The best MicroSD cards for camera, adapter, and more

Shopping for MicroSD card can be a bit daunting. There are a lot of numbers to consider, a plethora of brands producing cards with similar features and names, and words like Pro, Extreme, and Express being thrown around all over the place.

In short, unless you’re shooting a large number of photos and videos, and doing so even semi-professionally where losing that footage could damage your professional reputation, it’s fine to buy a MicroSD card from any company whose name you’ve heard before. I prefer cards from PNY, SanDisk, and Lexar. Keep an eye out for the “U” with the number 3 inside, or the “V30” on the card for the best balance of speed and price. There are two exceptions to this suggestion:

If you are shooting with a high-end cameraIf you can find one at a reasonable price, you should consider using a V60 MicroSD card. Some cameras have additional video features that you can enable with a faster MicroSD card, so check your manual for more information on whether you need to upgrade.

If you are purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2, Unfortunately, you’ll need an expensive MicroSD Express card. Although you can transfer photos and videos from the Switch 2 using most regular MicroSD cards, you’ll need the Express version to use it to actually play the games.

capacity

The amount of storage space you need depends largely on your needs, but there are a few things to consider when debating between 128GB and 1TB. The first is that MicroSD cards are small, and having to replace them down the road can be a risky proposition. Costs tend to be much higher for 1TB and 2TB cards, but the gap between 256GB and 512GB isn’t very large, so I’d recommend upsizing a bit.

The other factor is that storage sizes are also divided into different standards, so you’ll need to make sure your device actually supports that larger card. Technically called “SDXC” for extended capacity, 64GB cards are the most common type currently, and you should be able to use them in most modern situations.

speed

If you’re interested in learning more about MicroSD speeds, we have an article with A complete explanation of the different speeds And how they interact, but I’ll give you a quick summary here as well.

Each MicroSD card will have its actual minimum sequential write speed indicated by a letter and number on the card. The number indicates speed in MB/s, with the letter representing generation. The C10, U1, and V10 cards have essentially the same speed, but are written differently, so you’ll likely see multiple codes printed on each card. I recommend a review SD Association page on speeds With a handy chart showing the full comparison.

In practice, you’ll have to do your best to find a MicroSD card slower than the V30/U3 at most retailers, though you may find it included with some electronics that don’t require anything more significant.