With the rising popularity of digital cameras, smartphones and other electronic devices that utilize removable storage, the SD card industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years. According to market research, the global SD card market was valued at USD 21.3 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 27 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2021 to 2028 [1]. This rapid growth underscores the importance of SD cards as the de facto standard for portable storage across consumer electronics. But with different brands, speeds, capacities and form factors available, it can get confusing trying to pick the right SD card for your needs. This article provides an in-depth look at how SD cards vary between brands and what factors you should consider when choosing one.
[1] https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/sd-memory-card-market/
SD Card Basics
SD cards were first introduced in August 1999 by SanDisk, Panasonic (Matsushita) and Toshiba as an improvement on MultiMediaCards (MMCs). The SD standard was based on the MultiMediaCard interface, but with some enhancements and new features like digital rights management support. According to Wikipedia, “SDs have become an industry standard and are the most widely used memory cards for storing photos, video, and audio on consumer electronics like cameras, camcorders, phones, tablets, media players, and video game consoles.”
An SD card is a small removable memory card that is commonly used in portable electronic devices to store data like photos, videos, music, and documents. SD cards use flash memory and retain data when power is turned off. The full form of SD is Secure Digital. SD cards connect to host devices via an SD card slot and communicate using a simple protocol. Once inserted into a device, the SD card acts as additional storage space for that device. SD cards come in different sizes and capacities, but are generally very compact in size compared to other storage mediums.
To store data, SD cards use NAND flash memory chips that allow data to be written, read, and erased multiple times. The host device writes and reads data to and from the SD card. When new data needs to be stored, the old data is erased from the SD card’s memory cells and the new data is written. This allows the SD card to be reusable – data can be erased and rewritten many times.
Major SD Card Brands
There are several major brands that manufacture SD cards, with some key players being SanDisk, Samsung, Kingston, Lexar, and PNY. These brands account for a large share of the SD card market.
SanDisk is one of the most well-known and popular SD card brands. They offer a wide range of SD cards for different uses, from budget basic cards to high-performance cards aimed at professionals. SanDisk SD cards are known for their reliable performance and durability [1]. Many consider them to be one of the top brands for SD cards.
Samsung is another leading brand when it comes to SD cards. They manufacture high-quality cards that are often geared towards high performance and speed. Their PRO Plus and EVO Plus lines are top-tier cards aimed at intense use cases like 4K video recording and burst photography [2]. Samsung SD cards are known for their speed and low failure rates.
Kingston is another major player, offering a diverse range of SD cards across performance levels and price points. Their Canvas series cards provide good performance at affordable prices, while their high-end Ultimate cards target professionals needing reliable performance and durability. Kingston SD cards have a reputation for good value and reliability [3].
Speed and Performance
SD cards have different speed ratings that indicate their performance for read and write speeds. The speed class rating printed on the card refers to the minimum guaranteed sustained write speed. There are several common speed classes:
SD Speed Class 2 (C2) – Minimum write speed of 2 MB/s
SD Speed Class 4 (C4) – Minimum write speed of 4 MB/s
SD Speed Class 6 (C6) – Minimum write speed of 6 MB/s
SD Speed Class 10 (C10 or U1) – Minimum write speed of 10 MB/s
UHS Speed Class 1 (U1) – Minimum write speed of 10 MB/s
UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) – Minimum write speed of 30 MB/s
Video Speed Class ratings V6, V10, V30, V60, and V90 indicate minimum write speeds for recording video. For example, V30 requires 30 MB/s sustained write speed.
Faster cards allow you to record and transfer data quicker. If you take burst photo shots or 4K video, you’ll want a U3 or V30 rating. Basic photos and HD video are fine with U1 or V10. Check your device’s specs to see which speed class it supports.
According to Wired, while higher speeds are better, “even cheap, lower-class cards are likely fast enough for most people’s needs” (https://www.wired.com/story/sd-card-speeds-explained/).
Durability and Lifespan
When it comes to durability and lifespan, there can be noticeable differences between SD card brands. Some brands like Samsung and SanDisk are known for producing very durable cards with long lifespans, while cheaper or less reputable brands may not last as long.
According to testing by Wirecutter, the Samsung EVO Select and SanDisk Extreme lines had very low failure rates even after continuous read/write testing. Cards from these brands also come with warranties up to 10 years, showing the manufacturer has confidence in their longevity.
In contrast, cheaper brands or counterfeit cards may use lower-quality NAND flash or controllers, resulting in shorter lifespans. On Reddit, users reported issues with some cheaper cards failing after only months of use. The components and quality control are just not as good compared to top brands.
