The best SD cards in the UK 2023

An SD card is considered an almost indispensable accessory for a digital camera. Created to store files, among others, photos and videos. They can be integrated in a camera, a phone or even an MP3. Used, for others, as memory of the device and others to increase the memory of the device.

Having a memory capacity of 64GB, the SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card can hold 4K UHD resolution videos and can be used to take photos in sequential burst mode. Its recording speed of up to 90 Mbps and playback speed of up to 170 Mbps offers better performance. Its UHS 3, V3 speed class is perfectly suited for video making. It can be used up to an extreme temperature of -25°C. Equipped with a shell with an anti-shock, it survives certain accidents and immersions. Finally, facing X-rays, it will not have any problem.

SanDisk Ultra 32GB SDHC Memory Card 2
8/10

Best value for money

SanDisk Ultra 32GB SDHC Memory Card

The best entry-level SD card

The SanDisk Ultra SDHC memory card has a transfer speed of up to 120 Mbps with 32GB of memory storage for your Full HD video. UHS1 U1 rated, it is class 10.

7,99 £ on Amazon

This SDHC card will be perfect in automatic compact or even range cameras. The high U1-rated recording speed and class 10 video of this card is an asset for photography, even in burst mode. Compatible with SanDisk SD UHS-1 card readers, its transfer speed of up to 120 Mbps offers a time-saving way to transfer your photos to other devices to free up storage space again. The SanDisk Ultra SDHC memory card offers you a storage capacity of 32 GB. Not only is it suitable for your cameras, but it can also be used as storage for your phone or smartphone.

Carte mémoire SDXC Lexar Professional 64 Go 3
8/10

Best value for money

Carte mémoire SDXC Lexar Professional 64 Go

Thebest high-end SD card

The Lexar Professional SDXC memory card has 64GB of storage capacity and is extremely fast, with transfer speeds of up to 300 Mbps read and 260 Mbps write.

63,94 £ on Amazon
SanDisk Extreme 128GB SDXC Memory Card 4
8/10

Best value for money

SanDisk Extreme 128GB SDXC Memory Card

The best value

The SanDisk Extreme SDXC memory card is perfect for shooting 4K UHD video or stills in burst mode thanks to its transfer speed. It has a capacity of 128 GB.

19,79 £ on Amazon

The SDXC SanDisk Extreme is extremely resistant, even to extreme temperatures and shocks, it will not look bad. Waterproof and resistant to water, this SD card would not even flinch under x-ray. Its capture speed of up to 70 Mbps allows for sequential burst mode photography. Easy to move, the stored files can be transferred to other devices with a speed of up to 150 Mbps. Classified UHS 3 noted U3 and V30, the realization of the videos of very good quality will be done without encumbers with the SDXC SanDisk Extreme.

Buying guide • November 2023

Best SD card

Any specific needs?

The best SD card in 2021

The best entry-level SD card

Thebest high-end SD card

The best value

Your guide : Samuel

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Comparison table of the best SD cards

TOP OF THE LINE CHEAP TOP OF THE LINE EXCELLENT
SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB SDXC Memory Card 5
9/10
SanDisk Ultra 32GB SDHC Memory Card 6
8/10
Carte mémoire SDXC Lexar Professional 64 Go 7
8/10
SanDisk Extreme 128GB SDXC Memory Card 8
8/10
OUR SELECTION
SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB SDXC Memory Card
SanDisk Ultra 32GB SDHC Memory Card
Carte mémoire SDXC Lexar Professional 64 Go
SanDisk Extreme 128GB SDXC Memory Card
The SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card is perfect for 4K UHD video, with a capture speed of 90 Mbps and a transfer speed of up to 170 Mbps
The SanDisk Ultra SDHC memory card has a transfer speed of up to 120 Mbps with 32GB of memory storage for your Full HD video. UHS1 U1 rated, it is class 10.
The Lexar Professional SDXC memory card has 64GB of storage capacity and is extremely fast, with transfer speeds of up to 300 Mbps read and 260 Mbps write.
The SanDisk Extreme SDXC memory card is perfect for shooting 4K UHD video or stills in burst mode thanks to its transfer speed. It has a capacity of 128 GB.
Compatibility
SDXC
SDHC and SDXC
SDXC
SDXC
Capacity
64 GB
32 GB
64 GB
128 GB
Speed
170 Mbps
120 Mbps
300 Mbps
150 Mbps
Class
UHS3 V3
UHS1 U1 class10
Class 10 UHS-II U3
Class 10, U3, V30

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Buying guide - SD card

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How to choose your SD card

The choice of the SD card depends on its utility, among other things, to choose you need to know some information about the device where you are going to integrate it and about the SD card itself.

