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9 Best Micro SD Cards For 4K Video: Hours Stored 2020

micro sd card

Have you ever run out of memory on your camera or drone? Is your storage disk not compatible with high resolution media? External SD cards are extremely common these days. However, given the wide range of options available in the market, selecting the best micro SD card for 4K video is not an easy task. Several factors need to be considered before you can settle on an option.

MicroSD cards should be compatible with your device, have ample capacity for your requirements, and most importantly, should be capable of offering high speeds. This can come in extremely handy while dealing with 4K resolution videos.

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Best Micro SD Card for 4K Video

There are hundreds of SD card options available in the market, however, following are some of the best micro SD cards for 4K Video you can find:

Samsung EVO Plus

Samsung has long dominated the technological industry. The company has released some amazing gadgets and accessories over the years. The Samsung EVO plus microSD card follows the same trajectory and is one of the best options for 4K supported MicroSD card available today.

The MicroSD card is available in four storage capacities – 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. If you want a performance-driven storage system, this is a great option. Particularly, if you are a professional who needs storage for high end videos and photographs. Further, Samsung EVO plus also offers one of the best prices in the market.

The EVO plus MicroSD card supports NAND and is capable of reaching high speeds of 100 megabytes per second. It is also waterproof, magnetic proof, x-ray proof and temperature proof. For 4K videos, higher storage options are preferred. The 32GB option can work well with HD videos.

Tests have shown that Samsung EVO plus MicroSD card has higher transfer speeds as compared to the previous models. The 128GB Samsung evo plus was reported to offer 92.15 MBS/second of read speeds and 84.62 MBS/second of write speeds.

Further, it also comes with a 10-year warranty.

Features

  • Comes in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256GB
  • Water, dust, temperature and x-ray proof
  • Up to 100 MB/s sequential reads
  • Class 10 and UI compatible
  • 10 years warranty

SanDisk Extreme Plus MicroSD Card

SanDisk is probably the most popular company for SD cards and other external storage devices. The company’s products are durable, reliable and also of great quality. The Extreme Plus is the company’s flagship microSD card. It offers great speeds and excellent performance; however, it is a little towards the pricey end.

If you are someone looking for high speeds and performance on your tablets, phones or cameras, the SanDisk extreme plus micro SD card is a great option. It has a UHS class 3 speed rating and can reach up to 90 Mbps of write speeds and 170 Mbps of read speeds. Extreme plus is one of the few SD cards rated with the US class 3, which is the fastest read-write performance class right now. The excellent performance makes it ideal for handling 4K media. Further, it is shock resistant, and x-ray, water and temperature proof as well.

The card comes with 32GB, 64GB, 128Gb and 256GB of storage. The design is similar to the previous models with the only difference being the plus written on it. Although, the features incorporated into the micro SD card are pretty great, the only drawback is its high price. In comparison to its market alternatives the extreme plus micro SD card is more expensive.

Features

  • Available in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256 GB
  • Ideal for 4K videos
  • UHS class 3 rating
  • Water, temperature and x-ray proof
  • Shock resistance
  • Up to 170 Mbps of read speeds and 90 Mbps of write speeds

Lexar Professional Class 10 UHS-II 2000X

The Lexar Professional Class 10 UHS-II 2000X is another great microSD card that can support high resolution videos and photographs. The UHS II gives it another row of contact chips, that allows for higher bandwidths and hence, better performance. It has a U3 class rating and can reach up to 300 MBs/s of read speeds and 260 MBs/s of write speeds. The U3 rating sets the minimum write speed threshold to 30 MBs/s.

The card comes with a USB 3.0 flash reader, unlike the common SD card readers in the other options. It also has a great recovery option, known as Image Rescue, to help in recovering accidentally deleted data. The application is effective even if the SD card gets corrupted. The card comes with 32GB, 64GB and 128GB of storage.

If you own a 3D camera, a DSLR or an HD camcorder, the 2000X can capture high quality content and offer great transfer speeds.

Features

  • Up to 300 MBs/s of read and 260 MBs/s of write speeds
  • Contain a recovery application
  • Available in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB versions
  • Operates from 0 °C to 70°C and can be stored at temperatures between -25 °C to 85 °C
  • UHS II class

SanDisk Ultra microSD

If you are looking for larger storage spaces for your media files, SanDisk Ultra microSD is great option. It comes with a range of versions with several options of storage. However, it lacks in its compatibility with 4K videos – that is, it might not be the best micro SD card for 4K video. If you are fine with mediocre 4K videos and want extra space, this is the microSD card for you.

The SanDisk Ultra comes with up to 400GBs of space – a feature not common in other available options. According to the company, the card can reach read speeds of around 100MBs/second, however, the write speeds are not as great.

