Do you want to know how to choose an SD card especially according to its type of use. You are on the right plat form to know the answer of this question.
SD memory cards are a very useful alternative to store information in a small device. They come in numerous types, speeds, and capacities.
You may have noticed that two SD cards of the same capacity have very different prices. The reason behind it lies in other characteristics of SD cards, such as speed or size.
For this reason, in this guide we want to get you out of doubt about which is the best SD memory card for you according to the use you want to give it. Here we “the buyers trend” leave you with our SD Card Guide that how to choose the best SD card.
Table of Contents
Different Types of SD Cards
SD: SD cards are the most common and widespread today. They are used for all kinds of activities, but above all to store files and take photos and videos through cameras.
MiniSD: Its size is halfway between the SD card and the microSD. They used to be used for mobile phones, but have been superseded by microSD, so now they are hardly used on any device. Perhaps that is also why there is so much confusion between miniSD and microSD.
Micro SD: This type of card is the smallest and is very useful for small devices due to its small size. The most common is to find it on mobile phones, but it may be the case that some camera uses microSD cards, or even portable game consoles such as Nintendo Switch or Nintendo 3DS.
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According to Storage Capacity
The capacity of the SD card can go from 2 GB to 2 TB in the most recent ones. This also has its classification, and it is important to take it into account since there are devices that are only compatible with certain types.
SDHC: We can find them from 2 GB to 32 GB. They are the most common, although their speed may fall short for new video resolutions such as 8K.
SDXC: They span capacities from 32GB to 2TB. More advanced than the previous ones, although there is a small chance that the device does not support this type.
The most advisable thing is to get an SDXC, since they are better than the SDHC but, unless you plan to use the cards at a professional level, with the first one it is sufficient.
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According to Speed
SD cards can be classified based on the speed at which they process information. Is speed decisive? In most cases yes, and now we will see why.
The following SD Association graph shows the classification of cards according to the number of MB’s per second that they are capable of processing:
The first Speed Class classification covers numbers from 2 to 10, the second, UHS Speed Class, from 1 to 3, the third, Video Speed Class (which, in fact, coincides with the number of MB/s), from 6 to 90.
As you can see, speed is very important if our intention is to record video or take photographs, since the camera could won’t work if the card is too slow for the type of file we’re trying to write.
Some cards like the Speed Class 2 are rarely on the market anymore because their speed has fallen short compared to today’s technology.
Other classifications are so new that they are already intended for video recording. In fact, some already allow you to record in 8K resolution.
You should look at the table to determine which card is best for the requirement you are looking for. If your intention is to make photos or home videos, you can consider getting a card between Speed Class 2 and Speed Class 10. On the other hand, cards V10 to V90 guarantee you the operation recording in high resolutions.
For Smartphone’s, the SD Association classifies cards into two types, A1 and A2. You can check the speed of inputs and outputs per second (IOPS) of each according to the following table:
The higher the number, the faster the Smartphone applications will work, so the best option will depend on how you use your mobile phone.
How to Choose an SD Card According to Its Type of Use
Now that you know the main differences about the characteristics of SD cards, it is time to choose one. The first thing you should be clear about is, for what purpose you are going to use it and the money you are willing to spend on it.
If you are going to use the card for photography or video, you must also take into account at what level you are working. In the professional field, you are interested in a fast SD card from ‘V10’ onwards and a higher capacity to be able to store large files.
If, on the other hand, you are going to use the card for more personal purposes, speed does not have to be a determining factor for you. Of course, you should always make sure that your camera is compatible with the card you plan to buy.
On the other hand, you may be thinking of expanding the memory capacity of a mobile device or your Nintendo Switch console.
If you’re interested in fast apps, consider purchasing an A2 type microSD card. The capacity will depend on the number of applications you want to install, but if it is to store games in the case of the Nintendo hybrid platform, we recommend a card of 256 GB or more.
If you only need a card to store files, the most compatible today is an SD card (or a microSD with an SD card adapter). Value first the capacity within your priorities.
Next, keep in mind that the faster the card is, the sooner the files will be copied from your computer to the SD card and vice versa, so it depends more on your patience.
What did you think of this guide? Which SD card have you chosen? We will be happy to answer any questions in the comments section.
Faizan Ali is a Master in Computer Sciences and has been writing content for computing, gaming and mobile technologies since 2016. He has written content for number of online magazines, websites and blogs and now writes for “the buyers trend”. Feel free to contact him for any sort of writing for your technology related blog, website or magazine.