How to choose a memory card for the tablet

When choosing a memory card, you should pay attention to the supported standard and the size of this external drive.

How to choose a memory card for a tablet: key parameters

The main criteria for choosing a memory card for a tablet are:

1. Standard;

2. Speed ​​class;

3. Volume;

4. Additional functions.

5. Also important is the manufacturer of the memory card.

Main criteria for choosing a memory card

Memory card standard

There are three standards for microSD memory cards:

1. MicroSDSC (it can also be called simply MicroSD, and SC stands for “Standard Capacity”). The oldest format of memory cards. The maximum supported capacity is 2 GB. As a result, the format today is practically “extinct,” both on the tablet market and among the manufacturers of the actual memory cards;

2. MicroSDHC (High Capacity). The most common format of memory cards. The maximum amount is 64 GB. Used in the vast majority of tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices. Therefore, if a memory card is required and nothing is known about compatibility with the tablet, it is recommended to pay attention to this standard;

3. MicroSDXC (Extended Capacity). The most modern standard of memory cards. The maximum supported capacity is 2 TB. True, this is a theoretical value, but in practice it is several times smaller. Most often used in modern flagship tablets.

All these standards are backward compatible with each other. I.e:

1. In a tablet that supports standard microSDXC memory cards, you can install memory cards of all standards;

2. In a tablet that supports the standard MicroSDHC, you can install only MicroSDHC or MicroSHSC;

3. A microSDHC-compliant tablet can only have MicroSDSC installed, and no other format.

You can find out which memory card standard the tablet supports from the technical characteristics of the device itself. This parameter can be given both explicitly (that is, the name of the standard is indicated directly), and indirectly. For example, if the technical specification gives the following indication - “Maximum supported memory card capacity: 64 GB”, then we can safely say that the tablet is compatible with external MicroSDHC standard drives.

Speed ​​class

The speed class, as the name implies, determines the maximum speed of reading and writing to the memory card. The higher it is, the greater the scope of application of this external drive. At the same time, low-speed memory cards are poorly suited even for ordinary, everyday operations.

The following speed classes exist:

1. Class 2. The most simple and cheap memory cards. Have a read and write speed of about 2 Mbps. Suitable for working with small documents, including multimedia files with a low bit rate;

2. Class 4. They have a read and write speed of about 4 Mbps. Therefore, they are suitable for working with multimedia files having an average bitrate. For example, they can record real-time photos up to 8 MP without HDR + and not in RAW;

3. Class 6. They have a read and write speed of about 6 Mbps.They can record multimedia files of relatively high bitrate (for example, MP3 320 kbps or video clips up to 480p), as well as shoot corresponding video and photos in real time;

4. Class 10. They have a read and write speed of about 10 Mbps. Suitable for the vast majority of cases, including working with multimedia files in Full HD. However, when recording video of such a high resolution, defects and artifacts can be observed;

5. Ush-i. Ideal memory cards for mobile photo and video in resolutions up to 2K inclusive and a frame rate of 30 fps. Have a read and write speed of 10 Mbps;

6. UHS-III. Memory cards for mobile video in high resolution (for example, 4K) or with a high frame rate of up to 120 fps. Have a read and write speed of 30 Mbit / s.

For most cases, memory cards of the class 10 speed class are sufficient. For example, you can install applications on them, if the operating system allows it. But a memory card of a higher speed class should be purchased only if there is a direct need for this - you have to shoot a lot or play HD video, for example.

Volume

Since the operating system and installed applications are placed on the internal storage of the tablet, user data — photos, videos, music, and other documents — are written to the memory card. Therefore, it is worth choosing the volume based on your needs.

In fact, the required minimum is 4 GB. On this memory card, you can record a couple of movies at resolutions up to 480p and several music albums.

It is advisable to purchase a memory card with a capacity of 8 GB. Then there will be some free space "in reserve". And for lovers of mobile photo and video, drives with a capacity of 32 GB and more are designed - because each shot in high resolution, and even more so with HDR support, "weighs" about 10 MB. As a result, they can “score” a 4 GB memory card in 2-3 hours of active photography.

Additional functions

Among the most important additional functions of memory cards intended for use in tablets, you can highlight:

1. Protection against harmful external factors. These memory cards are experiencing high temperatures, mechanical stress, electrical breakdowns that appear during unsafe extraction and installation, radiation when scanning at airports, etc .;

2. Access to data recovery software. Companies such as SanDisk and Transcend, complete their external drives with special software designed for emergency data recovery in case of damage to the memory card. The distribution kit can be either stored on the “flash drive” itself or downloaded from the company's website. In any case, such software will not interfere;

3. Extended Warranty. Usually the warranty from the store on memory cards and similar drives is about 6-12 months. The extended warranty from the manufacturer allows you not to worry about damage to an external drive, even if a year has passed since the date of purchase. However, the majority of memory card failures are due to external factors, so this option is a rather controversial decision.

4. It is worth choosing protected memory cards (as well as other additional functions) only if you plan to use these drives in extreme conditions.

Top manufacturers

The best manufacturers of memory cards for tablets and other mobile devices are:

1. Samsung. Produces special "mobile-oriented" memory cards, but they usually have a high price;

2. SanDisk, Kingston. Release the middle class memory cards;

3. Transcend. It produces relatively inexpensive, but at the same time quite productive and practical memory cards.

But the products of companies such as Dexp or AData, it is recommended to avoid. Usually it is slightly cheaper than memory cards from SanDisk or Kingston, but it does not have the same high quality - and if damaged, all data from the drive can be destroyed.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.