Best Memory Cards in India | How To Choose the Best SD Cards?
A memory card is a portable storage device for digital data such as images, videos, and documents.
It is critical for devices with limited internal storage, like smartphones and cameras.
Memory cards increase the device’s storage capacity, allowing users to store more media files and data without sacrificing performance.
Those looking to purchase the best memory cards for their cameras and mobile phones must consider many factors.
It is critical to select the correct memory cards depending on their specs.
If you want to know how to choose the best memory card for your phone or camera right away, you can skip to our memory card selection criteria, which are described further down in this article.
The Best Memory Card in India
When choosing a memory card, there are various factors to consider, including storage capacity, transfer speeds, and durability.
We’ve produced a list of the top memory cards in India to help you pick the best SD and microSD cards to buy by assessing the capacity, read and write rates, speed class, memory type, and other attributes of each memory card.
1. Samsung EVO Plus 128GB microSDXC Memory Card
This is the greatest memory card to buy, with improved speed and compatibility that ensures consistent performance.
A massive 128 GB storage capacity allows you to save tonnes of media on your phone, play games on your handheld console, or download more apps on your smartphone.
Transfers are smooth and dependable in this card because of the high speed. This useful memory card can let you complete your major tasks with ease.
With speedy U3 and class-10-rated transfer speeds of up to 130 MB/s, the EVO Plus is dependable even with large files.
With the A2, V30, and UHS-I interfaces, large apps load and function smoothly, while 4K video remains faultless.
This memory card is available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB capacities. With so many sizes available, all of your requirements are met.
Furthermore, this Samsung EVO Plus 128GB microSDXC memory card is waterproof, temperature resistant, x-ray resistant, magnetic resistant, drop resistant, and wear-resistant.
Undoubtedly, we can say that it is the best memory card for mobile.
2.SanDisk Ultra microSDXC 128 GB Memory Card
This memory card is excellent for Android smartphones and tablets. SanDisk, like Samsung, is a well-known name in storage products.
It comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 64GB to 1TB. It is a Class 10 memory card with an A1 rating and a data transmission speed of 140 MB/s.
This microSD card comes with a 10-year service guarantee from Sandisk, which is a bonus for people who purchase it.
This is a card described as a U1, A1, so at the bottom of the micro SD classes presently, and is indicated by the price, which is one of the least costly cards available from respectable manufacturers.
We discovered that the card provides more than what is stated in several areas because it operates like a U3 class card and has nearly double the specs of the A1 class.
This is an excellent choice if you want to utilize the memory card for photo and video storage and the internal memory for apps.
3.SanDisk Extreme microSD UHS I Card 128GB
It is a high-quality microSDXC card with a reading speed of 190 MB/s and a writing speed of 90 MB/s.
It’s a microSD card from Sandisk featuring Fast Flow technology. It’s ideal for storing 4K video on action cameras and smartphones.
This high-performance microSD card is capable of capturing 4K UHD video, Full HD video, and high-resolution photographs.
It is a 4K UHD memory card that supports UHS Speed Class 3 (UHS3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30). It is also an A2-rated card for quicker response and in-app performance.
It is the best memory card for rigorous use since it is temperature-proof, waterproof, shockproof, and X-ray-proof.
4. Amazon Basics 128GB microSDXC Memory Card
Amazon is providing good-quality products at a low price under the Amazon Basics brand name. This memory card is a similar product of high quality, and it is compatible with all your devices using microSD.
It comes with a full-size adaptor, which is also a nice bonus because it allows you to quickly store and transfer data between the devices.
The 100 MB/s transfer speed is visible and astonishing in practice, and we observed no lag or delays when using this memory card.
It offers plenty of storage capacity for all of your photographs, movies, and music, and we like that it is U3-rated, which indicates it can easily handle 4K video and high-resolution images.
Overall, we would strongly suggest the Amazon Basics 128GB microSDXC memory card with a full-size adapter to anybody looking for a dependable and high-quality memory card at a reasonable price.
This product’s quick and outstanding performance will not disappoint you in any way. If you are looking for a high-performance memory card at a comparatively lower price, this is a good option for you.
5. Sony 64 GB Tough High-Speed SDXC UHS-II SD Card
It is an excellent high-speed SDXC card with write speeds of 299 MB/s and read speeds of 300 MB/s.
The company claims that this card is the world’s fastest and toughest SD card. It has a V90 video speed class, which is ideal for high-resolution video recording. It is quick enough for even the most powerful DSLRs with UHS-II interfaces.
With a minimum write speed of 90 MB/s, V90 is the highest grade in the video speed class, so you can be certain that there will be no lost frames or caching even while taking up to 8K video.
It is in UHS class 3. The one-piece molded body made of high-hardness materials is 18 times bend resistant than the standard SD standard, impact resistant for drops up to 5 meters, and has the greatest level of dust-proofing and waterproofing (IP68).
