The 10 Best 256gb Sd Card Of 2024, Tested By Our Experts

Piers Anthony By, Piers Anthony
Updated
Best 256gb Sd Card
Best 256gb Sd Card

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: SAMSUNG MB-ME256GA/AM 256GB MicroSDXC Card

The Samsung MicroSDXC Memory Card with Full-Size Adapter offers enhanced read and write speeds, so you can move your photos, videos and music at lightning speeds. This card is also built with a full-size adapter so you can easily insert it into a compatible device. Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: SanDisk 256GB microSDXC Card

The SanDisk 256GB micro SD card is perfect for dash cam and home monitoring systems. With video quality up to 4K Ultra HD, you'll be able to capture all the action in crisp detail. Plus, our adapter makes it easy to transfer video files between your compatible devices. Read Review

3. Best Capacity: Gigastone 256GB Micro SD Card

The Gigastone 256GB Micro SD Card is designed for use with Nintendo-Switch, Dash Cam, Security Camera, 4K Video Recording and more. With speeds up to 100mb/s and compatibility with a wide range of devices, it will help you take your photos and videos to the next level. Read Review

4. Best Quality: Silicon Power 256GB Micro SD Card

With Silicon Power's 256GB Micro SD card, you can capture and store all your amazing moments with Nintendo-Switch, Cams, Steam Deck and Drones. With read speeds up to 100MB/s and write speeds up to 60MB/s, you can move your videos and photos to the card fast. Read Review

5. Best Speed: SAMSUNG EVO 256GB Micro SD Card

The SanDisk 256GB microSDXC cards is the perfect way to add more storage to your Android device. With up to 256GB of storage, you can store all your photos, videos and music. Plus, with read speeds up to 130mb/s, you can transfer files quickly and easily. Read Review

Does your smartphone or camera need more storage space? The answer is probably yes. With the increase in photos and videos being taken today, it is always a good idea to have more storage space available on your device. An expandable SD card can be an excellent solution for people who want to add additional capacity without having to replace their current phone or tablet. Even if you capture video or photos at high resolution and size, it’s not going to use up all your storage space. 

Finding the right storage capacity for your camera is a determining factor when it comes to getting the best performance. Cameras these days can take pictures at high resolution and save them in multiple files. That’s why cameras have storage capacities. The higher the storage capacity, the more photos you can take at once and keep without worrying about running out of space. With so many options, how do you know which one is right for you? Well, we’re here to help! Here are our top picks for the best 256gb sd card.

Our team had to focus on researching and sifting through 17 hours to get such results for readers. As result, We believe the best 256gb sd card is SAMSUNG MB-ME256GA/AM 256GB MicroSDXC Card. This card offers ultra high speed for capturing and recording videos, photos, and other multimedia content. It also comes with a full-size adapter for easy insertion into your devices. If you're looking for additional options and more in-depth advice, you may check out the following buying guide & FAQs.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 SAMSUNG MB-ME256GA/AM 256GB MicroSDXC Card
Our Score:
9.9
SAMSUNG

Enhanced read write speeds: Sequential read and write performance levels of up to 100MB/S and 90MB/S, respectively

Ideal for recording 4K UHD video: Samsung MicroSD Evo is perfect for high res photos, gaming, music, tablets, laptops, action cameras, dslr’s, drones, smartphones (Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e, S9, S9+, Note9, S8, S8+, Note8, S7, S7 Edge, etc.), Android devices and more

Built to last reliability: Shock proof memory card is also water proof, temperature proof, X Ray proof and magnetic proof

TOP Choice #2 SanDisk 256GB microSDXC Card
Our Score:
9.7
SanDisk

Record and save more Full HD or 4K videos(3) with capacities up to 256GB (Compatible device required. Full HD (1920x1080) and/or 4K UHD (3840x2160) video support may vary based on host device, file attributes, usage conditions and other factors.)

Save more videos with capacities up to 256GB (1GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less.)

Designed for high endurance so you can record for up to 20,000 hours with no worries (Actual hours of video saved less. Up to 20,000 hours for 256GB; 10,000 hours for 128GB; 5,000 hours for 64GB; and 2,500 hours for 32GB.)

