MicroSD cards and how to differentiate between them?

Forums › Off topic › MicroSD cards and how to differentiate between them?

danepak

1112 posts

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#289340 31-Aug-2021 09:43

I'm looking to buy a 128GB microSD card for my daughter's Chromebook.

One website (based in NZ) lists the SanDisk Ultra 128GB Micro SD Card SDXC A1 UHS-I 120MB/s memory card for $25.25.

Another website (large NZ retailer) lists the same card for $59.99. This retailer is normally very competitive with pricing.

The cards look identical. Both are red and grey. Both have the same writing on the card. Am I missing something?

Also, I saw another SanDisk Ultra card, but where the top is white and the bottom is grey. Almost identical, apart from the red one has a small 1 listed next to MicroSD and also A1 written.

msukiwi

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#2769161 31-Aug-2021 09:55

Official Sandisk Page explaining the Types etc:

https://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22697/

Oblivian

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#2769179 31-Aug-2021 09:59

More or less, stock age vs Speeds and realtime video capabilities.

UHS-I and UHS-II cards can use UHS Speed Class rating with two possible grades: class 1 for minimum write performance of at least 10 MB/s ('U1' symbol featuring number 1 inside 'U') and class 3 for minimum write performance of 30 MB/s ('U3' symbol featuring 3 inside 'U'), targeted at recording 4K video.[108] Before November 2013, the rating was branded UHS Speed Grade and contained grades 0 (no symbol) and 1 ('U1' symbol). Manufacturers can also display standard speed class symbols (C2, C4, C6, and C10) alongside, or in place of UHS speed class.

UHS memory cards work best with UHS host devices. The combination lets the user record HD resolution videos with tapeless camcorders while performing other functions. It is also suitable for real-time broadcasts and capturing large HD videos.

https://www.sdcard.org/developers/sd-standard-overview/application-performance-class/

danepak

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#2769188 31-Aug-2021 10:11

Thanks for the info.

richms

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#2769189 31-Aug-2021 10:12

All of those class and U ratings are obsolete now and cards are way faster than those ratings allow for (except for off brand junk or really old stock). The A1 rating relates to its performance for running apps of the card in mobile phones, but I havent seen any performance difference when I swapped out to an A1 in a raspberry pi which is something I would assume has a similar demand on a card for random reads.

Avoid big retailers for SD cards. They're all ripoffs and will have SKUs that noone else does locally to avoid any price match requirements. Its the common upsell BS where they will try to sell you SD cards, HDMI cables, a surge protector and other stuff with really high margins on them.

PB tech is the only place I get cards locally.

Richard rich.ms

danepak

1112 posts

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#2769212 31-Aug-2021 10:25

Thanks.

What surprises me is that someone in NZ is selling the exact same memory card as PB Tech for less than half the price (just under $26). PB Tech are just under $60!

I called them to ask for shipping times and he said approx 8 days, as they're shipped from Sydney (OK, so not really NZ, but still).

And they guarantee that they're 100% genuine.

richms

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#2769234 31-Aug-2021 10:52

I have had too many fakes to trust someone that is now shipping from Australia. Could just be someone has spun up a shopping cart and is dropshipping junk.

Up to you if you feel that a trivial $30 saving is worth the inconvenience of losing all the stuff. At least in a chromebook it should all be stuff that is elsewhere.

Richard rich.ms

quickymart

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#2769390 31-Aug-2021 15:45

When I get my next SD card, it will 100% be from PB Tech.

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neb

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#2769400 31-Aug-2021 16:00

danepak:
What surprises me is that someone in NZ is selling the exact same memory card as PB Tech for less than half the price (just under $26). PB Tech are just under $60!

PB Tech are presumably buying from an authorised SanDisk reseller while the other place got a good bulk deal from Happy Golden Luck Computer Emporium in Shenzhen. As @richms said, spend the few extra dollars and get a known-good one.

Geektastic

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#2769829 1-Sep-2021 12:34

I have always ordered mine from B&H Photo in New York. NZ prices have been completely insane for the larger capacity/higher speeds I need for my cameras.

pdh

345 posts

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#2769901 1-Sep-2021 13:03

Ships and sold from Amazon.au

22.99 plus 1.99 delivery to NZ.

Same as OP's Red/Gray image.

GST no extra cost - as 23$ includes Aussie GST.

1101

3122 posts

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#2770466 2-Sep-2021 10:23

Theres no way of knowing if its genuine or fake before you buy it. Even the photos & spec may not match actual product.
Even NZ Big Retailers have been caught selling various fakes (not just SD cards)

If buying from a dropshipper, factor in long delays if its actually sent from Aus or China.
If you want it now, buy online from a NZ retail Store (make sure they can send during lockdown)

The fake or generic may just work OK regardless.

SCUBADOO

192 posts

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#2770540 2-Sep-2021 12:26

There must still be substantial markup margins here.
Pre lock down I purchased a SanDisk 256GB microSD card.
PBTech $99. Noel Leeming $130.

Presented Super Gold and NZMCA cards at NL. $68 thank you.

wlgspotter

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#2770551 2-Sep-2021 13:01

1101:

The fake or generic may just work OK regardless.

I was hit with a fake many many years ago - and that too was purchased from Amazon US. The "fake" part was to do with the actual capacity of the card. I bought something like a 32GB Micro SDHC card (probably the largest "affordable" capacity card at the time). All seemed to work OK initially, then the card started failing. Found out (from online reviews etc) that others had the same issue and my card was probably only a 4GB card.

I have since purchased cards from Amazon US, but I only purchase from the official Sandisk store from Amazon.

I guess it is a case of YMMV with regards to fake cards...