The microSD card comes in the same packaging as any other card – the only design difference is the storage label. It is also compatible with phones, along with drones and cameras.

During testing, the SD card reached up to 93MBs/second of read speeds, however, the write speeds were significantly lower. If you want it for internal storage, the card might not be the best option, primarily because of the low read-write speeds. It is ideal for tablets and smartphones and can be used for 4K videos as well. SanDisk Ultra microSD card comes with a range of storage options – 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 200Gb, 256GB, 400GB and 512GB. It also comes with a 10-year warranty.

Features

  • Up to 512GB of storage space
  • 100MBs/s read speeds
  • Compatible with phones and cameras
  • Not very expensive

Kingston microSD Camera Action

Today, action cameras are becoming extremely popular for capturing experiences. They place you right in the middle of the scene, and hence have to withstand a number of external pressures. Therefore, it is necessary that The SD card inside the camera is capable of withstanding those pressures as well. These include, water, dust, sweat and variable temperatures.

If the card is not of great quality, it can cause the loss of important data. Kingston microSD camera action is a microSD card designed specifically for your go pros and action cameras. It is vibration and shock resistant and x-ray, water and temperature proof. Further it is a class 10 card that supports read speeds of 90 MBS per second and write speeds of 45 MBS per second. In comparison to the regular Class 10 SD cards, it performs 9x faster reads and 4.5x faster writes. Further, the UHS-1 U3 makes sure the minimum performance is at least 30MBs second. If you are a travel blogger or an adventure enthusiast, it can be the perfect microSD card for you.

It is available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB options. There is also an option of adding its adapter with the SD card.

Features

  • Specifically made for cameras and drones
  • Capable of supporting 4K videos
  • Waterproof, x-ray proof, temperature proof
  • Vibrations and shock resistant
  • Available in 16GB, 32GB an 64GB
  • Available in black and white colors

Transcend Ultimate SDXC UHS-II U3

Transcend Ultimate SDXC UHS-II U3 has also made its way to the best micro SD card for 4K videos list. The card is capable of great read and write performance and also has a U3 rating. Transcend ultimate is capable of delivering 285 MBs per second of read speed and 180 MBs per second of write speeds. Further, UHS Speed class 3 rating makes it suitable for handling for 4K videos.

The UHS-II cards are compatible with general SD devices as well as UHS-I mode. However, the best performance is observed in the UHS-II devices. The card has two rows of connection pins for SD interface and USH-II interface. For the former, it can reach 104 MBs per second bus speed. As for the latter, the bus speed can reach around 312 MBs per second. Further, it uses NAND memory, making the card durable and efficient.

In several tests the Ultimate SDXC cards showed read speeds of up to 305.6 MBs per second and write speeds of 183.1 MBs per seconds in UHS-II interface. In UHS-II, it delivered 93.2 MBs per second read speed and 91.2 MBs per second write speed.

The card is available in 32GB and 64GB options. It also comes with a five-year warranty. If you want storage for shooting raw videos and photographs, this is a great option.

Features

  • Capable of handling 4K videos
  • Best for shooting raw videos
  • Great speeds, that are sometimes more than the reported value
  • Compatible with UHS-I and UHS-II devices

Integral 512GB MicroSDXC Class 10 Memory Card

The Integral MicroSDXC is another great MicroSD card that you can use for high resolution media. If you want large amounts of storage, this can be a good option. It comes with 512GB of storage and is capable of storing 60 hours of high definition videos and around 60,000 photographs. Further, the card has been recorded to deliver up to 80 Mbs/second speed, with the minimum speed of 10 Mbs/second.

Integral MicroSDXC can record HD videos of 60 frames per second and is compatible with UHS-I interface. However, it might not be the best option for handling 4K videos. If you want large storage for your HD photos or videos, this can come in handy. It is temperature, water, x-ray and shock proof. You can use it for your phones, cameras, tablets, drones and camcorders. It also ships with an SD adapter.

Features

  • 512 GB storage space
  • Ideal for phones and tablets
  • Ships with an SD adapter
  • Temperature, shock, water and x-ray proof

Lexar Professional 1000x microSD card

If you are looking for a more budge friendly option with some high-end features, the Lexar Professional 1000x microSD card is an optimal choice. Although, it is not the fastest 4K microSD card available in the market, it still ranks amongst the top 9 of our best microSD cards for 4K videos list.

The card is rated U3 for HD and 4K media. It can deliver read and write speeds up to 150MBs/s and 45MBs/s respectively. Tests showed that card was able to reach read speeds of 151.2 MBs/s and write speeds of 54 MBs/s. This allows for efficient transfer of media from the SD card to a computer or phone. Further, it also supports UHS-II interface, that provides the highest level of speed currently available. If your device does not have UHS-II, the card is also compatible with standard SD and UHS-I modes.

