Choosing the correct microSD card is a vital component to consider when purchasing a drone. I made the mistake of purchasing an SD card that does not enable a 4K recording.
To save a few bucks, I instantly limited what I could accomplish with my drone. I wish I had paid a little more money to expand the size of my memory card and improve the speed with which I could see a 4K film.
To record 4K footage, the best microSD cards for a drone must have a write speed of 12.5 MB/s. Look for the symbols “U3” or “V30,” which indicate that the minimum continuous write speed is 30MB/s, which is plenty for most drones.
The problem with purchasing a memory card for a drone is several terminology and classifications to choose from.
It can be quite bewildering for someone who isn’t aware of the various writing speeds or technologies used in microSD cards.
Not all microSD cards are created equal, and in this post, we’ll go over all you need to know about selecting the best micro SD cards for your drone, whether you have a DJI, Parrot, Autel, or any other manufacturer.
Table of Contents
How to Choose the Best MicroSD Card for a Drone?
Search for two symbols displayed on the front of the card as a fast start reference to understanding microSD cards. The first sign resembles a U with a 3 inside, while the second is a V30 symbol.
The V60 and V90 are over this right speed. These represent write speeds of 60 and 90 megabytes per second, respectively. This increased speed is crucial if you want to shoot video resolutions greater than 4K, which is feasible with some higher-end drones like the Autel Evo 2.
Even though microSD cards have become much less expensive over time, the ideal microSD card for your drone provides a correct speed of 30 Mb per second at the lowest price.
Should I Buy a Micro SD Card for My Drone?
Depending on the type of drones you have, such as a DJI Phantom, Parrot, or Syma, you’ll need to check with the manufacturer to see what size micro sd card you may use with your model.
The DJI Phantom 2 Vision, for example, only takes micro SD cards with a maximum capacity of 32GB.
Best Micro Sd Card for 4k Drone Video
Samsung 128GB EvoC
Samsung Evo is a well-known brand that has swiftly gained popularity among customers. Tens of thousands of these tiny SD cards are purchased every day.
However, a 128GB Samsung Evo is required for a drone. It has a reading speed of up to 100 megabytes per second and a writing capability of up to 90 megabytes per second.
It also offers Class Speed 10 and U3, undoubtedly exceeding performance standards for smooth film material.
The Samsung Evo 128GB is an excellent choice for shooting 4K UHD film as well as high-resolution stills. This micro SD card has been tested for water resistance, weather resistance, and magnetic resistance.
Best of all, it comes with a 10-year limited guarantee in case it doesn’t live up to your expectations. They would gladly send you a replacement at no cost to you. This memory card will never let you down.
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SanDisk 128GB Extreme Speed – Our Best Choice
SanDisk Extreme Speed is another extremely popular option, which boasts a lightning-fast reading speed of up to 160 MB. As a result, it’s critical to conserve time while downloading high-resolution film and stills.
It, like the Samsung Evo, boasts a 90 MB writing speed and can easily handle 4K footage.
It features a UHS Speed Class 3 and a Video Speed Class 30 rating of A2 for faster loading and better performance.
SanDisk Extreme Speed has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it meets your expectations. Due to the enhanced camera characteristics of high-end drones like the Phantom 4 and Mavic 2, this 128GB is an excellent choice.
They can also be utilized on-camera drones like the Mavic Air and Phantom 3 if you wish to take a large number of photos on a little micro SD card.
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Lexar 128GB Professional
Lexar Professional is a high-end micro SD card that may be used in smartphones, tablets, and even camera drones.
Its class speed is comparable to the SanDisk Extreme Speed. The Lexar Professional micro SD card, on the other hand, offers reading and writing speed of 100 MB, making it an excellent choice for professionals.
This tiny SD card has an A2 rating, which means it transmits data at lightning speed.
Lexar Professional, unlike other micro SD cards, has an SD adaptor. It’s beneficial for speeding up the transfer process and ensuring that everything runs well.
One of the key benefits of this mini SD card is its limited lifespan. You may always replace it for free if you are not satisfied with the quality, no matter how long you use it.
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Gigastone 128GB Prime 600X
Gigastone Prime 600X is a brand-new product that has swiftly gained popularity among consumers thanks to its fast reading and writing speeds.
