Samsung has announced a new microSD card that does something unprecedented for the company: it contains 1TB of storage.
While its rivals have long offered 1TB microSD cards, Samsung has not, and the Pro Plus and Evo Select now look to compete among the best microSD cards.
The company says the cards use its eighth-generation Samsung V-NAND (V8) technology, which helps improve the cards' performance and capacity. Since they're clearly aimed at professionals, such as photographers and other creators, those features are important.
Samsung 1TB SSD Drives
Previously, Samsung had 1TB products, but they were SSDs and portable SSDs. The company estimates that 1TB is enough for 400,000 4K UHD images or over 45 console games, and both will likely cover your needs.
As for the technical aspects, the Pro Plus and Evo Select seem to be the most suitable. The former of the two has transfer speeds of up to 180MB/s and features a UHS speed grade 3 rating for capturing high-quality 4K UHD video. A V30 video class rating also means file transfers are incredibly fast.
The Evo Select can transfer files at speeds of up to 160MB/s and appears to be geared more toward everyday use than strictly professional work.
Samsung says there's also a new controller on both microSD cards, built using its 28-nanometer process technology, up from the 55nm on Samsung's previous line.
Durability is a concern for anyone carrying memory storage, as damage can easily be catastrophic to a project, and Samsung has tested the cards in some pretty extreme conditions, including water, high temperatures, X-rays, and (the dreaded) magnetic fields.
Get your game up to speed
Aside from professional photographers, one of the best uses for a microSD card is gaming consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch. We’ve already mentioned that a 1TB microSD card can store up to 45 games (if they’re around 20GB each), meaning you can store plenty of the best Switch games on it.
Pro Plus and Evo Select are also compatible with Android smartphones, other gaming consoles, tablets, laptops and many other devices.
Both models come in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB options along with 1TB, with the Evo Select having a 64GB option at the lower end. Prices range from $24.99 to $153.99 for the Pro Plus, and $12.99 to $131.99 for the Evo Select.
Those higher prices for the 1TB model put the Evo Select and Pro Plus above competitors like the Silicon Power A1, which sells for around $62 for the 1TB card, and the Lexar Play microSD card, which costs around $73 for the same.
Still, Samsung is a very reliable brand and there are some technological innovations that are worth paying for. Plus, you get a five-year warranty.
