What does V30 mean on micro SD card?

The V30 speed class rating refers to a class of microSD cards that support a minimum sustained write speed of 30 MB/s when capturing 4K video. Specifically, V30 cards are designed to handle high-bitrate Ultra HD video up to 4K at 30fps.

The “V” stands for “Video Speed Class” and the number indicates the minimum write speed capabilities in megabytes per second (MB/s). The Video Speed Class was introduced by the SD Association for cards intended for devices like action cams and drones that capture high-resolution video.

So in short, a V30 rating on a microSD card signifies it can sustain a minimum write speed of 30 MB/s, making it suitable for recording UHD 4K video at 30fps without dropping frames or lagging.

Speed Class Ratings

SD cards have speed class ratings that indicate the minimum guaranteed sustained write speed. The speed class is denoted by a number inside a C logo on the card. Common speed classes are 2, 4, 6, and 10.1

A Class 2 card offers a minimum write speed of 2 MB/s. A Class 4 card guarantees at least 4 MB/s, while a Class 6 card guarantees a minimum of 6 MB/s. Class 10 is the fastest basic speed class, with a minimum sustained write speed of 10 MB/s.2

Higher speed class ratings enable faster capture of images and video, as well as quicker file transfers. However, the speed class only indicates the minimum sustained performance – cards may support even faster peak speeds.

UHS Speed Class

UHS stands for Ultra High Speed and refers to a set of speed classes for SD cards that support ultra-fast data transfer. There are two main UHS speed classes:

UHS Speed Class 1 (U1): Offers a minimum write speed of 10 MB/s. This enables Full HD video (1080p) recording and burst mode shooting (Kingston).

UHS Speed Class 3 (U3): Offers a minimum write speed of 30 MB/s. This enables 4K video recording, burst mode shooting, and fast file transfers (Expert Photography). U3 is designed for recording high quality 4K video.

The higher the UHS speed class number, the faster the card performance. UHS-I cards use one row of pins and UHS-II cards use two rows for increased bandwidth. Both types work in UHS-I compatible devices, while only UHS-II cards work in UHS-II devices.

Video Speed Class

Video Speed Class is a rating system that indicates the minimum continuous write speeds for SD cards when recording video. The classes range from V6 up to V90:

  • V6: Minimum sequential write speed of 6 MB/s
  • V10: Minimum sequential write speed of 10 MB/s
  • V30: Minimum sequential write speed of 30 MB/s (Source)
  • V60: Minimum sequential write speed of 60 MB/s
  • V90: Minimum sequential write speed of 90 MB/s

Higher Video Speed Class ratings correspond to faster minimum write speeds, which allows recording higher resolution or bitrate video without dropping frames or having other issues. V30 is a common speed class for 4K video recording.

V30 Specifications

The V30 or Video Speed Class 30 is a speed rating for SD memory cards that indicates a minimum write speed of 30MB/s [1]. While SD card transfer speeds are often reported in megabits per second (Mbps), the V30 class represents actual megabytes per second (MB/s).

Specifically, the V30 classification means the card is guaranteed to sustain a minimum sequential write speed of 30MB/s. This allows it to support 4K video recording at high bitrates without dropping frames. The 30MB/s minimum only applies to writes; there is no minimum read speed associated with V30 cards [2].

The V30 rating was introduced in 2016 to provide a standard for cards fast enough for high resolution 4K and 8K video. It represents a significant jump in minimum write performance over older speed classes like Class 10 that only require 10MB/s writes [1].

To carry the V30 rating, manufacturers must certify micro SD cards can reliably maintain 30MB/s sequential write speeds in benchmark testing. This helps ensure real-world video recording performance meets consumer needs and expectations [3].

[1] https://www.westerndigital.com/products/memory-cards/sandisk-extreme-uhs-i-sd

[2] https://www.sdcard.org/developers/sd-standard-overview/speed-class/

[3] https://www.kingston.com/en/blog/personal-storage/memory-card-speed-classes

Uses for V30 Cards

V30 SD cards are primarily designed for recording high-bitrate 4K and 8K video. The V30 speed class indicates a minimum sequential write speed of 30 MB/s, making the cards fast enough to handle these data-intensive video formats without dropping frames or slowing down write speeds.

4K video is very demanding in terms of write speed requirements. Uncompressed 4K video can have data rates exceeding 500 Mbps. Even with video compression, 4K video at 60fps will have bitrates around 400 Mbps or higher. V30 cards can easily handle these speeds.