It is not good to wrap up without saying that the build quality of this card is excellent.
6.Lexar Professional 1000 x 128GB SDXC Card
It is a fast card with a UHS-II interface and a speed rating of U3.
It has transfer rates of up to 150 MB/s. Using a DSLR camera, HD camcorder, or 3D camera, this card can capture high-quality photos and long durations of breathtaking 1080p full-HD, 3D, and 4K video.
It also comes with a 256 GB storage option. This card includes Image Rescue software for recovering deleted photographs and movies.
Lexar Professional 1000x SDHC/SDXC UHS-II cards deliver dependable performance.
This card also operates at UHS-I speeds with UHS-I devices and is backwards compatible with older cameras and readers, operating at Class 10 speeds when used with non-UHS devices.
7.ProGrade Digital SDXC UHS-II V60 Memory Card (128GB)
It’s yet another high-quality SDXC card for your camera. It can easily handle sequential read speeds of up to 250 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 130 MB/s.
It’s a UHS-II class card. It is a video speed class-tested card, with a minimum sustained transfer speed of 60 MB/s.
It includes an error correction method for detecting and correcting data write and data transfer errors. The card’s speed is sufficient for a higher 4k resolution video.
8.SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB microSDXC
With read speeds of up to 200MB/s enabled by SanDisk QuickFlowTechnology, the SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC memory card allows you to save time when transferring media.
It’s ideal for your Android smartphone, action cameras, or drones, with shot speeds of up to 90MB/s.
It is a micro SDXC card with UHS-I speed class and video class V30. This high-performance microSD card can record 4K UHD video, Full HD video, and high-resolution photos.
In addition to 128 GB, it is available in 64 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB memory capacities.
It is an X-ray-proof, waterproof, temperature-proof, and drop-proof memory card that can be used in any severe conditions.
How to Select a Good Memory Card?
The selection of a memory card is mostly determined by its implementation or application.
Secure Digital (SD) is a portable non-volatile (flash) memory format used in conventional memory cards for mobile phones and cameras.
This standard is used for SD cards, which come in two sizes: regular SD and microSD. The compatibility of your gadget determines which one you need.
The majority of cameras, DSLRs, and compact cameras use SD cards, whereas action cameras, drone cameras, and smartphones use MicroSD cards.
Most microSD cards come with an adapter that allows us to insert the microSD and use it with any standard SD card reader.
A microSD adapter should not be used with a camera that requires a full-sized SD card. The adapter may reduce the card’s performance, and most of these adaptors are of poorer build quality.
The SD card is highly beneficial to users because it removes the need to buy a variety of connection adapters, converters, and other proprietary gadgets to transfer data from our cameras to our computers to our phones, and so on.
Without SD, we would have been hampered by huge compatibility problems. If you’re unsure if your device requires an SD or a microSD, check the specs or the SD card slot.
A microSD card slot is somewhat smaller than your thumbnail, but a standard SD card slot is significantly larger.
Type and Size of SD Cards
SD cards are no longer just called SD cards; they are also known as Secure Digital Standard Capacity (SDSC, or simply SD), Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), Secure Digital eXtended Capacity (SDXC), and Secure Digital Ultra Capacity (SDUC).
The extra letters following “SD” assist in categorizing the memory card’s capacity.
Normal SD cards have a memory capacity of up to 4GB.
SDHC is an abbreviation for high capacity, and these cards come in sizes ranging from 4GB to 32 GB.
SDXC is an acronym for SDXC cards, which have storage sizes ranging from 64GB to 2TB.
SDUC cards offer a data capacity ranging from 2TB to 128TB, which is rarely utilized.
You don’t have to remember the capacity ranges for each SD card family because the capacity is shown or labelled on every SD card on the market.
However, ensure that the SD card you’re purchasing is compatible with your device.
Because SDHC and SDXC cards are new in this category, older SD host products may not accept them. However, the new gadgets are backwards compatible with older SD card versions.
As a result, depending on the situation, most modern cameras can use SD, SDHC, or SDXC cards interchangeably. However, you should be aware of the type of SD card that your camera requires.
However, if you have an older camera, this may not always be the case. SDHC is often supported by the most recent devices released after 2008. While SDXC is supported by the vast majority of devices manufactured after 2010.
The original SD card is compatible with all SD devices. So you must choose between a low-capacity SD card, a mid-sized SDHC card, and a large-capacity SDXC card.
Nowadays, most cameras and smartphones deal with high-quality huge file sizes. As a result, a 2GB SD card would soon fill up and may be inadequate for extended use.
Even if the smallest SD card category is still viable for low-resolution cameras, SDHC and SDXC are the best alternatives for storing high-quality large files in the majority of circumstances.
A 32GB card can hold around 2,000 16-megapixel photographs or just under a half-hour of 4K video.
