Memory cards

The memory card is the place where the camera, phone, drone, action camera, or console stores photos, videos, and games. Here you can find microSD cards for phones, tablets, cameras, and Nintendo Switch, SD cards for cameras, and CompactFlash for older professional devices – with or without an adapter.

How to choose

• The format. microSD is the small card for phones, drones, action cameras, and consoles. SD is the larger card for cameras and camcorders. microSD cards with an adapter also work in an SD slot.
• The capacity. SDHC cards are up to 32 GB, while SDXC – from 64 GB and above. 64–128 GB is enough for a phone and photos, while for 4K video and long recordings, choose 256 GB and more.
• The speed class. The U3 and V30 designations guarantee a minimum write speed suitable for 4K video. V60 and V90 are for professional video with high bitrate. For regular photos, Class 10 or U1 is sufficient.
• The application speed. A1 and A2 indicate that the card is fast when working with applications – useful for Android phones, tablets, and consoles.
• The durability. Cards for video surveillance and dash cameras are made for continuous recording and withstand much more during constant rewriting.

What to watch out for

• Check the maximum capacity supported by your device – older ones often do not read large SDXC cards.
• The reading speed on the packaging is usually higher than the writing speed – the latter is important for video.
• Format the new card in the device it will be used in, not on the computer.
• Keep important photos in a second place – the cards are small and can easily be lost or damaged.
• Do not remove the card while the device is recording – this risks file corruption.

Compatibility

Most laptops have an SD card slot, and for computers without one, there are card readers with USB. If you are changing a card in a phone, first transfer the photos to the computer or the cloud. The new standards are backward compatible – a fast card works in an older device, just at its speed. For file transfer between computers, USB drives are more convenient, and for continuous recording from IP cameras, choose cards with high durability.