With 4K photography and video becoming more popular and mainstream, many memory cards are optimized for higher resolutions, giving you more detail in your photography and videography. Along with higher resolutions and storage capacities, memory cards have also become much more affordable, with some retailing for less than $10, giving you the opportunity to start your hobby or business without breaking the bank. We’ve rounded up our top picks and broken down important deciding factors to help you decide which is right for you. The PNY’s 32GB option is a UHS-I/U1 card, meaning it has a writing speed of 10 MB/s, so it only supports full HD resolution (1080p). The 64GB, on the other hand, is a UHS-1/U3 card, which features a 30 MB/s rate, meaning it can handle 3D, 4K, and ultra HD shooting. For photographers, the 32GB card offers plenty of space, but filmmakers should consider upgrading to the 64GB. Regardless, both cards provide cost-effective alternatives to household names like SanDisk and Lexar, without compromising on quality. The card has been tested with dozens of different devices from tablets to cameras to phones and more, and it can accommodate 4K videos, too. Samsung’s four-point protection claims 72 hours in seawater, extreme temperatures, airport X-ray machines, as well as magnetic fields equivalent to an MRI scanner, so the card will go basically anywhere you need it to go without issue. It offers grade 3 and class 10 distinctions, meaning it’s about as pro as it gets, and it comes with a full-sized SD card adapter. You’ll get transfer speeds up to 170MB/s, so you can quickly move pictures from the card to your computer and get back to your photoshoot faster. Like other SanDisk memory cards, the Extreme Pro includes RescuePRO data recovery, which helps protect your photos from being lost to corrupted files or accidentally being deleted. The card is also resistant to heat, water, and minor bumps and drops, making it perfect for outdoor photography. It’s ready to shoot pictures and video in either 1080p full HD or 4K UHD for enhanced detailing and color. The card itself is resistant against heat, water, minor bumps and drops, as well as C-rays to protect your memories and professional work. With the RescuePRO recovery app, you’ll never have to worry about losing your photos to corrupted files or accidental deletion. The cards are rigorously tested in Lexar’s Quality labs to ensure that they will work uninterrupted as advertised. But if, for some reason, it does fail and you lose some files, Lexar has included a lifetime license for their Image Rescue software that will do its best to recover lost files due to a corrupt disk.
About Our Expert Testers
Taylor Clemons has over three years of experience writing about games and consumer technology. She has written for Lifewire, Digital Trends, TechRadar, and her own publication, Steam Shovelers. Jay Alba is a tech journalist and filmmaker with extensive experience with portable storage and a wide range of consumer electronics. Her work has appeared in a number of tech publications, covering everything from cameras and accessories to mobile devices and gadgets.
What to Look for in an SD Card
Type - Before you start browsing for the fastest cards, you’ll need to determine the exact type of SD card that your device takes. There are three types available—standard SD, miniSD, and microSD—so check your device manual to figure out the one you need. Storage - Before you make your decision, you’ll need to decide how much content you’re looking to store on your SD card. Smaller 16GB and 32GB options can be great for the budding photographer, but if you’re looking to capture 4K video, you’ll want to aim for the largest card you can afford. Speed - Cards are available in different speeds, and while the average individual should be fine with most options, those looking to shoot high-definition video or those demanding peak performance should make sure the card they’re purchasing has a “class 10” speed rating.
