Top 5 BEST Micro SD Cards in 2025

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We’ve tested and ranked all of the best SD cards you can buy

Your camera’s SD card must be both quick and large enough for the type of photography you do. Photographers and videographers will have varied needs, as will novices and pros. Because of this, we have discussed a variety of SD card solutions in our comprehensive guide, ranging from high-end cards to inexpensive storage.

Every SD card that is worth considering has been tested by us. The Transcend SDXC UHS-II U3 is the greatest SD card available, according to our experts’ evaluations, because of its strong endurance and quick transfer rates. However, there may be another alternative that would be more suitable for you.

We’ve outlined the advantages and disadvantages we found in our practical testing for each entry below, along with how well the stated read and write speeds matched the actual speeds. To help you locate your perfect choice, we have then separated the list according to use-case. Check out our dedicated guide to the best microSD cards if you need one.

Table of Contents

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1. Transcend SDXC UHS-II U3

Based on our testing, we believe the Transcend SDXC UHS-II U3 to be the best SD card overall. We were not entirely prepared for the speed numbers we obtained, but we assumed that with a Class 10, V90, U3, and UHS-II rating, it would be quick enough to record about anything that contemporary devices could throw at it.

In its speed testing, the Transcend performed incredibly well, surpassing the stated write speed of 180 MB/s with an impressive 224 MB/s, while falling just short of the read speed of 224 MB/s.

All things considered, this card is a great purchase at a fair price. It is perfect for 8K video and high-resolution, fast-paced still photography. It can also comfortably capture 4K and HD video. When you combine it with the card’s shock and water resistance, as well as its X-ray, temperature, and static resistance, you have a fantastic value card that can be used in about any situation.

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2. SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC UHS-I

A group of manufacturers, including SanDisk, joined forces to standardize the SD card industry. You’re getting a good, dependable card from a well-known company at a reasonable price with the Extreme Pro SDXC UHS-1. The card comes with a warranty straight from SanDisk, which gives you a lifetime guarantee in the event that a problem occurs (by lifetime, they mean 30 years). This gives you even more peace of mind.

When compared to stated speeds, our speed tests demonstrate a significant drop in performance, with a write speed of 63.6 MB/s and a read speed of 65.9 MB/s. That being said, it’s still a pretty good purchase for the money. The Extreme Pro UHS-I is an excellent choice for consumers who wish to capture still images and 4K video.

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3. Lexar Professional 633x UHS-I

A number of manufacturers have entered the market since Lexar announced the first consumer 1TB SD card in 2019. Nonetheless, the 633X UHS-I works admirably under examination, and Lexar is well known for its memory card lineup. The 633x comes in sizes as small as 16GB, making it appropriate for a variety of photographers and videographers that need various capacities for either professional or casual use, while the greater capacity cards cost significantly more.

Although its write speed was a bit slower than that of other UHS-I cards in this class, it is nonetheless reasonably priced and compatible with up to 4K UHD video recording due to its V30/U3 class designation. The write speed was near to the minimum V30 classification on the label, so if write speeds are crucial to your job, keep that in mind. The actual transfer speeds under our tests produced a write speed of 33 MB/s and a read speed of 82 MB/s. These results are not too awful.

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4. PNY Elite Performance SDXC

These cards are remarkably well-protected from the weather for their inexpensive price. The Elite Performance SDXC line-up is waterproof, shock-proof, temperature-proof, and magnet-proof, per PNY’s internal testing. For consumers looking for a memory card that is weatherproof, this makes it the perfect choice.

The Elite Performance is a little slower than its larger siblings because it is UHS-I. It was claimed as having a read speed of up to 100 MB/s, but in our tests, it only managed 65.7 MB/s, with read speeds average 20.8 MB/s. However, you can’t really go wrong with the pricing for the typical shooter who needs a sturdy card to take a few still photos and some HD video. The PNY Elite performance could be ideal for you if you require up to 128GB of RAM and need a rapid cure.

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5. SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II V90

The maximum card capacity for the SanDisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II is 128GB. Fortunately, it is more than compensated for by the read and write speeds. With an actual read speed of 268 MB/s and write speed of 233 MB/s, our tests showed that it operated about 30 MB/s slower than the stated statistics, making it perfect for 4K (and even 8K) video recording as well as continuous burst shooting with high-resolution stills in raw and JPEG format.

Nevertheless, this card is perfect for customers who are taking sports stills or fast-paced action photos because of its quick V90 and UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) transfer speeds. Additionally, those who need high-resolution video capture will be happy to have it. For added piece of mind when traveling, the card is completely waterproof, temperature-proof, shock-proof, and X-ray-proof.

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1. Capacity

These days, when we talk about SD card size, we’re talking about gigabytes (or perhaps terabytes) of data that can fit on the memory card. Some cameras won’t take cards larger than 32GB, so it’s crucial to consult the handbook to find out the maximum card size your device can support. Generally speaking, the cost of the card increases with its capacity. However, you’ll probably want to get larger (at least 64GB) rather than lesser if you want to take a lot of high resolution stills or 4K/8K video.

2. Velocity

A card’s reading and writing speeds are equally important for keeping the recorded media and for a quick transfer between devices, so capacity shouldn’t be your only factor. The read/write speeds listed on SD cards are the best-case scenarios and are frequently exaggerated by the manufacturer to increase sales. Real-world outcomes are frequently slower—sometimes much slower—so for a better idea, refer to our advice above.

3. Type

SD, SDHC (high capacity), and SDXC (extended capacity) are the three primary varieties of SD cards. The normal storage capacity of SD cards is between 128MB and 2GB, which is insufficient for the higher-resolution cameras of today. This increases from 4GB to 32GB with SDHC, which is helpful for the majority of photographers and videographers. In contrast, professional users who need greater memory are the target market for SDXC cards, which come in 64GB to 2TB capacities.

4. Sturdiness

Since SD cards are flash memory, they store data on electronic chips rather than moving parts. Although they don’t need electricity to store data, physical pressure, fire, and water can harm them. If you’re going on an adventure, it’s worth looking for the custom “tough” versions that some companies offer. These versions can endure these conditions and even stay safe in extremely hot or cold temperatures.

5. Video or stills?

These days, the majority of SD cards have the UHS-I or UHS-II label. Although UHS-I cards are often slower, they are more affordable and best suited for still photography. Although UHS-II cards are more costly and designed primarily for video recording (particularly at 4K), they read and write considerably faster. Check the number of rows of connectors on a card to determine if it is UHS-I or UHS-II; they have one or two rows, respectively.

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