So when prioritizing a long-lasting, durable SD card, sticking with leading brands like Samsung, SanDisk, or Micron is a safer bet. The slight premium in price brings big benefits in lifespan and resilience.
Price
There can be a wide range in pricing between different SD card brands, capacities, and classes. When comparing prices, here are some key factors to consider:
For standard SD cards up to 32GB, most major brands like SanDisk, Samsung, and Kingston are priced very competitively usually within $5-10 of each other. However, once you get above 32GB and into 64GB+ capacities, pricing diverges more.
SanDisk tends to be one of the more affordable options especially at higher capacities. For example, a 128GB SanDisk Ultra microSDXC card costs around $16 while a 128GB Samsung Evo Select costs around $19. At even higher capacities like 512GB, SanDisk retains its price advantage with its 512GB Ultra microSDXC card costing approximately $65 compared to $90 for Samsung’s 512GB Evo Select.
For high speed and performance cards, Samsung tends to have a pricing edge. Their Pro Endurance and Pro Plus microSD cards cost up to 25% less than comparable high speed cards from SanDisk like the Extreme Pro.
When buying SD cards, it’s important to compare prices across brands for the same capacities and speeds. Factors like sales and promotions can also significantly influence pricing at any given time. The best practice is to compare prices across major retailers to find the optimal balance of price, performance, and reliability for your needs.
Security
SD cards offer various security features to protect data. Many SD cards use encryption to scramble data so it can only be read by authorized devices with the correct decryption key. Some common encryption standards used include the Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM) and Media Management System (MMS) (https://www.sdcard.org/developers/sd-standard-overview/content-protection/).
SD cards also have built-in protections against tampering. For example, some cards have a read-only lock switch to prevent accidental erasure or overwriting of data. Additionally, SD cards contain a protected area that requires authentication before access – this guards against unauthorized reading or modification of data (https://www.sdcard.org/developers/sd-standard-overview/content-protection/).
Higher-end SD cards may include more advanced security chips and firmware. For instance, some enterprise-grade cards integrate an ASIC chip that encrypts all data written to the card and decrypts data on read commands (https://www.electronicspecifier.com/products/communications/micro-sd-cards-feature-the-latest-security-functions). Overall, SD card security features help protect personal and business data from unauthorized access.
Compatibility
When it comes to compatibility, certain brands of SD cards may have issues working properly with different devices. This is because there are variances in how each brand implements standards and protocols.
For example, some users have reported issues using certain SanDisk cards in Samsung devices. According to Samsung support, this can be caused by the SD card using file systems not fully supported by Android (1). Trying to reformat the SD card can sometimes resolve this.
There can also be SD card errors like “This device doesn’t support this SD card” on Android. As outlined by Wondershare, this is usually caused by bad sectors or formatting problems with the SD card itself (2). Again, reformatting may fix it.
In general, it’s a good idea to check compatibility lists and forums before purchasing an SD card for use in a specific device. Issues are most common with smaller brands, larger capacities, and older or cheaper devices.
Counterfeits
Counterfeit SD cards are a major concern when purchasing SD cards. These fake cards are designed to mislead consumers about their capacities and performance. According to How to Tell a Fake SD Card and How to Fix & Recover, you should inspect the packaging thoroughly for any inconsistent printing and compare it to genuine packaging. Fake cards often have capacities that are too good to be true.
MakeUseOf advises to avoid buying SD cards being sold at prices that are much lower than major brands, as these are likely to be counterfeit. They recommend purchasing from reputable retailers and avoiding sketchy sites. You can test potential fake cards using tools like h2testw to verify if the actual capacity matches the labeled capacity. Overall, be vigilant and use common sense when SD card shopping to avoid getting duped by counterfeits.
Conclusion:
When choosing which brand of SD card to buy, there are several factors to consider including speed, lifespan, price, security, and compatibility. The major brands such as SanDisk, Samsung, Sony, Lexar, and Kingston all make quality, reliable cards. However, SanDisk and Samsung tend to have a slight edge when it comes to performance and speed.
In the end, it does matter which brand you choose, as the quality and features can vary. SanDisk and Samsung are usually good options for their consistent speeds and durability. If your device needs a high speed card for shooting 4K video or fast burst shooting, focus on write speeds and choose a high-end SanDisk Extreme or Samsung EVO. For basic uses like storage expansion on a laptop or phone, you can likely get by with a more affordable option from Kingston.
No matter which brand you choose, be sure to buy from a reputable retailer and avoid counterfeits. Check reviews and specs to match the right SD card speed and capacity for your particular needs. With high performing options across brands, you can’t go wrong with market leaders like SanDisk, Samsung, and Sony.
