5 Facts About the Largest MicroSD Card
- The largest microSD card you can purchase today is 1TB. There are murmurs of a Fujitsu 2TB microSD card in 2023, but it has yet to hit the marketplace. While you can find a few 2TB microSD listings on Amazon, they’re bogus.
- Not all microSD cards are designed for the same purpose. Different microSD cards operate faster or slower. Therefore, the device (tablet, camera, etc.) dictates what kind of microSD card it can use.
- Not all devices (Cell phones, GoPro, cameras, etc.) will accept 1TB capacity microSD cards. So check the compatibility before you buy!
- Not all devices will accept all types of microSD.
- There are several clickbait style Amazon listings for 2TB microSD cards. Please don’t believe it.
Largest MicroSD Card Specs
| SanDisk Extreme | SanDisk Ultra | Gigastone | PNY 1TB PRO Elite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive Capacity | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB |
| UHS Class | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Type | microSDXC | microSDXC | microSDXC | microSDXC |
| Min. Write Speed | V30 | 10 | V90 | V30 |
| Application Performance | A2 | A1 | A2 | A2 |
- Read: 190MB/s, Write: 130MB/s
- U3 Speed class, V30 Video speed class
- Supports 4K and 5K video recording
- Use with SanDisk's Pro-Reader for optimum results (sold separately)
Allow us to be direct; microSD card labeling needs to be more straightforward. In fact, we suspect the marketing folks have been having a field day intentionally confusing the consumer to drive up sales. But, never fear, we’ll peel back the label to understand what’s happening.
Depending on your specific application, be it gaming, still photography, or 4K UHD video capture, and your device, the answer to the largest microSD card question is different. Having the largest microSD card has zero value to you if it won’t work in your device!
Let’s start by looking at the microSD card write speeds.
Minimum MicroSD Write Speeds
MicroSD cards have several classifications that define how fast data can be written from a device to the microSD. Honestly, do we care how fast it can read from the device? Most likely not. Yet, microSD manufacturing companies will push the faster read speed on the product packaging!
| Min. Write Speed | Speed Class | UHS Class | VS Class | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2MB/Sec | 2 | 480p | ||
| 4MB/Sec | 4 | 480p | ||
| 6MB/Sec | 6 | V6 | 1080p | |
| 10MB/Sec | 10 | 1 | V10 | 1080p |
| 30MB/Sec | 3 | V30 | 4K | |
| 60MB/Sec | V60 | 4K | ||
| 90MB/Sec | V90 | 8K |
- MicroSD cards with a Speed Class between 2 and 4 are suitable for standard (480p) video recording.
- You’ll need a microSD with a Speed Class greater than 6 for HD (1080p) recording.
- 4K resolution (4K UHD) requires a UHS class of three (3) or a VS class of V30 or V60.
- 8K resolution (8K UHD) requires a VS class of V90.
Largest MicroSD Card Capacity
When you look closely at the microSD packaging, you’ll find that each card is labeled as a
microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, or microSDUC. The names identify the size of the capacity of the drive.
| Type of MicroSD | Drive Capacity |
|---|---|
| microSD | Less than 2GB |
| microSDHC | 2GB to 32GB |
| microSDXC | 32GB to 2TB |
| microSDUC | 2TB to 128TB |
Astute readers will note that the microSDUC doesn’t show up on any of our comparison tables because there aren’t any microSD devices between 2 and 128TB at this moment!
Largest MicroSD: Where to Buy
Picking up a microSD card is as easy as clicking a few buttons with your mouse. You can shop online or meander on into a sticks and bricks facility.
Online
We’re all using microSD cards these days, and Amazon is stocking a gigantic selection. All four examples listed above are available for order today.
- $99.25Buy Now on Amazon
- Read: 190MB/s, Write: 130MB/s
- U3 Speed class, V30 Video speed class
- Supports 4K and 5K video recording
- Use with SanDisk's Pro-Reader for optimum results (sold separately)
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/25/2023 08:10 pm GMT 
$78.39Buy Now on Amazon- Read: 150MB/s
- FHD video recording capable
- A1 performance
- Class 10, U1 speed
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/25/2023 04:52 pm GMT
$44.99Buy Now on Amazon- Includes free data recovery for 5 years
- Read/Write speed: 100/90 MB/s
- Water, shock, x-ray, and temperature proof
- A2 rated for fast App access.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/25/2023 04:52 pm GMT
$79.99Buy Now on Amazon- Read/Write Speed: 100/90 MB/s
- A2 rated for fast app access
- Water, magnet, shock, and temperature proof
- Adapter included (use with SD devices)
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
11/25/2023 04:52 pm GMT
Retail Outlet (AKA Sticks and Bricks)
If you’re feeling lonely and want to engage with an indifferent teenager, head over to your favorite electronics store for a bit of face-to-face interaction that might leave you wishing you’d stayed home. However, we recommend checking the store’s inventory before heading in. If you’re feeling particularly plucky, head over to Best Buy or Target for a new microSD card.
