Best memory cards

Shortlist and buying guide · the ranked board is on its way

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What to look for

Check the speed class your camera or drone needs (V30, U3) as well as capacity.

Models worth comparing

From manufacturers' specifications and published UK reviews, read on 6 October 2026. Not tested by us. In no particular order: these are not ranked, and we do not say which is best until the customer ratings are in.

Budget

Samsung EVO Plus microSD

Phones, tablets, handheld consoles and action cameras that need affordable extra storage with 4K-ready speed ratings.

Rated U3, V30 and A2 for 4K video and app use
Built to resist water, temperature extremes, X-rays, magnets and drops
Limited 10-year warranty

Watch out for: Samsung does not headline a write speed, and the warranty excludes dashcam, CCTV and other write-heavy use.

Format: microSDXC (SD adapter included)
Read speed: Up to 160MB/s
Speed class: U3, V30, A2
Capacities: 64GB to 1TB

Check price on Amazon

Sources: Samsung product page

Mid-range

SanDisk Extreme microSD

Drone, action camera and smartphone users who shoot 4K and want quicker transfers than budget cards.

Reads at up to 190MB/s and writes at up to 130MB/s
A2 rating for faster app loading on phones
Handles 4K UHD video recording

Watch out for: Top speeds vary by capacity (the 64GB card is rated lower), so check the figure for the size you buy.

Format: microSDXC UHS-I
Read speed: Up to 190MB/s (varies by capacity)
Write speed: Up to 130MB/s
Speed class: A2
Capacities: Up to 2TB

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Sources: SanDisk product page

Premium

SanDisk Extreme PRO SD UHS-I

Photographers and video makers with standard SD-slot cameras who want fast, dependable cards for 4K and burst shooting.

Reads at up to 200MB/s on larger capacities
Shot speeds of up to 140MB/s for bursts
U3 and V30 rated for 4K UHD recording

Watch out for: It is a UHS-I card, so it cannot match UHS-II cards in cameras with UHS-II slots, and the smallest 32GB size is rated much slower.

Format: SDHC/SDXC UHS-I
Read speed: Up to 200MB/s (32GB: up to 100MB/s)
Write speed: Up to 140MB/s
Speed class: U3, V30
Capacities: 32GB to 1TB

Check price on Amazon

Sources: SanDisk product page

Pro

Lexar Professional 1800x SDXC UHS-II GOLD

Enthusiast and professional photographers with UHS-II cameras who want faster offloads and V60 video support.

Reads at up to 280MB/s and writes at up to 210MB/s
V60 rated for high-bitrate video
UHS-II card that still works in UHS-I devices

Watch out for: It is rated V60 rather than V90, so it may not suit cameras that ask for V90 cards in their highest-bitrate video modes, and full speed needs a UHS-II slot or reader.

Format: SDXC UHS-II
Read speed: Up to 280MB/s
Write speed: Up to 210MB/s
Speed class: U3, V60
Capacities: 64GB to 1TB

Check price on Amazon

Sources: Lexar product page

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We are gathering the customer ratings this board needs from UK shops. When they are in, the ranked list replaces this guide at the same address, scored the way every board is: star ratings weighed by how many people left them. How we score.

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