5 Best Memory Cards in 2024 | Comprehensive Review

In today’s digital age, it’s important to have reliable and high-capacity storage devices to store our digital data. Memory cards have become a popular choice for storing photos, videos, and other digital files because of their small size, high speed, and affordability. With the ever-increasing demand for storage, memory card manufacturers are continually pushing the boundaries to create better and faster memory cards.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the 5 best memory cards in 2023. These memory cards are selected based on their performance, capacity, durability, and compatibility with various devices. Whether you’re a professional photographer or videographer who needs to store large files or an everyday user who needs a reliable and fast memory card for their smartphone, we’ve got you covered.

1) Transcend 32 GB UHS-II Class 3 V90 SDHC Flash Memory Card

The Transcend SDXC UHS-II U3 is our top-rated SD card. We expected it to be quick enough to record practically everything current smartphones could throw at it with a Class 10, V90, U3, and UHS-II classification. Still, we weren’t anticipating the speed results we obtained.

The Transcend performed admirably in our speed testing, outperforming the advertised write speed (180MB/s) by a staggering 224MB/s but falling short of the read speed (224MB/s). Overall, this card is an excellent value at a fair price. This card is perfect for high-resolution, rapid-fire stills photography and 8K video recording, and 4K and HD video recording.

When you add in the card’s waterproofing and shock resistance, as well as the fact that it’s X-ray, temperature, and static, you’ve got a card that can be used in practically any situation. We’re rather impressed with it for such a low price — the only thing it doesn’t appear capable of is stopping a bullet.

Main Features and Advantages

UHS-II U3 and V90 standards are compliant.
Storage capacity of up to 64GB.
Read speeds of up to 285 MB/s; write speeds of up to 180 MB/s
Perfect for every camcorders and DSLR camera.

Professional’s choice

Professional photographers and videographers will appreciate Transcend’s SDXC/SDHC 700S memory cards, which provide great transfer rates for post-production and high-quality video recording without skipping frames.

Extreme transfer capabilities

With read/write rates of up to 285MB/s and 180MB/s, Transcend’s SDXC/SDHC 700S memory cards meet both the UHS-II Speed Class 3 (U3) and the UHS Video Speed Class 90 (V90) specifications for 8K Ultra HD video recordings.

Store as many as you wish

Transcend’s SDXC/SDHC 700S memory cards provide up to 64GB of storage space, allowing you to capture thousands of photographs and hours of Full HD video while remaining focused.

Built for extremes

Transcend’s SD memory cards are tested to withstand extreme conditions. Temperature, watertight, shock, X-ray, and static resistance are all features of these products.

RecoveRx software

RecoveRx software from Transcend is a data recovery tool that lets you search deep into a storage device for evidence of deleted items, including digital photographs, documents, music, and movies. No need to worry about corrupt or damaged data.

2) SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC

The Extreme Pro SDXC UHS-1 from famous SD card maker SanDisk is next on our list. We’re obtaining a solid, dependable card at a reasonable price because we’re part of a group of manufacturers that banded together to bring uniformity to the SD card industry.

While our speed tests showed a significant drop in performance when compared to promised rates (with a write speed of 63.6MB/s and a read speed of 65.9MB/s), it’s still a good choice for the money. You can’t go wrong with the Extreme Pro UHS-I for customers who wish to capture stills and 4K video.

For further peace of mind, the card comes with a SanDisk warranty, which provides a lifetime guarantee in the event of a defect (and by lifetime, they mean 30 years). Not bad, given that SD cards are unlikely to be used in the foreseeable future.

With sizes ranging from 32GB to a startling 1TB and an outstanding UHS Speed Class 3 rating, this inconspicuous card is one of the best SD memory cards available.

Meanwhile, its quick read performance of 170MB/s is ideal for a brisk workload. Aside from taking Raw photos, this memory card’s data processing capabilities make it appropriate for 4K video capture.

Main Advantage

Excellent quick-fire performance.
Stutter-free footage is a plus.
Extreme PRO SDXC Memory Card with UHS-I Technology.
It has a storage capacity of 64 GB.
This is an excellent choice by professionals for Heavy Use and Daily purposes.

3) Lexar Professional 633x 64 GB SDXC UHS-I Card

If you’re recording high-resolution video, you’ll always need as much digital data storage space as possible. Although read and write speeds are a little slower, the Lexar Professional 633x SDHC/SDXC UHS-I has a massive 1TB storage option. This means you must choose between having enough storage capacity for several hours of video and having the quickest possible transfer speeds across devices.

While the price of bigger capacity cards rises rapidly, the 633x is available in sizes as little as 16GB, making it ideal for a wide spectrum of photographers and videographers who need various capacities for personal or professional usage.

Its write performance is a touch slower than comparable UHS-I cards in this class. However, it’s still fantastic value for money, and the V30/U3 class designation indicates it can record up to 4K UHD video.