Lexar 1000x microSD card comes with two rows of connection pins for standard and UHS-II devices. The best speeds are observed on the later mode. The card also comes with a USB 3.0 microSD reader. There are four different storage options – 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256GB.

Features

  • UHS-II technology deliver high speeds
  • Compatible with DSLRs, drones and phones
  • Supports HD and 4K videos and pictures
  • Compatible with standard HD and UHS-I devices
  • Ships with a UHS-II adapter
  • Card comes with limited lifetime warranty
  • One year warranty for adapter

Samsung Pro+ microSD card

If you are a photographer or someone who shoots a lot of 4K videos, you need a reliable SD card to store all your data. Losing data is extremely common, especially if your storage card is not of the best quality.

The Samsung Pro+ microSD card is one of the best micro SD cards for 4K video available in the market. It is capable of writing large amounts of data efficiently and comes with a U3 rating. It features a read speed for 95MBs/second and write speed of 90MBs/second. These values are significantly greater than most of its competitors. Further, it comes with U3 rating and belong to the speed class 10. The card is also waterproof, x-ray proof, temperature proof and magnet proof. The Samsung Pro+ microSD card comes in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB versions.

Features

  • U3 rating
  • Waterproof, x-ray proof, temperature proof and magnet proof
  • 32GB, 64GB and 128GB
  • Read speeds of 95MBs/s and write speeds of 90MBs/s
  • Compatible with 4K videos

How to Select the Best MicroSD Card for 4K Video?

Selecting the best micro SD card for 4K video is entirely dependent on your budget and requirements. If you are a professional photographer, getting the card with a U3 rating would be the optimal choice. However, if storage is the main factor, you can go for more ‘storage focused’ options.  Following are some of the tips you can keep in mind while buying a micro SD card for 4K video:

  • Buying cards below 4GB is not preferred. They run out of space quickly and are also not the best value for your money.
  • Go for larger storage if your device is SDXC compatible.
  • Try to buy memory cards from trusted vendors and shops. Some of them might turn out to be fake and cause you to lose money.
  • For storage capacities above 128GB, SD cards are relatively less costly. A microSD card with an adapter costs less than an SD card.
  • If you want higher speeds, go for a class 10 card.
  • Do not buy SD cards if you only want to store data. Going for a memory stick or a flash drive is a better option in that case. They are also significantly cheaper.

How to Make Sure You Are Buying the Correct microSD Card?

Along with following the above tips, you should also keep the given mistakes in mind while buying a MicroSD card:

  • Different types of microSD cards can fit in the same SD card slot. However, not every piece is compatible with your device. SD cards come in four formats – SD, SDHC, SDXC and SDUC. Depending on the type of device you want it for, you can select the one it will work the best with.
  • The SD card slots in your devices cannot support all storage sizes. Sometimes there is an upper limit to the external storage that your device is compatible with. Make sure you are not spending money on something that will not work with your device.
  • SD cards have different specifications according to the features they are designed for. Make sure you select the optimal one for the task. For instance, if you want it for storage only, speeds do not matter. However, if you want a micro SD card for shooting 4K videos, going for high speed cards is the best option.
  • Try to buy your accessories from trusted vendors and shops. Sometimes, the product can be fake. Check out the reviews of the product before deciding to buy it.
  • Buying SD cards from well-known brands is always preferred. They usually come with years of warranty. Further, you can also expect better performance and speeds from them. In case there is an issue with your card, you can always take it back to the seller.

 

How Much Space Does a 4K Video Take on SD Card?

An approximate bit rate for 4K/60FPS video is 100Mbps. Recording a one-minute 4K video can take up to 750MBs of space. So, in a 16GB card, you can record about 20 minutes of 4K video. On the other hand, the bit rate for a 4K/30FPS video is 60Mbps. In that case, a one minute 4K video takes around 450 MBs storage. Consequently, in a 16GB SD card, you can store 30 minutes of 4K video.

Does SD Card Affect Video Quality?

Most people believe SD cards are simply storage media that have no impact on the video quality. However, the speed of your card can have significant impact on your pictures and videos. Videos are generally more affected by the speeds.

In the case of still pictures, your SD card might reduce the rate at which you take pictures. However, there is no significant impact on the picture quality. On the other hand, slow speeds can lead to jumps and noise in your videos. Due to low speeds, the frames of videos are skipped. This can lead to jumpy footage or a cut-off video.

Can You Record a 4K video with a UHS-I card?

UHS-I cards have shown compatibility with 4K videos. They are pretty fast and can reach the required read and write speeds for a 4K video. Write speeds for a 4K video is around 7.5 MBs/second, so if you have a UHS-I card that guarantees a minimum write speed of 10MBs/second, you are good to go. However, if you want to write at 12.5 MBs/s, you might have to upgrade your card.