SD cards and microSD cards are types of removable flash memory cards used for storing data in devices like cameras, mobile phones, and other electronics. SD cards were first introduced in 1999 by SanDisk, Panasonic, and Toshiba as an improvement over MultiMediaCards (MMCs), offering greater capacity and speed [1]. MicroSD cards, sometimes referred to as TransFlash, are a smaller variant of SD cards that were introduced in 2005 and designed for mobile phones and other small devices [2]. The trend toward miniaturization in electronics led to the demand for a smaller SD format that could still offer significant storage capacity. MicroSD cards enabled smaller devices like smartphones to pack ample storage in a tiny footprint.
Standard SD Card Sizes
The most common standard SD card sizes are:
- 32GB – The 32GB SD card is popular for budget devices like cameras. It provides a good balance of affordability and storage capacity.
- 64GB – The 64GB SD card offers more storage for photos, videos, music, applications, and games. It’s common in mid-range devices.
- 128GB – The 128GB SD card provides ample storage for most users. It allows storing large media libraries and is found in many premium devices.
- 256GB – The 256GB SD card offers substantial storage for power users. It can store very large photo and video collections.
- 512GB – The 512GB SD card provides massive storage suitable for professionals and enthusiasts. It allows saving immense media libraries.
- 1TB – The 1TB SD card is the largest consumer SD card available. It’s overkill for most but suits professionals with enormous storage needs.
SD cards larger than 32GB use the SDXC standard while 32GB and below use the SDHC standard. Older SD cards capped at 2GB use the SDSC standard.
Source: https://bulkmemorycards.com/product-category/sd-cards/
MicroSD Card Sizes
The most common microSD card sizes are:
- 32GB
- 64GB
- 128GB
- 256GB
- 400GB (A Guide to SD and microSD Card Types – Kingston …)
MicroSD cards range in capacity from as little as 4GB up to 1TB for microSDXC cards and 2TB for microSDUC cards. The most popular capacities tend to be 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. The highest current available capacity for microSD cards is 512GB.
There are four types of microSD cards defined by their capacity limits:
- microSD (up to 2GB)
- microSDHC (more than 2GB up to 32GB)
- microSDXC (more than 32GB up to 2TB)
- microSDUC (more than 2TB)
The larger capacity cards allow you to store more photos, videos, music, documents, apps, and other files on your device. The 400GB microSD card provides a good balance of large capacity with reasonable cost.
Size Comparison
Visually, standard SD cards are much larger than microSD cards. An SD card measures 32 x 24 x 2.1 mm (1.26 x 0.94 x 0.083 inches), while a microSD card is just 11 x 15 x 1 mm (0.43 x 0.59 x 0.039 inches). This means that a standard SD card is almost 3 times longer, 1.6 times wider, and 2 times thicker than a microSD card.
To put it another way, a full-size SD card is roughly 3 times the volume of a microSD card despite having the same storage capacity. The small size of microSD makes them better suited for use in smaller devices like smartphones, action cameras, and drones.
Here is a side-by-side size comparison of a standard SD card and a microSD card:
Image source: https://www.kingston.com/en/blog/personal-storage/microsd-sd-memory-card-guide
As you can see, the microSD card is much smaller and thinner, even though both cards have the same 32GB capacity. The compact size makes microSD better for small, portable devices.
Use Cases
Standard SD cards and microSD cards are used in different types of devices and have some differences in their common use cases. Here are some of the most common uses for each type of card:
Standard SD cards are most commonly used in:
- Digital cameras – SD cards are the standard removable storage for most digital cameras. Their small size makes them well-suited for use in compact cameras.
- Camcorders – Like digital cameras, most camcorders use SD cards to store video footage.
- Desktop computers – Many desktop PCs have SD card slots that allow you to use an SD card as removable storage.
- Gaming consoles – Some gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch use full-size SD cards for expanded storage.
MicroSD cards are most commonly used in:
- Mobile phones – Most smartphones have a slot for a microSD card to expand storage. This allows you to store more photos, videos, and apps.
- Tablets – Many Android tablets include a microSD card slot for removable storage.
- Action cameras – Small action cams like GoPros rely on microSD cards to store high-def video.
