Class 10, U3, V30, SDXC… The markings on a microSD card look like a secret code. Yet, choosing the right card is simple once you know how to read these few symbols. Here is how to find the right card for your smartphone, console, or camera, without paying for unnecessary performance.
1. Capacity: how many GB?
The capacity depends on the use:
- 16 to 32 GB: photos, music, retro console, security camera. See the 16 GB microSD and the 32 GB microSD.
- 64 GB: a good compromise for a smartphone or tablet. See the 64 GB microSD.
- 128 GB: videos, numerous applications, games. See the 128 GB microSD.
- 256 GB: for those who film a lot or never want to run out of space again. See the 256 GB microSD.
The format also matters: a microSDHC card goes up to 32 GB, a microSDXC card starts beyond that. Very old devices sometimes only accept SDHC cards: check the maximum capacity indicated in their user manual.
2. Speed: what do the symbols mean?
Three indicators guarantee a minimum write speed:
- Class 10 (a "10" in a circle): at least 10 MB/s. Sufficient for photos and Full HD video.
- U1 / U3 (a number in a "U"): U1 = 10 MB/s, U3 = 30 MB/s. U3 is recommended for 4K video.
- V30: video class, 30 MB/s minimum continuously. Essential for action cameras and drones that film in 4K.
The speed displayed in large on the packaging (for example "85 MB/s" or "100 MB/s") is generally the maximum read speed. It mainly influences the transfer time to the computer.
3. Which card for which device?
Smartphone and tablet
A Class 10 / U1 card of 64 or 128 GB is suitable for the vast majority of uses. Note: iPhones do not have a card reader, and many recent high-end smartphones neither. Samsung Galaxy A phones often have one, but check the technical specifications of your model before buying.
Nintendo Switch, Switch OLED and Switch Lite
A fast 128 GB microSDXC card allows you to install many games. The SanDisk 128 GB microSDXC for Nintendo Switch is made for that.
Important for the Switch 2: to install games on it, the Switch 2 requires a microSD Express type card. A classic microSD card does not allow you to install games on it.
Action camera, drone, camera
Choose a U3 / V30 card to film in 4K without interruption. For a camera that uses large SD cards, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 32 GB (U3 V30) is a safe bet.
Retro consoles and PS Vita
Adapters allow you to use a microSD card on older consoles: the microSD to Memory Stick Pro Duo adapter for PSP or the SD2Vita adapter for PS Vita. A 32 to 64 GB card is more than enough.
4. Reading the card on a computer
All our EMTEC cards come with an SD adapter. If your computer does not have a card reader, a USB reader does the trick: the SanDisk microSD reader or, for recent computers, the 5-in-1 USB-C and USB 3.0 reader.
Our tips for a card that lasts
- Format the card in the device that will use it (phone, console, camera) before the first use.
- Beware of prices that are too low: fake "1 TB at 10 francs" cards display a capacity they do not have and lose your files.
- Regularly back up your important photos on a computer or in the cloud: a memory card is not an eternal archive.
Find all our cards, USB sticks and readers in the Memory and Storage collection, in stock in Switzerland and shipped by La Poste.