TOP Choice #3 Gigastone 256GB Micro SD Card
Our Score:
9.6
Gigastone

[Support] Gigastone 5-year limited warranty

[Ultra HD] Read/Write up to 100/60 MB/s. UltraHD video displaying/recording

[Gaming Series] Especially designed for Gaming Consoles. A1 spec enables high speed data transfer for game professionals

4 Silicon Power 256GB Micro SD Card
Our Score:
9.5
SP Silicon Power

Compatible with Nintendo Switch *In order to use a microSDXC card on the Nintendo Switch console, a system update is required.* See Nintendo official site for more details

UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30)

5-year limited manufacturer warranty

High compatibility for different types of devices including smartphones, tablets, Drones, Android Tablets, Tablet PCs, Action Cameras, DSLR and 4K or Full HD camcorder.

For products incompatible with UHS-I interface, the speeds may vary subject to different interface conditions, Read : up to 80MB/s with UHS-1 interface Write : up to 20MB/s with UHS-1 interface

5 SAMSUNG EVO 256GB Micro SD Card
Our Score:
9.4
SAMSUNG

YOU'RE FULLY PROTECTED: EVO Select Plus provides reliable storage and takes on life’s adventures with water⁴, temperature⁵, X-ray⁶, ⁷magnet, drop⁸, and wears⁹ out protection; Backed by a 10-year limited warranty; Proofs are for the microSD card and do not include the adaptor

FAST AND SMOOTH: With superfast U3, class 10 rated transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s¹,²and UHS-I Interface³ big apps load and run smoothly, while 4K video remains sharp with A2, V30, and USH-I Interface

FLASH MEMORY CARD: Performance and reliability you can count on from the flash memory brand; All firmware and components are produced in-house

ALL THE SPACE YOU NEED: Store tons of media on your phone, load games or download more apps on your tablet at top-notch speed, making transfers seamless and reliable

EXPAND AND STORE BIG: Find your perfect fit from 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB; Select the best capacity for all your memories

6 Gigastone 256GB Micro SD Card
Our Score:
9.2
Gigastone

[App] A2 grade provides faster App loading performance for Smartphone & Tablet.

[Support] Gigastone 5-year limited warranty including free data recovery. Free data recovery starting date of each series as following: 4K Camera Pro - June 1st, 2021 / 4K Game Pro - June 1st, 2021 / 4K Game turbo - June 1st, "2020"

[Storage] Expand smartphone internal storage space. Run App on Micro SD card.

Record and transfer videos, photos, music, files and more from microSD enabled host devices such as Android smartphones and tablets, action and surveillance cameras, drones, computers and more​

Class 10, U3, V30 speed class performance with read speeds up to 100MB/s for fast and smooth burst mode HD Photography and 4K Ultra HD Videography​

Reliable & Durable: Magnet Proof, Shock Proof, Temperature Proof, Waterproof​

8 SanDisk SDSQXAO 256GB microSDXC-Card
Our Score:
8.8
SanDisk

Store your downloaded games, screenshots and video captures in 1 place so you can travel light.

Instantly add up to 256GB (1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less.)

Spend less time waiting and more time playing with read speeds up to 100MB/s(1) and write speeds up to 90MB/s(1).

Incredible speeds in a microSD card officially licensed for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite systems

9 Vantrue 256GB micro SD Card
Our Score:
8.4
VANTRUE

Supports 4K and 1080P Full HD video recording and playback with UHS Speed Class U3 and Speed Class 10. (Performance results may vary based on host device, file attributes and other factors)

Transfer read speeds up to 100MB/s, writing speed 90MB/s, ensures smooth video capture.

Free SD Adapter included in the package, easy for video transferring.

The Vantrue High Endurance Video Card is able to withstand extreme temperatures, magnet, water and x-rays. Works perfectly in environments ranging from 32℉~158℉, storage temperature of -13℉ to 185℉.

Compatible with all Vantrue dashcams and most of the dashcams in the market. Ideal for video monitoring cameras, surveillance cams, smartphones, CCTV, body cams, drones, tablet etc.

10 SanDisk SDSQUA4 256GB Micro SD Card
Our Score:
8.2
SanDisk

Load apps faster with A1-rated performance (1). (1) A1 performance is 1500 read IOPS, 500 write IOPS. Based on internal testing. Results may vary based on host device, app type and other factors.

Ideal for Android smartphones and tablets, and MIL cameras

Up to 256GB to store even more hours of Full HD video (2). 1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. 1TB=1,000,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less. (2) Full HD (1920x1080) video support may vary based upon host device, file attributes, and other factors. See official SanDisk website.