8K video has even higher data demands, with uncompressed rates over 1 Gbps. The latest high-end cameras like the Canon EOS R5 are able to shoot 8K RAW footage. V30 cards provide the performance needed for smooth 8K recording without any hiccups or stuttering.

In summary, V30 cards are ideal for recording professional-level 4K and 8K videos on high-end cameras and camcorders. Their high sequential write speeds ensure stable performance with these data-intensive formats. V30 meets the demands of cutting edge videography.

Real-World Performance

So how do V30 microSD cards actually perform in real-world use cases? Here are some benchmarks from devices that give an indication:

A V30 Samsung EVO Select card achieved write speeds of 16-22 MB/s when recording 4K video on a GoPro Hero 5 Black camera (source: https://havecamerawilltravel.com/fastest-microsd-cards/). This is below the minimum 30 MB/s required for the V30 rating, indicating there can be a gap between theoretical and real-world speeds.

Testing on a Panasonic Lumix GH5 mirrorless camera showed a V30 SanDisk Extreme card sustaining 29-31 MB/s write speeds during 4K video recording, just reaching the V30 spec. A faster V60 card managed 37-60 MB/s on the same camera (source: https://nelsonslog.wordpress.com/2022/09/25/microsd-card-speeds-simplified-v30-a2/).

Overall, V30 cards generally meet the minimum 30 MB/s write speed for 4K video on many cameras and devices, but maximum speeds can vary a lot in real-world conditions. Cards with higher V ratings tend to provide more headroom and sustained performance.

Recommendations

When shopping for V30 microSD cards, here are some good options to consider:

Samsung EVO Select – Samsung makes reliable, high-performance microSD cards. Their EVO Select cards come in capacities up to 1TB and offer read speeds up to 100MB/s and write speeds up to 90MB/s.

SanDisk Extreme – A top choice for action cams and drones. Available in capacities up to 1TB. Maximum read speeds up to 160MB/s and writes up to 90MB/s.

Lexar Professional – Designed for videography with minimum sustained write speeds of 30MB/s. Capacities from 32GB to 1TB. Maximum speeds up to 150MB/s read and 80MB/s write.

PNY Pro Elite – Budget-friendly V30 option. 512GB maximum capacity. Max read 100MB/s and write up to 80MB/s.

The V30 rating ensures these cards can handle 4K video recording without slowing down during capture. Look for larger capacities if recording long videos at high bitrates.

Comparisons

The V30 speed class compares closely with some other common speed ratings for SD cards:

Compared to Class 10 cards, V30 has a higher minimum write speed requirement of 30MB/s versus 10MB/s for Class 10. Both require a minimum read speed of 10MB/s. In real-world usage, V30 will provide faster write speeds and better 4K video recording performance than Class 10 cards1.

The V60 and V90 speed classes have even higher minimum write speeds of 60 MB/s and 90 MB/s respectively. V60 and V90 cards will outperform V30 cards, especially for very high bitrate 4K/8K video recording. However, V30 cards offer a good balance of speed and value for many 4K camcorder applications2.

Compared to UHS Speed Class 1 (U1) and Class 3 (U3), the V30 requirements are more tailored towards high bitrate video recording, while U1/U3 are more general-purpose speed classes. A V30 card can be U1 or U3, but having the V30 rating signifies suitability for 4K video.

While higher speed classes like V60/V90 certainly have advantages, a V30 card will be sufficient for most 4K recording needs, striking a good balance of performance and affordability.

Conclusion

In summary, V30 refers to a speed class rating for microSD cards that indicates support for minimum write speeds of 30MB/s for video recording. It was introduced as part of the Video Speed Class system to help users identify cards fast enough for high resolution 4K and 8K video capture. V30 cards promise write speeds of at least 30MB/s, making them well-suited for high bitrate video modes on cameras and other devices.

The main benefits of V30 microSD cards are their ability to sustain high write speeds required for high resolution video recording without slowing down or dropping frames. Their fast performance reduces the risk of recording issues. While real-world speeds vary, V30 cards generally deliver sufficiently fast and consistent performance for 4K/8K video recording, 360 video, drones, action cams, and other devices. V30 builds on top of the UHS Speed Class system, so V30 cards also deliver fast speeds for apps, gaming, and OS functionality.

In summary, the V30 marking signifies a microSD card optimized for 4K and higher video capture. It’s the minimum bar for smooth high-resolution video recording and recommends cards worth considering for demanding video use cases.