs out there.
Who it's for: Professionals looking for a workhorse card that's fast and reliable enough to handle hard use. The lowest storage option is 256GB.
Who should look elsewhere: If you need something specialized, like a high-endurance card or one that supports the microSD Express standard, look elsewhere. Prices have surged recently, too, so this might cost more than you are willing to pay.
SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I tech specs: Capacity: From 256GB to 2TB | Offload speed: Up to 240MB/s | Write speed: Up to 140MB/s | Performance rating: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30) | In-app performance rating: A2 (up to 4000 read IOPS, 2000 write IOPS)
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Amazon has branched out into everything from home decor to tech, and one of its products is the Amazon Basics Micro SDXC Memory Card.
Why we like it: This is the card I recommend to those who are either in love with the Amazon Basics brand or afraid to buy another brand for fear of getting a counterfeit card.
I've used these cards a lot in applications where speed is not a concern -- such as dashcams -- and they've all performed as advertised.
Reviews on outlets such as Amazon are generally positive, with buyers expressing surprise that something from the Amazon Basics brand can be so good.
It's $37, which is a fair price, though there are cheaper options around for the same 128GB of storage. There are different storage options, with cards available in sizes ranging from 64GB (two-pack) to 1TB.
Who it's for: Anyone who is worried about counterfeit cards or wants a cheap card to pop into a smartphone.
Who should look elsewhere: High-end pros seeking the best performance need something faster than this, so I would recommend a higher-performance card with better read/write speeds.
Amazon Basics Micro SDXC Memory Card tech specs: Capacity: 64GB to 1TB | Offload speed: Up to 100MB/s | Write speed: Up to 60MB/s | Performance rating: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30)
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Lexar, a brand I've trusted for well over a decade, has a solid range of microSD cards, including the Lexar Professional Silver Plus microSDXC.
Why we like it: The storage card combines professional-grade performance and reliability at a budget-friendly price, and I have previously put it to the test.
The card is rated with a video class speed of V30 and a UHS speed rating of U3. This means it can achieve at least 30 MB/s. It also boasts an Application Performance Rating of A2, indicating it can handle a minimum of 4,000 IOPS for random reads, 2,000 IOPS for random writes, and 10 MB/s for sustained sequential writes.
Review: Lexar Professional Silver Plus microSDXC
In terms of performance, this card is perfect for 4K video capture in H.265 format, which is more than enough for most people's needs. It's solid and reliable, and it comes with a great warranty and free recovery software in case you accidentally delete important footage.
Who it's for: This is the card for those who want a bit more speed than SanDisk cards offer. Storage options range from 128GB to 1TB. Higher-storage-level cards are currently on sale.
Who should look elsewhere: If you're paying a bit extra for performance, make sure your hardware delivers it.
Lexar Professional Silver Plus microSDXC Memory Card tech specs: Capacity: From 128GB to 1TB | Offload speed: Up to 205MB/s | Write speed: Up to 150MB/s | Performance rating: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30)
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If you're going to be doing a lot of writing to a microSD card, these are the cards for you.
Why we like it: They offer up to 16 years of continuous recording time for the 256GB version. In addition, they offer read and write speeds of up to 100 megabytes per second (MB/s) and 40 MB/s, respectively.
While now limited to either 128GB or 256GB cards -- a trend I've seen in recent months as stock becomes more restricted and more expensive -- the Samsung Pro Endurance MicroSDXC card should still be considered if you need a card that can handle continuous footage recording or similar applications.
Review: Samsung Pro Endurance MicroSDXC Card
I've read countless reviews on Reddit and Amazon for these cards, and the claims of high endurance seem to translate into real-world usage.
Who it's for: This is a must for dashcams and video cameras. 128GB cards are currently on sale for $55.
Who should look elsewhere: Don't bother putting this inside a phone, camera, or drone; there are no benefits.
Samsung Pro Endurance MicroSDXC Card tech specs: Capacity: From 128GB to 256GB | Offload speed: Up to 100MB/s | Write speed: Up to 40MB/s | Performance rating: 4K and 5K UHD-ready with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30)
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Amazon
While marketed toward dash cams and home monitoring, I like this microSD card for its affordability -- making it a top choice for handheld consoles.
Why we like it: The reliability and endurance of standard microSD cards are good enough for most things, but gaming puts extra strain on hardware. This creates the need for cards that are fast -- and can withstand heavy use for a long time.
The SanDisk High Endurance Video microSDXC card is a solid, affordable choice if you need a card for Nintendo Switch. Offering up to 512GB, with a 256GB version costing $60, you'll have a card that can store your games and multimedia files for years to come.
Customers say the adapter included in the package is a nice bonus and consider it a solid card for not only gaming but also high-intensity tasks.
Who it's for: Own a Nintendo Switch? This is for you. Want a card with enough storage for your dashcam? Go for it.
Who should look elsewhere: If you need more than 512GB of capacity, look elsewhere.
SanDisk High Endurance Video microSDXC Card tech specs: Capacity: 256GB and 512GB | Offload speed: Up to 100MB/s | Write speed: Up to 30MB/s | Performance rating: Full HD or 4K, Class 10, U3, and V30 | In-app performance rating: A1
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ZDNET's pick for the best overall microSD card is the SanDisk Extreme, but there are different cards for different applications. For example, one person might favor performance, while another might want high endurance, and another might be budget-conscious.