#1 - Compatibility

It should be noted that not all cards are compatible with your device, whether it is a camera or a mobile.

  • The FAT16 format SD card is compatible with all SD, SDHC and SDXC devices. In case you are afraid that the SD card is not compatible with your device, choose the SD card.
  • The High Capacity SD card in FAT32 format is based on the SDA 2.0 specification. It is incompatible with devices based on SD logic. So if you insert this card into a device that is only compatible with a FAT16 format SD card, it will not work.
  • The extended capacity SD card or SDXC of exFAT format based on the SDA 3.0 specification cannot be installed in a device that does not have the SDXC logo

#2 - Storage capacity

Be aware that each type of SD card has its own capacity or memory. The choice of capacity depends on what you need the SD card for? You need to think that the size of the files you want to store on it matches the volume of the SD card.

Here are the differences between each card:

  • The SD card has a capacity ranging from 128 MB to 2GB.
  • The SDHC card has a capacity ranging from 4GB to 32GB.
  • The SDXC card has a capacity ranging from 64GB to 2TB.

#3 - Speed

There are 2 kinds of speeds when it comes to SD card. First, there is the read speed, which is the time or speed of the card to be copied to another device, such as a data transfer from the card to a computer.

There is also the recording speed, very useful for taking photos and videos on your phone for example. This speed is expressed in Mbps or by an x, know that 1x = 0.15 Mbps. To make it simple, the higher this indication is, the faster is the photo taking, as during the photo burst.

#4 - Volume and class

A small precision, there is a big difference between an SD card and miniSD, their size are not the same. An SD card measures in the 24 millimeters in width, 32 mm in length and 2.1 mm in height. It weighs about 2 grams. Most cell phones are not able to have an SD card but a mini SD card, see micro SD card.

We often see on the product a performance speed but express in maximum use, it should be understood that the reality is often lower. Fortunately, manufacturers have established classes ranging from 1 to 10 Mbps to translate the minimum performance. This indication is a number in a C or in a U, note that UHS-1 = 10 Mbps. There are 2 to 10 Mbps for the C and 10 or 30 Mbps for the U, or U1 and U3

The different types of SD cards

There are 3 types of SD cards

SD card

The SD card is a card with a memory capacity of 128 MB to 2 GB. It fits in most of the time with old devices. Some tools can only take SD card, it can not take SDHC or SDHX card. It measures in the 24 × 32 × 2.1 mm, and weighs 2 g. The SD card only supports FAT12 and FAT16 format. The machines, cameras, cell phones that can only receive FAT12 or 16 format can not support FAT32 or more.

SDHC Card

A DSHC card is one of the most used card nowadays, with a capacity of 2 to 32GB, many machines is suitable to receive it. The smartphone add this memory card can contain high quality videos and photos with almost no risk of saturation. It adopts the FAT32 format. Cell phones capable of supporting this format can also support FAT12 and FAT16, in other words, we can integrate an SD card into this device and read it without any problem.

SDXC card

With a memory of 32GB to 2TB, it is often used for video and photography devices. The SDXC card can even be adapted to a computer. It is adapted by a format FAT32 and exFAT. The devices that announce the adaptation of these formats can also support SD and SDHC cards of fat12, FAT16 and FAT32. Their difference in capacity is huge because exFAT is compatible with Windows 7, Vista with SP1 or SP2 update, XP with SP2 or SP 3, and also MAJ patch exFAT with MAC from OS X 10.6.6.

SD card or CF card

The SD card

The SD card is the most popular card for digital cameras. In general, it is used to store shots (photos, videos) or to transfer them to a computer or another device. It offers a storage capacity of 128 MB to 2 TB. Easy to use, it is an ally for your cameras.

The CF card

CompactFlash was once one of the most popular memory cards. Indeed, it was perfectly suited for the first generation of digital cameras. With a storage capacity of only up to 100 GB, it is nowadays only used for certain cameras, which are too old to have suitable SD card slots.

Verdict

The SD card is the best option. It works well with almost all electronic devices, especially digital cameras. If you have devices that work with CF cards, there is no question: get one. This is because the SD card cannot be adapted to an APN designed for a CF card.

