Samsung has announced a new microSD that offers something unique for the company: 1TB of storage.
While competitors have long offered 1TB microSD cards, Samsung has yet to do so. The Pro Plus and Evo Select now aim to compete with the best microSD cards.
The company says the cards use Samsung’s eighth-generation V-NAND (V8) technology, which helps improve the cards’ performance and capacity. Since these cards are specifically aimed at professionals, such as photographers and other creators, those features are important.
Samsung 1TB SSDs
Samsung has had 1TB products before, but those were SSDs and portable SSDs. The company estimates that 1TB is enough for 400,000 4K UHD images or more than 45 console games, both of which will likely suit your needs.
On the technical side, the Pro Plus and Evo Select seem well-suited. The former has transfer speeds of up to 180MB/s and features UHS Speed Grade 3 for high-quality 4K UHD video recording. A V30 video rating also means file transfers are blazing fast.
Capable of transferring files at up to 160 MB/s, the Evo Select seems more geared towards everyday use than professional work.
Samsung says both microSD cards also feature a new controller built using its 28-nanometer process technology, a step down from the 55nm technology in Samsung’s previous lineup.
Durability is a concern for anyone who carries memory storage, as damage can easily be catastrophic to a project. Samsung has tested the cards to the extremes, including water, high temperatures, x-rays and (the dreaded) magnetic fields.
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Besides professional photographers, one of the best uses for a microSD is on gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch. We mentioned earlier that a 1TB microSD card can store up to 45 games (assuming they’re around 20GB each), which means you can store many of the best Switch games.
The Pro Plus and Evo Select are also compatible with Android smartphones, other game consoles, tablets, laptops and many other devices.
Both models come in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB options in addition to 1TB, with the Evo Select having a 64GB option on the lower end. Pricing ranges from $24.99 to $153.99 for the Pro Plus, and $12.99 to $131.99 for the Evo Select.
The higher price of the 1TB model helps the Evo Select and Pro Plus outperform competitors like the Silicon Power A1, which retails for around $62 for the 1TB card, and the Lexar Play microSD card, which costs around $73 for the same model.
Still, Samsung is a very reliable brand and there are some technical innovations that are worth paying for. Plus, you get a five-year warranty.