Choosing the best Micro SD card for recording 4K video depends on several factors such as read/write speeds, capacity, reliability, and compatibility with your device.
When recording 4K video, you will want a card that offers fast and consistent write speeds to handle the high data transfer rate required by 4K video recording without dropouts or buffering issues.
Here are some factors to consider before buying any microSD card:
Speed Class and UHS Speed Class: Look for microSD cards with high Speed Class ratings, such as UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) or Video Speed Class (V30 or higher).
These cards are designed specifically for high-resolution video recording, ensuring consistent write speeds.
Minimum Sequential Write Speed: For 4K video, a minimum sustained write speed of 30MB/s (Megabytes per second) or higher is recommended to handle the data rate of 4K video recording.
Capacity: Choose a capacity that suits your needs.
Higher-capacity cards allow for more extended recording sessions without needing to offload the footage frequently.
When choosing a microSD card, check if it is compatible with your device, as some older devices might not support higher-capacity or higher-speed cards.
Additionally, purchasing from reputable brands can ensure reliability and performance.
Always check the manufacturer’s specifications and your device’s compatibility before purchasing a microSD card for 4K video recording.
Here are some top microSD card recommendations suitable for 4K video recording:
SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-I Card:
The SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-I Card is a popular choice among users seeking high-performance microSD cards, especially for demanding tasks like 4K video recording.
This microSD card is known for its impressive read and write speeds, which are crucial for handling high-resolution video recording.
It typically offers read speeds of up to 170MB/s and write speeds of up to 90MB/s, making it well-suited for capturing and transferring 4K UHD video content.
This card is available in various capacities, ranging from 64GB up to 1TB, providing users with options to choose the capacity that best fits their storage needs.
Higher capacities allow for more extended video recording sessions without needing to swap or offload data frequently.
The Extreme PRO microSDXC card is built to withstand harsh conditions, including water, temperature, shock, and X-ray proof, making it suitable for outdoor or action camera use.
Additionally, it is compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, cameras, drones, and other devices that support microSDXC cards.
This card performs reliably during 4K video recording, allowing for smooth and consistent capture without buffering issues or dropped frames. Its high-speed performance also facilitates quick file transfers when moving content to a computer or other storage devices.
Overall, the SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-I Card is favored by many videographers, photographers, and enthusiasts due to its high-speed performance, reliability, and robustness, making it a solid choice for capturing and storing high-resolution video content, including 4K footage.
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC UHS-I Card:
The Samsung EVO Select microSDXC UHS-I card is a popular and reliable choice for storing and recording high-resolution content, including 4K videos, due to its good performance and affordability.
The Samsung EVO Select microSDXC UHS-I card belongs to the UHS-I class, providing a read speed of up to 100MB/s and a write speed of up to 60MB/s, which is generally suitable for capturing 4K video content without issues like dropped frames or interruptions.
This card is available in various storage capacities ranging from 32GB up to 512GB.
Choosing the appropriate capacity depends on the amount of footage you plan to store.
Higher capacities allow for more extended recording sessions and storage of more content.
The Samsung EVO Select microSDXC UHS-I card is labelled with Video Speed Class 30 (V30), indicating that it’s specifically designed and tested for sustained minimum write speeds of at least 30MB/s, making it suitable for recording 4K UHD video content.
Samsung is known for producing durable and reliable storage solutions.
The EVO Select microSD cards are often designed to be waterproof, temperature-proof, X-ray-proof, and magnet-proof, ensuring the safety and security of your data in various environmental conditions.
These microSD cards are compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, action cameras, drones, digital cameras, and other devices that support microSDXC cards.
Overall, the Samsung EVO Select microSDXC UHS-I card is a reliable and well-rounded option for users seeking a balance between performance, capacity, and affordability when capturing and storing high-resolution content like 4K videos.
Lexar Professional 1000x microSDXC UHS-II Card:
The Lexar Professional 1000x microSDXC UHS-II card is a high-performance microSD card designed for demanding applications such as 4K video recording, high-resolution photography, and fast data transfer.
The “1000x” rating indicates the card’s maximum read speed, which can reach up to 150MB/s.
This high read speed allows for quick data transfer when accessing files, including large 4K video files and high-resolution photos.
The Lexar Professional 1000x microSDXC UHS-II card is available in various capacities, allowing users to choose based on their storage needs.
It is compatible with devices that support microSDXC cards and UHS-II interface for optimal performance.
The write speed is also good, enabling smooth and uninterrupted 4K video recording.
Lexar is known for producing reliable memory products.
The Professional 1000x microSDXC UHS-II card is built to withstand various conditions, including temperature extremes, shock, vibration, and water exposure.
This durability ensures the card performs well even in challenging environments.
The high-speed performance of the Lexar Professional 1000x microSDXC UHS-II card makes it suitable for professionals and enthusiasts who require fast and reliable storage for activities such as capturing 4K video with action cameras, drones, DSLRs, and other devices that support microSD cards.
It’s important to note that while this microSD card offers impressive speed and performance, its compatibility with devices that support UHS-II technology is crucial for unlocking its full capabilities.
Always ensure that your device is compatible with UHS-II cards before purchasing to make the most out of the card’s high-speed features.
PNY PRO Elite microSDXC Card:
The PNY PRO Elite microSDXC card is another option known for its performance and reliability in handling 4K video recording.
The PNY PRO Elite microSDXC card is designed to offer fast and consistent performance, making it suitable for recording high-resolution videos, including 4K content.
It comes with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30) ratings, indicating its ability to sustain minimum write speeds of 30MB/s.
PNY offers the PRO Elite microSDXC card in various capacities to suit different storage needs.
These capacities can range from smaller sizes like 32GB to larger sizes such as 512GB or more, allowing users to choose the capacity that fits their requirements for storing 4K video files.
The PRO Elite microSDXC card is designed to withstand various conditions, including temperature extremes, shock, water, and magnetic fields, making it suitable for use in challenging environments.
It’s important to check compatibility with your specific device before purchasing.
The PNY PRO Elite microSDXC card is generally compatible with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, action cameras, drones, and other devices that support microSDXC cards.
PNY typically offers a limited lifetime warranty on their PRO Elite microSDXC cards, providing customers with peace of mind regarding the card’s durability and performance.
Make sure that the card’s specifications match the requirements of your device to achieve optimal performance during 4K video recording and playback.
These are some top microSD card recommendations suitable for 4K video recording.