It can be used for various applications, making it the ideal micro SD card for storing stills and movies.
Before being on the market, this micro SD card was tested on various goods like drones, action cameras, and camcorders. They’ve had a lot of success thus far.
An SD adapter is included with the Gigastone Prime 600X micro SD card for use with devices that have an SD card port.
So this brand is one of the most versatile and extensively used micro SD cards available. Gigastone is a well-known brand that sells a million units annually and has a five-year limited guarantee.
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Silicon Power 128GB Superior Pro
The Silicon Power Superior Pro is a low-cost micro SD card with a reading speed of 100MB, and an 80MB write speed. Compared to renowned manufacturers like Samsung and SanDisk, it has somewhat less power.
On the other hand, this tiny SD card is an excellent alternative for individuals on a limited budget or who need a cheap one for photography.
Silicon Power Superior Pro is the ideal companion for drones, gaming, and action cameras that require 4K UHD resolution.
If you plan on utilizing drones mostly for photography, this micro SD card is a must-have. If you want to make films, though, the Samsung Evo or SanDisk Extreme Speed are better options.
A five-year limited guarantee is included with this micro SD card.
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Buyer’s Guide to MicroSD Cards
As technology advances, we will witness quicker writing rates and data transfer, as well as much increased capacity.
The card’s speed or class, the card’s size, and the card’s durability all play a role in how effectively the card performs in your drone.
The card’s speed is the first and most significant consideration.
Card speed (class)
Whatever you do, don’t scrimp on the speed of your memory card when using a drone.
If you want to record in 4K, keep in mind that you’ll need a write speed of 12.5MB/s. A few cards on the market can seamlessly capture a 4K video.
The only thing you need to look for is a “U3” or “V30” sign, which indicates a minimum sustained write speed of 30MB/s, which is plenty for most applications.
Speed class
The speed of your microSD card may be classed into classes ranging from 2 to 10. The following are the appropriate speeds for the four most prevalent classes:
- C2 (Class 2): 2MB/s minimum write speed
- C4 (Class 4): 4MB/s minimum write speed
- C6 (Class 6): 6MB/s minimum write speed
- C10 (Class 10): 10MB/s minimum write speed
C2 is the slowest speed class, whereas C10 is usually the minimum speed needed for modern electrical equipment.
Ultrahigh speed (UHS) class
The ultrahigh-speed is the next speed class above, symbolized by a U sign. In the ultrahigh-speed speed class of microSD cards, there are two ratings:
- U1 (UHS Speed Class 1): 10MB/s minimum write speed
- U3 (UHS Speed Class 3): 30MB/s minimum write speed
This is critical for drones capable of recording in 4K quality. It will help if you look for a microSD card with a U3 rating and a minimum write speed of 30 Mb per second.
Video speed class
The video speed class was intended to accommodate greater resolutions and formats such as multiple video streams, 360° capture, virtual reality material, and films with an 8K resolution. The V symbol is commonly used to represent them:
- V6 (Video Speed Class 6): 6MB/s minimum write speed
- V10 (Video Speed Class 10): 10MB/s minimum write speed
- V30 (Video Speed Class 30): 30MB/s minimum write speed
- V60 (Video Speed Class 60): 60MB/s minimum write speed
- V90 (Video Speed Class 90): 90MB/s minimum write speed
These speeds are ideal for ultra-high-resolution films and will perform admirably in your drone if you use a V30 class or above.
Size of the card
The video card size indicates the maximum amount of data stored on the memory card. If you’re interested in learning more about drone video file sizes and how much you can fit on each drone, I conducted an experiment and published the results in another blog — click here to see the results.
Conclusion
You’ll need a couple of microSD cards to hold all of the wonderful videos you’ll be shooting, whether you’re flying in FPV (First Person View) or just line of sight.
You’ll need a couple of big micro SD cards that can handle rapid throughput and 4K movies if you’re using Fat Sharks or another brand of FPV headphones with a GoPro Hero 6 or GoPro Hero 5 Black.
No matter what, choose a card with a minimum write speed of at least 12.5 Mb per second and does not exceed the maximum memory capacity of your drone.