The 5 Best SD Cards

We all need more storage space. If you're a gamer, you need more space for more games. If you're a photographer, you need the extra space for all of your pictures. And sometimes, you just have a lot of files and you run out of memory very quickly. SD cards provide that extra storage space in a tiny package. We've reviewed the top five SD cards for you so you'll never run out of space for your games, photos, and files.

SanDisk 128 GB Extreme PRO

SanDisk is a trusted name for a reason

This classic SanDisk SD card is exactly what you think of when you think of an SD card. And they're trusted because they work.
Best Overall

Find on Amazon

This SD card has 128 GB of storage and can handle transfer speeds up to 170 MB/s. It’s shot speeds can get up to 90 MB/s. It’s great for videos or photos that are shot in 4K UHD or burst mode photography. Since that takes up a lot of space, you’ll need 128 GB or more. It can handle video with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and capture uninterrupted video with it’s UHS Speed Class 3. These cards are built to last in bad conditions and made water proof, shock proof, x-ray proof, and temperature proof but if something should happen, it comes with a lifetime limited manufacturer warranty.

Pros:

  • Great for high resolution video and photos
  • Quick transfer speeds
  • Lifetime warranty

Cons:

  • More expensive

Lexar Professional 128 GB

The 5 Best SD Cards

For whatever your needs are

Lexar offers a wide variety of sizes and two packs for whatever your storage space needs may be.
Most Options

Find on Amazon

The Lexar Professional offers 128 GB of storage, but you can also get versions with up to 256 GB. Lexar has single packs and also two packs if you need SD cards for two different devices or just more storage. It has UHS II technology to reach up to 150 MB/s for data transfers. It can capture 1080p full HD, 4K, and even 3D video so you know all of your images will be high quality. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty and is backwards compatible with UHS I devices.

Pros:

  • Transfer speeds
  • Many different purchasing options
  • Captures 3D video

Cons:

  • Not advertised as water proof

SanDisk 128 GB Extreme

These are built to last

SD cards are small and easily breakable, but this SanDisk card is built to withstand any accidents and last a long time.
Best Durability

Find on Amazon

This SanDisk is built to last and has been tested in the worst conditions. It’s water proof, temperature proof, x-ray proof, and shock proof. If anything should happen to it, it’s covered by a lifetime limited manufacturer warranty. The SanDisk Extreme can reach transfer speeds of up to 150 MB/s and shot speeds up to 70 MB/s. This card is great for Full HD and 4K UHD and will support burst mode photography. It has a UHS Speed Class 3 and video Speed Class 30. With the durability of this SanDisk SD card, you can trust that you’ll have it for a while.

Pros:

  • Durability
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Transfer speed

Cons:

  • Not as fast as the other SanDisk, but still great

PNY Elite Performance 128 GB

You don't need to break the bank

The PNY SD card comes at the most discounted price if you're not looking to spend a bunch of money for your extra storage space.
Best Deal

Find on Amazon

This SD card is being sold at 44% off and deals don’t get much better than that. It can store more than 45,500 photos and has a 95 MB/s transfer rate. The PNY card is built well and proven to be water proof, temperature proof, shock proof, and magnet proof. It’s Class 10 UHS-I performance allows for burst mode photos and 4K Ultra HD. It’s great for cameras, and action shots in particular. If you’re looking to film your child’s soccer or baseball game, you won’t miss a moment with this PNY SD card. For a higher price, you can even get a 512 GB version.

Pros:

  • Great deal
  • Durable
  • Good for action/sports video

Cons:

  • Not as fast of a transfer rate, but still adequate

Lexar Professional 256 GB

Bigger is better

This SD card offers the most storage space of any of the above four SD cards, so if you need a whole bunch more space, this is the way to go.
Most Storage

Find on Amazon

The Lexar Professional SD Card offers the largest amount of storage space on this list. At 256 GB, it’ll be a while until you run out of memory. With its UHS-II technology, it’s possible to get transfer speeds of up to 250 MB/s. This card can capture 3D imaging as well as 4K and 1080p Full HD. It’s backed by limited lifetime product support so help will always be there. With such a large amount of storage, you won’t have to keep track of so many different SD cards and you can film for longer periods of time without swapping out cards.

Pros:

  • Amount of storage
  • Transfer speed
  • Lifetime product support

Cons:

  • More expensive, but more storage

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MB/s?

MB/s stands for megabytes per second. It’s the data transfer rate, and if you have a lot of large files to transfer from different devices, it’s best to get a high transfer rate.

What are these compatible with?

These SD cards will fit in anything with an SD card reader. It should be able to go in cameras, laptops, and even some gaming devices.

Why Trust Us

With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.