Why buy an SD card

The SD card is a chip designed to store data, files, photos and videos. It can be read on several electronic devices such as SmartPhone, camera and computer. There are several kinds of SD cards, depending on the size, storage capacity and speed. Convenient and easy to carry, since it is placed directly in the device, the SD card is easy to handle.

Increase photo storage

In case you like to take beautiful pictures, you know very well that photos in RAW format are really heavy. For a camera, the way it works seems special. Indeed, when the sensor is switched on, it captures the light in a very short time, analyses the information and transfers it directly to the memory card. Very demanding, the camera must acquire all the information sent by the image processor quickly enough. If the storage speed and capacity are insufficient, the pictures may be corrupted and unusable.

Burst mode speed

As part of digital photography, the camera provides you with the burst mode. Even if you have made sure that the recording format is JPG, the way the machine works remains the same. Among other things, the image processor sends all the images to the card. So the throughput must be sufficiently sustained for each picture.

A video mode that lives up to expectations

A high-performance card is still very important in video design. In fact, the more important the image definition and frame rate become, the more difficult the task becomes. The data rate of a Full HD video is between 10 and 40 Mbps depending on the image quality, content and frame rate. In 4K / Ultra HD, the data rates are doubled or even quadrupled. For these video definitions, a "V" or at least UHS card is highly recommended. Without a high performance SD card, you risk losing entire sequences. With only a portion of the file corrupted, the entire movie may be unusable.

Easily editable files

Once you've finished shooting video or making a movie, you may want to edit or cut it directly on your smartphone or APN. Again, read and write speeds are important here. Firstly, because of time, as each operation monopolizes resources. Then, on a question of autonomy.

The viewing mode

To put it simply, watching or rewatching a video in Full HD and 4K is generally easier with a memory card. Why is that? Because the read speeds are always higher than the write speeds, between 1 and 2 approximately. You can watch Full HD video at speeds of up to tens of Mbps. If the card is too slow, viewing will be really painful.

Tips

Don't forget to store them properly

With its small size, an SD card can easily get lost, so take care to store them well

First, check the characteristics of your device before buying

Take

the time to see what format is suitable for your device before acquisition

.

Be careful not to break them

It is

true that these cards are hyper resistant but it is possible to break them at high pressure and temperature.

In case of wetness, use rice

Simple

but effective, any device even a smartphone can be saved from drowning, just bury it one night in the rice and it's done.

Avoid charging and using

Concerning

any electronic device, charging and using can heat up the device and can damage the memory card.

FAQ

What is the best SD card?

The best SD card depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find out more.

How to choose your SD card?

Choosing your SD card depends on your needs and your device. Read our buying guide on how to choose your SD card.

What is the difference between an SD card and a mini SD card?

The only difference between an SD card and a mini or microSD card is its size and volume.

When to format an SD card?

If you have just acquired a new SD card, it is not necessary to format your SD card, in other cases, if it is a second hand card, it will be preferable to format it before using it, so the data of its predecessors will be erased.

Why is my SD card not working?

It is possible that the SD card you have acquired is not compatible with your device, you should check the compatibility of your device.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
  1. , Labo.fnac.com
  2. , apprendre-la-photo.fr
  3. , quechoisir.org
  4. , lesnumérique.com
  5. , nytimes.com
  6. , bestreviews.com
  7. , leblogphoto.net
  8. , fnac.com
  9. , macway.com
  10. , grosbill.com
  11. , amazon.co.uk
  12. , darty.com
  13. , fnac.com
  14. , boulanger.com
  15. , electrodepot.fr
  16. , fr.wikipedia.org
  17. , lesnumeriques.com
  18. , futura-sciences.com
  19. , amazon.co.uk
  20. , 01net.com
  21. , boulanger.com
  22. , reneelab.fr
  23. , fnac.com
  24. , darty.com
  25. , echosdunet.net
  26. , clubic.com
  27. , forums.commentcamarche.net
  28. , auchan.fr
  29. , jiho.com
  30. , lesnumeriques.com
  31. , cdiscount.com
  32. , reneelab.fr
  33. , minitool.com
  34. , tenorshare.fr
See more

Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

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Our selection
SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB SDXC Memory Card 9
SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB SDXC Memory Card
SanDisk Ultra 32GB SDHC Memory Card 10
SanDisk Ultra 32GB SDHC Memory Card
Carte mémoire SDXC Lexar Professional 64 Go 11
Carte mémoire SDXC Lexar Professional 64 Go
SanDisk Extreme 128GB SDXC Memory Card 12
SanDisk Extreme 128GB SDXC Memory Card

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