Thankfully, there are numerous options for extra storage, ranging from just a few dollars to over a hundred, with different storage capacities and read and write speeds.
Brand | Price | Capacity | Read speed (MB/s) | Write speed (MB/s) |
SanDisk Extreme | $63+ | 256GB - 2TB | 190 | 130 |
Amazon Basics | $37+ | 64GB - 1TB | 100 | 60 |
Lexar Professional Silver Plus | $48+ | 128GB - 1TB | 205 | 150 |
Samsung Pro Endurance | $55+ | 128GB - 256GB | 100 | 40 |
SanDisk High Endurance Video microSDXC | $60+ | 256GB - 512GB | 100 | 30 |
*MSRP at the time of writing. Please note that actual prices may vary depending on available sales, deals, discounts, and coupons.
ZDNET's pick for the best overall microSD card is the SanDisk Extreme, but narrowing down the best microSD card isn't an easy task. Check out our other top picks and see how they compare to each other, and to your needs.
Choose this microSD card brand… | If you… |
SanDisk Extreme | Want a fantastic all-rounder suitable for most applications. |
Amazon Basics | Are worried about counterfeit cards with more prominent brands. |
Lexar Professional Silver Plus | Want a professional, pro-grade card without the eye-watering cost. |
Samsung Pro Endurance | Are recording 24/7/365 to the card with CCTV or using it in a body cam or dash cam. |
SanDisk High Endurance Video microSDXC | Want a solid, reliable card with high performance for gaming and storage. |
Before you purchase a new microSD card, consider the following factors:
ZDNET only recommends products we have tested or researched ourselves, a process rooted in rigorous testing, real-world application, and decades of expertise. While there are countless microSD cards on the market, not every card is built the same way.
Here are some other factors I considered when testing and curating my top selections.
The main difference between an SD card and a microSD card is size. SD cards are larger, measuring 32mm x 24mm x 2.1mm, while microSD cards measure 15mm x 11mm x 1mm.
Both types of cards come in similar capacity ranges and performance classes.
Due to their larger size, SD cards are commonly used in devices with more space to accommodate them, such as digital cameras, camcorders, and older laptops. These devices often have dedicated SD card slots, making the larger form factor a non-issue.
MicroSD cards on the other hand are ideal for smaller, more portable devices like smartphones, tablets, drones, action cameras, and even some gaming consoles. Their small footprint allows manufacturers to save space in compact devices while still providing expandable storage.
No. In fact, I've seen people run into troubles and lose a lot of data doing this, not so much because of the microSD card, but because of their own bad practices. A terabyte microSD card can hold a lot of data, but that can lead to problem if you don't regularly empty it and one day your camera falls into the sea or your drone flies away never to be seen again.
This is why I prefer having a handful of smaller cards. This way I change them regularly, and if the worst happens and I do lose data, the loss is limited.
The other reason is money -- you usually pay a premium for the highest capacity cards, and the sweet spot in terms of price versus capacity is usually somewhere in the middle.
MicroSD Express is a next-generation flash memory card standard that focuses on performance. These cards are capable of up to 880 MB/s and write speeds of up to 650 MB/s, and hitting sustained write speeds around 210 MB/s, a huge improvement over traditional microSD cards, which rely on older UHS-I or UHS-II interfaces.
MicroSD Express cards are backward compatible with devices that support microSD UHS-I, although they will operate at reduced speeds in such devices. The most mainstream device to support microSD Express is the new Nintendo Switch 2, which require these high-speed cards.
Very robust.
I've been using microSD cards for closer to two decades now, and they're incredibly durable. MicroSD cards are built to withstand extreme weather conditions, and are temperature-proof, waterproof, drop-proof, shockproof, and even X-ray proof.
It can be hard to do this. The way many find out is that their card either dies or doesn't have anywhere near the stated capacity.
Other, more subtle giveaways include the printing on the card being poor quality, blurry, or even containing typos. The packaging itself also usually feels cheap.
Windows users can also use software tools to check the validity of their microSD cards, tools such as h2testw, USB Flash Drive Tester, and ChipGenius.
Another way it to carry out a speed check test using a tool such as BlackMagic Disk Speed Test or CrystalDiskMark and checking your results against the specs on the card's packaging or the internet. If they are dramatically different -- say by 20% or more -- then you could have a fake card (or something is wrong with your test system or card reader).
The best way to avoid counterfeits is to buy from a reputable outlet.
A benefit of microSD cards is that they can be extremely affordable, with some options costing $10 to $20. However, if you want a high volume of storage and rapid performance, you might have to spend a hundred dollars or more.
Amazon
Here's a 5-pack of 32GB microSD cards for $42. Perfect for keeping an action camera going for a vacation or adding extra storage to a bunch of smartphones. Keep in mind that customers report they can be quite slow, however.
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Lexar/ZDNET
This Lexar E-Series pack includes three 128GB microSD cards for $90, a great deal if you want memory cards with a high level of storage.
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onn
At Walmart, you can pick up a cheap onn microSDXC U3 memory card with 128 GB of storage. It's around $15, which is a steal.
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We hope you've found our guide on the best microSD cards of 2026 useful. If you would like to explore similar topics, we also have recommendations for the best external hard drives and NAS devices on the market.
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