That’s enough for amateur photography, and even higher megapixel cameras if you don’t mind often changing cards.
The SDXC card’s greater capacity will be perfect for high-resolution cameras, 4K video, and storing a huge amount of smartphone data.
Some photographers prefer to utilize smaller SD cards and switch them out regularly. They say that even if a card is destroyed, not all of the images will be lost.
Others prefer to carry everything on a single card because carrying many cards increases the risk of misplacing one. You can select any option that suits your needs.
Choose a moderately priced, high-quality 64GB SDXC card, in our view.
The Lexar Professional 1667x 64GB SDXC UHS-II/U3 high-capacity SD card (view on Amazon) is a good choice for your camera.
This card, which has the storage capacity of a small portable hard drive, is ideal for photographers who shoot regularly, as well as those who love time-lapse photography, uncompressed RAW images, and even 4K video.
This Lexar card is also one of the most affordable high-capacity SD cards on the market.
If you’re on a tight budget, the SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card – C10, U3, V30, 4K UHD, SD Card (view on Amazon) is a fantastic option.
If you need a memory card for your smartphone, we recommend the SanDisk 128GB Class 10 microSDXC Memory Card (view on Amazon).
If you’re on a tight budget, choose the Samsung EVO Plus 128GB microSDXC UHS-I U3 Memory Card (see Amazon’s best deal for this memory card).
Speed and Ratings of the Memory Cards
Data transfer speed is a vital issue to consider, much like the type and size of the SD card. When buying memory cards, you can’t only look at how many GB of storage space you get.
Memory card speed should be considered while selecting the finest memory cards. Improper card speed may cause your device to slow down or compel you to overpay for a speed you’ll never utilize.
The speed of a memory card is the pace at which data is transferred from and to it.
Each SD card’s specifications include read and write speeds, but you can tell how fast a card is at a glance by looking at the SD card class.
Let’s go into the specifics of the memory card’s speed. SD card speeds are often designated as Speed Class, Ultra High Speed (UHS) Class, or Video Speed Class.
In Class 2, Class 4, Class 6, and Class 10, the speed class covers minimum write speeds ranging from 2 MB/s to 10 MB/s. Class 10 is the fastest classification, while Class 2 is the slowest.
This speed category is denoted on the front of the SD card by a class number enclosed by a C.
UHS Speed Classes are used to classify faster speeds. The SD Card Association has created two unique speed classes for SD cards to set SD card standards: UHS Speed Class 1 and UHS Speed Class 3.
The minimum write speed for UHS Speed Class 1 is 10 MB/s, whereas the minimum write speed for UHS Speed Class 3 is 30 MB/s.
The UHS speed is represented by a symbol that looks like a U with the class number within. It is suggested to utilize UHS speed 3 memory cards in 4K recording cameras. However, while choosing the greatest SD card, don’t simply look at the UHS speed class.
When choosing the finest memory cards, we should also consider UHS bus speed. This is the fastest rate at which files can be written to a memory card.
While a card’s speed class indicates the slowest possible speed, the bus speed indicates the fastest possible speed.
It’s represented by the Roman letters I, II, and III. The largest bus speed record is III. Most SD cards now have a bus speed of UHS-I (up to 104 MB/s) or UHS-II (up to 312 MB/s).
Speeds of up to 624 MB/s for UHS-III and 985 MB/s for SD Express have been standardized but are not yet widely available.
The UHS-II card features a second row of metal pins on the back, which is the most visible difference. This allows for a faster connection to the camera and hence faster speeds.
However, not all cameras are UHS-II compatible because of minor changes in card architecture. Check the technical specs of your camera to see if it is UHS-II compatible. Some cameras with dual SD card slots can only accept UHS-II cards in one of them, not both.
A V symbol precedes the class number to indicate the last speed class, the Video Speed Class. In this category, the class number corresponds to the minimum write speed, thus a V6 writes at least 6 MB/s and a V90 writes at least 90MB/s.
So, how will you pick which memory card you require? The camera or smartphone you’re using determines this.
An 8K video requires a V60 or V90. The V60, V30, and UHS 3 are ideal for recording 4K video and shooting bursts of RAW images with high-resolution cameras.
UHS 1, Class 10, and V10 are compatible with most DSLRs and mirrorless cameras with megapixel counts in the 20s and 30s for stills and HD video.
If you want to expand the storage space on your smartphone, look for a microSD card that is at least Class 10, but preferably UHS 1 or UHS 3. A UHS 3 card is suited for app execution rather than merely storing files. Anything slower will have an impact on the app’s performance.
If you need maximum speed and performance from your professional camera, we recommend the Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II and Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II.
Because speed class has such a large impact on cost, it’s not a good idea to go overboard and acquire a faster card than you need.
To determine the optimal card speed, see the instructions for your device. Going slower than recommended is never a good idea, and going faster may not offer you a performance boost because your device may not support faster card speeds.