Up to 120MB/s transfer speeds let you move up to 1000 photos in a minute (5). Up to 120MB/s read speed, engineered with proprietary technology to reach speeds beyond UHS-I 104MB/s, require compatible devices capable of reaching such speed. Write speeds lower. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device, interface, usage conditions and other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes. (5)Based on internal testing on images with an average file size of 3.55MB (up to 3.7GB total) with USB 3.0 reader. Your results will vary based on host device, file attributes, and other factors.

Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to Look For in a best 256gb sd card?

You may think purchasing seems simple, and it sometimes does the opposite! Studying the outcome of best 256gb sd card will take a considerable amount of time. Also, there are multiple sides of best 256gb sd card you need to check. That’s the reason why we’re all ready to assist you with best 256gb sd card issue.

You should pay more attention to the following criteria of best 256gb sd card in 2024:

Speed Class

The speed class of the card refers to its minimum sequential write speed, which is essential for video recording. SD Association updates its marketing tactics for sequential write speeds every few years, and the latest tactic is to have three different speed classes available. The highest available speed class, V90, refers to cards that can write at 90MB/s or higher. If you are recording 4K video footage, SD Association recommends any card between 10MB/s to 60MB/s.

File Formats

Don’t overlook formatting your microsd card when choosing a storage device. There are a handful of different formats you could test, including FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT. Make sure your microsd card is formatted to work with your device and computer. The new SDXC cards will only function with the exFAT format, and that’s only compatible with Windows XP SP2 and higher.

Application Performance Class

This is a new standard created by the SD Association in 2016, denoted by a stylized "A" next to a number. This performance class refers to the card's minimum random read and random write speeds (measured in input/output operations per second - IOPS).

Compatibility

Most smartphone makers dropped support for expandable storage a few years ago, but it's made a strong return. While this highly-coveted feature is available on some phones, be sure to check the specs of the phone you want to buy to make sure it is available. You can also make things easy and check out our roundup of the best phones with expandable memory!

Durability

The durability of a micro SD card is crucial since it’s often used to store important content or information. There’s nothing worse than losing your files, especially if you don’t have a backup! Fortunately, the top brands offer highly resistant, secure micro SD cards. These cards are made to withstand shocks and resist the impact of magnetic forces or X-rays. Some can even withstand immersion in water without damage. Accidents certainly can happen, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Storage Capacity

It’s important to figure out your storage needs. A 1TB microSD card isn’t going to provide enough space, and you also need to be aware of device compatibility. This is not about whether a phone supports microSD cards, but the type of card you can use. Some phones, especially those that are ultra-affordable, may only support microSD cards with a capacity of up to only 32GB. It’s worth knowing this information before making a purchase.

Card Type

This is only important if you're using old gadgets from 2009 or earlier. The first generation's called SD (Secure Digital), followed by SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity), and the current generation is called SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity). Each card type comes from a different technological age, so an old device with support up to SDHC may not be able to take in the new SDXC card. If your device can receive the latest card type, chances are, it can accept the older generations too.

FAQs

What is an SD card?

An SD card, or Secure Digital card, is a small, portable memory card used for storing digital data such as photos, music, or other documents. It is typically used in digital cameras, computers, and other electronic devices.

How do I insert an SD card into my device?

Most devices will have a slot on the side or bottom where the SD card can be inserted. Be sure to align the card with the correct orientation as indicated by the device. Once the card is securely inserted, your device should recognize the SD card and allow you to access the data.

Is an SD card the same as a MicroSD card?

MicroSD cards are a smaller version of the standard SD card and are often used in smartphones and other mobile devices. When purchasing an SD card, make sure you select the correct size for your device.

How do I transfer data to my SD card?

Depending on your device, you may be able to transfer data directly to the SD card or use a card reader to access the card on your computer. You can then drag and drop the files you want to save onto the card.

How do I format my SD card?

To format an SD card, you can use the built-in formatting tool on your device or computer. Be sure to save any important files before formatting the card as this will erase all of the data from the card.

What is a 256GB SD card?

A 256GB SD card is a type of memory card used to store digital data. It is typically used in devices such as digital cameras, camcorders, and smartphones, and can store up to 256 gigabytes of data.

How many photos can a 256gb SD card hold?

A 256gb SD card can hold approximately 68,000 high-resolution photos. This number may vary depending on the file size of each photo.


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About Piers Anthony

Piers Anthony

Piers Anthony is a freelance writer and computer expert who enjoys helping others get the most out of their technology. He has written extensively about laptops, soundbars, and other computer-related topics, and he currently serves as the editor of The Audio Insights website. When he's not writing or tinkering with his gadgets, Piers can be found spending time with his wife and family.