- Drones – Most consumer drones use microSD cards to store photos and video captured from the air.
In summary, standard SD cards are more commonly used in larger devices like cameras and PCs, while microSD cards are ideal for small, portable devices like phones and tablets where space is at a premium.
Speed Comparison
When comparing the read and write speeds of standard SD cards versus microSD cards, there are a few key differences to note. Generally, the fastest current SD card speeds max out around 300MB/s read and 200MB/s write, while microSD cards tend to have maximum speeds around 160MB/s read and 90MB/s write[1]. This means that full-size SD cards can achieve nearly double the speeds for sequential reading and writing of data.
This speed advantage for SD cards is due to the larger physical size allowing for more advanced flash memory chips as well as increased bandwidth through more electrical contacts. The tradeoff is microSD cards are smaller and thus better suited for use in space-constrained devices like phones and handheld gaming systems. For uses like 4K video recording that require sustained high data rates, larger SD cards tend to perform better.
When comparing cards of similar price and specs, the performance difference may not always be dramatic. But SD cards ultimately have greater performance headroom thanks to the less limited form factor. For devices that can use either format, SD cards are usually the better choice for demanding photo/video applications or tasks involving large files.[1][2]
Durability
SD cards and microSD cards are both designed to be quite durable for data storage purposes. They can withstand some extreme conditions like temperature fluctuations, water exposure, shocks and drops, and even x-rays according to ZDNet. However, they are not indestructible and can still become corrupted or damaged in certain situations.
The risk of data corruption tends to increase with frequent use as the cards wear down over time. Heavy use in devices that generate a lot of heat, like cameras, can also increase the chances of failure. It’s generally recommended to replace SD cards every few years for frequent users according to Coles Classroom. For infrequent users, SD cards can easily last 5-10 years or longer if stored properly.
There is little difference in durability between standard SD cards and microSD cards when comparing cards from the same speed class and intended usage. However, the small size of microSD makes them easier to lose and potentially more prone to physical damage if not stored carefully.
Price Comparison
How do prices compare for cards of similar capacities? In general, standard SD cards tend to be more affordable than microSD cards of the same storage capacity. For example, a 64GB standard SD card may cost around $10-15, while a 64GB microSD card usually costs $15-25. The price difference gets larger as the capacity increases. A 256GB standard SD card could cost $30-60, whereas a 256GB microSD might be $60-100. There are a few reasons for this price discrepancy:
- MicroSD cards are smaller and require more precision to manufacture, increasing production costs.
- Standard SD cards have economies of scale, as they are used in many cameras, while microSD is mainly for mobile devices.
- Newer, high-capacity microSD cards command a premium for early adoption.
Of course, prices fluctuate based on sales, brand, and speed. But in general, expect to pay 20-50% more for a microSD over a same-capacity SD card. Shoppers looking for value may want to opt for standard SD unless the small size of microSD is absolutely necessary.
Summary
In summary, the key differences between standard SD cards and microSD cards are the physical size, with microSD cards being smaller, and speed, with standard SD cards typically being faster. However, both offer a wide range of storage capacities to choose from.
For most common consumer uses like smartphones, drones, action cameras, and handheld gaming devices, microSD cards are the better choice due to their smaller size and ability to fit into small slots. The speeds of most microSD cards are sufficient for capturing high resolution photos and videos on these devices.
Standard SD cards are better suited for dedicated cameras, camcorders, and other devices with SD card slots that demand high read/write speeds for recording and transferring lots of high resolution footage. The larger physical size of standard SD cards also makes them easier to handle.
So in determining which is better, it depends on the intended use case. But both SD and microSD cards continue to offer reliable high capacity storage options.
References
Information on SD and microSD card sizes, speed, durability, and pricing gathered from manufacturers like SanDisk, Samsung, and Kingston as well as technology sites like CNET, Tom’s Hardware, PCWorld, and TechRadar that reviewed different cards and researched their technical specifications. Resources from the SD Association provided details on SD standards and maximum capacities. Retail sites like Amazon and Best Buy offered pricing data on various cards. Photography sites like B&H provided usage recommendations based on speeds and storage needs. No single source provided all the data synthesized into this comprehensive overview comparing SD and microSD cards.