Following Lexar’s release of the world’s first consumer 1TB SD card in 2019, many other companies entered the fray. The Lexar 633X UHS-I, on the other hand, is well-known for its memory card lineup and works admirably.

Actual transfer speeds during testing were 33MB/s for writing and 82MB/s for reading; not terrible, but the write speed is near the minimum V30 categorisation on the label, so keep that in mind.

Main Features and Advantages

Up to 95 MB/s read speed
45 MB/s write speed
64 GB of storage space.
The V30 class card uses UHS-I technology to provide high-speed performance.
With high-capacity choices, you may capture longer video durations in 1080p full-HD, 3D, and 4K.
Data transport at a high rate.
Enhances a professional workflow.

High-speed performance you can trust

Lexar Professional 633x SDHC/SDXC UHS-I cards are designed for your mid-range DSLR, HD camcorder, or 3D camera, allowing you to easily shoot and upload high-quality images as well as spectacular 1080p full-HD, 3D, and 4K video (2), with reading rates of up to 633x (95MB/s) (1). UHS-I technology is used to give a high-speed performance on these Class 10 cards.

Capture adventures in 1080p full-HD, 3D, and 4K video

Utilise the power and performance of these cards to make the most of your experiences in the great outdoors. So, you’ll be OK if you’re shooting with a mid-range DSLR, an HD camcorder, or a 3D camera.

Capture extended lengths of video with high-capacity options

With the expansion of video capabilities, you’ll need high-performance cards that you can count on and high-capacity alternatives that will allow you to shoot for extended periods without changing cards.

Save time dramatically accelerated workflow

Lexar Professional 633x SDHC/SDXC UHS-I cards’ high-speed performance drastically speeds up your workflow from start to finish.

Get more from your device

These high-capacity cards have a Class 10 speed rating and use UHS-I technology to offer a transfer speed of up to 95MB/s (633x) (1), giving you the speed and space you need to capture, transmit, and share more experiences on the move.

4) PNY Elite Performance 64GB Flash Memory High-Speed SDXC Class 10 UHS-I

These cards are remarkably well protected from the weather, given their low price. The Elite Performance SDXC range is magnet-proof, shock-proof, temperature-proof, and waterproof, according to PNY’s internal testing. This makes it an excellent choice for consumers who want a weather-resistant memory card.

The elite performance is slightly slower than its larger brethren due to its UHS-I status. Its promised read speed of up to 100MB/s was only 65.7MB/s in our tests, and read speeds were substantially slower, averaging 20.8MB/s. However, you can’t really go wrong with the price for the ordinary shooter who wants a robust card to take some stills and a little HD video.

Main Advantage

Waterproof and magnet-proof.
Very low-cost.
A budget-friendly SD card with good durability.
Capture HD and 3D video at high speeds.
Storage with a large capacity.

High-Speed Capture of HD and 3D Video

PNY Elite Performance SD Cards are built to meet today’s demand and are ideal for recording 4K and Full HD video with a camcorder or DSLR camera. They are Class 10, UHS-I certified and designed to keep up with today’s demand, allowing you to capture all of your important moments.

High Capacity Storage

With sizes ranging from 32GB to 512GB, you can store more. You’ll never be caught off guard. Thousands of photographs and hours of video may be stored on PNY Elite Performance SD Cards.

Ultimate Reliability and Durability

PNY Elite Performance SD Cards, which are powered by 4-Proof Technology, is built to survive the harshest environments and come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Technical Specification

Product Dimensions	‎‎0.2 x 3.18 x 2.39 cm; 1.42 Grams
RAM Size	64 GB
Manufacturer	‎LEXAR MEDIA INC
Customer Reviews	4.7 out of 5

5) Lexar Professional 2000x 32GB SDHC UHS-II/U3 (Up to 300MB/s Read)022 UHS-II Card

We can rely on the 2000X for quick read and write rates because of its UHS-II technology. Regarding memory cards, the Lexar name is recognised for stability and consistency in performance while being slightly more expensive than its competitors.

We observed that the read and write speeds were much faster than those of other cards in its class in our real-world tests. With a read speed of 253MB/s, it only fell 19MB/s short of the promised write speed of 241MB/s, making it perfect for more extensive data transfers such as 4K or 8K video recording.

For still photography, this would be beneficial to sports and wildlife photographers and any other profession that demands fast bursts of high-resolution images.

It’ll also suit filmmakers who need to capture 4K and 8K on camera, as it’s one of the quickest in our guide, as seen by its V90 rating.

High-speed performance—UHS-II technology (U3) provides read transfer speeds of up to 300MB/s (2000x).
Capture high-resolution photos and Full-HD and cinema-quality 4K video for more extended periods.
UHS-I devices are backwards compatible.
Designed for long-term use.
Product assistance is only available for a limited period.

Final Words

These cards offer great speed, capacity, and durability and are available at various price points. So, whether you are looking for the fastest card on the market or the most budget-friendly option, there is a choice for everyone.