These are available:
- Extreme PLUS 1TB microSDXC UHS (Best Buy) – $179.99
- SanDisk – Ultra PLUS 1TB microSDXC UHS (Best Buy) – $149.99
- Lexar PLAY microSDXC UHS-I Card (1 TB) (Target) – $249.99
The History of the Largest MicroSD Card: What to Know
MicroSD cards “launched” in 2004 in Motorola phones. The microSD uses a volatile flash memory card. In fact, the microSD is essentially a smaller version of the SD card. The SD and microSD pin configuration is different, but an adapter easily converts from a microSD to an SD. For example, we use an adapter every week when we transfer data from our GoPro 128GB microSD card to our Hard Disk Drive.
| Year | Drive Capacity | Write Speed | Cost | Cost per GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 128MB | 2.5MB per sec | $50 | $390.62 |
| 2010 | 32GB | 10MB per sec | $150 | $4.68 |
| 2015 | 200GB | 20MB per sec | $500 | $2.50 |
| 2020 | 1TB | 90MB per sec | $300 | $0.3 |
| 2023 | 1TB | 90MB per sec | $120 | $0.12 |
As with any technology related to semiconductor microchip processing, prices drop like a brick with time. Therefore, it’s good to be the consumer but not so good for the semiconductor manufacturing company. Today you’ll find microSD cards installed in cell phones, e-books, digital cameras and camcorders, personal computers, GoPros, drones, gaming devices, and automobiles.
MicroSD Versions: Each Edition
Computer chip technology advancements drive improvements in microSD storage capability and write speeds. Therefore, the microSD card of 2005 differs from the Micro SD card of 2023. There are four versions of the microSD: microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, and microSDUC. Let’s briefly explore each version.
MicroSD – Secure Digital
A microSD has less than 2GB of data storage. The Transcend 2 GB microSD Flash Memory Card is a good choice for users with older technology devices (Roku 3, trail cameras) that will not accept more current nodes. The identification on the microSD should only say “microSD,” not “microSDXC” or any other variation. It’s an older technology, but it still works! It beats throwing out a perfectly wonderful device because it isn’t compatible with a newer technology microSD.
- Capacity: 2GB
- Manufactured in China
- For use in older cameras and smartphones that aren't compatible with newer cards
- Lifetime warranty (limited)
MicroSDHC – Secure Digital High Capacity
The microSDHC was released in 2006. A microSD with an HC added (microSDHC) has between 2GB and 32GB of drive capacity. A microSDHC will work in devices that accept SDHC or SDXC formats. However, older SD devices most likely will not accept the microSDHC. Thus, check your documentation first.
The SanDisk 32GB Ultra microSDHC is a good choice for digital photography and high-definition videography. An SDHC card may be an excellent fit for older devices, but newer devices may require a more current format to maximize their transfer rates.
- Used for Smartphones and MIL cameras.
- A1 for fast app access
- Read speed:120MB/s
- FHD video recording supported (depends on device)
MicroSDXC – Micro Secure Digital eXtended Capacity
The microSDXC format was announced in 2009. Micro Secure Digital eXtended Capacity cards can handle up to 2TB of data storage. A microSDXC is a solid choice for professional photography, 4K video capture, and any other device requiring high-speed data transfer between the device and the microSDXC.
- Includes free data recovery for 5 years
- Read/Write speed: 100/90 MB/s
- Water, shock, x-ray, and temperature proof
- A2 rated for fast App access.
MicroSDUC – Secure Digital Ultra Capacity
The microSDUC format will support devices with storage between 2TB and 128TB. To date, there haven’t been any microSDUC devices.
The Largest MicroSD Card – The Public Response
MicroSD cards are here to stay for a little while, at least until a new unforeseen technology bumps microSD cards into the dustbin of technology. In the meantime, the market sales of microSD cards are growing year after year. In fact, 2017’s global sales for microSD devices reached approximately 9 billion dollars. Further, industry analysts expect annual sales to approach 16.5 billion dollars by 2030. Increasing sales in the Asia Pacific market will drive demand as consumers adopt technology-driven microSD-hungry devices such as smartphones, tablets, and miscellaneous digital devices.
No matter how we slice it and dice it, there are a lot more microSD devices heading our way in the future. So better hang onto your device owner’s manuals.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©L-51/Shutterstock.com.