A Class 4 card is typically required for HD video recording. SD video recording, backup, and file transfer are all possible with Class 2 and slower cards.
Fast memory cards are often required in cameras if they support them. Even using faster memory cards on tablets or smartphones is also beneficial.
A1 and A2 Ratings in SD Card
Other ratings, such as A1 and A2 performance ratings, are available on specific modern SD and microSD cards.
This rating system is specially created to assess SD and microSD card compatibility in handling heavy applications. It’s called the Application Performance Class Specification, and it’s written in A1 or A2 style.
If you’re looking for a memory card for a camera, you may safely disregard the A rating and instead focus on the speed ratings that begin with V or U that we discussed before.
The A rating is significantly more useful if you’re using the card on a smartphone or gaming device.
The idea is that if you use an SD or microSD card to run apps on your mobile device, you can be confident that the card will be sufficient for running apps.
Thus, just two classes have been designated: A1 and A2.
A memory card with the A1 rating must have 1500 random read IOPS, 500 random write IOPS, and a sustained sequential write rate of 10 megabytes per second or above.
These ratings should be 4000, 2000, and 10, respectively, for an A2 rating card.
The term “IOPS” refers to input-output access per second. It’s not the same rating as we’re normally used to with memory cards. The IOPS metric is more useful for measuring the kinds of operations that applications perform.
Brand and Quality
There are several brands of memory cards on the market that provide the type, capacity, and speed that you want.
So, how do you decide which brand to use?
Avoid buying cheap unlabeled SD cards. These cards enhance the possibility of unintentional damage or data loss.
This will result in you having to pay a huge amount of cash for data recovery instead of saving money by purchasing a low-quality SD card.
Stick to well-known brands like SanDisk, Lexar, Sony, and Samsung. When comparing brands, consider the card’s lifetime in addition to its speed and capacity.
When you are going with the best memory card company or the best memory card brand, you can ascertain it easily.
Some SD cards advertise themselves as waterproof and dustproof, whereas others do not. If you never intend to remove the microSD card from your smartphone, you generally don’t need the more expensive cards designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.
A more sturdy card is a fantastic choice if you are using a waterproof camera, are likely to crash, or are just taking images in more hazardous conditions.
Choosing the best memory cards will give you high-performance storage, but depending on the sort of device you use, you may end up paying for functionalities you’ll never use.
High-quality, top-rated memory card prices are comparatively in the higher range.
Understanding how to choose an SD card guarantees that you always choose the right memory card for your device.
The Sony SF-G-Touch UHS-II is not only fast but also waterproof and dustproof, making it one of the most durable SD cards we’ve tested. SanDisk Extreme Pro cards are also incredibly durable.
Important Parameters to Consider When Selecting a Good Memory Card-Summary
Description | Availability | Better |
Form Factor | NormalSD,microSD | According to device compatibility |
Type | SDSC (SD), SDHC, SDXC, SDUC | SDXC or SDUC |
Speed Class | Class 2,4,6,10 | Class 10 |
UHS Class | Class 1,3 | Class 3 |
UHS Bus Speed | UHS I, II, III | UHS III |
Video Speed Class | V 6 to V90 | V90 (Higher the better) |
Application Performance Class | A1, A2 | A2 |
We suggest that you keep all of the important considerations we have discussed above in mind while searching for the best memory card for your mobile device or camera.
Frequently Asked Questions
SanDisk, Samsung, Sony, Kingston, Lexar, and Transcend are among the top memory card brands in India.
Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II and Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II are two of the fastest SD cards.
The ideal GB (gigabyte) capacity for a memory card is determined by your requirements and use. 32GB is sufficient for most simple purposes, such as storing documents, music, and a few images. However, a 64-GB card is required for modest photo and video storage demands, including Full HD movies. But 128GB is plenty for storing a significant amount of images, movies, and even 4K recordings. Memory cards with 256GB or more capacity are perfect for professional photographers, videographers, or anyone who needs a lot of storage for high-resolution recordings.
The Sony SF-G-Touch UHS-II SD card is not only fast, but also waterproof and dustproof, making it one of the strongest SD cards we’ve tested.
When selecting the best memory card, numerous things must be considered, including storage capacity, speed class, and compatibility. Check to see if your device accepts the type of memory card you intend to buy (e.g., microSD or SDXC). Choose a card with a higher speed class (e.g., Class 10, UHS-I, or UHS-II) for maximum performance. Furthermore, evaluate your storage requirements to decide on the right capacity (e.g., 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, etc.).
In most circumstances, it is safe to use a memory card with a higher capacity than that recommended by the device manufacturer. However, it is critical to check your device’s specs to ensure that it supports the increased capacity. Using a memory card with a large memory may not harm your device, but it may not fully profit from the card’s capabilities.
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