Users of smartphones, tablets, or cameras wishing to increase their storage space may benefit from the SanDisk Ultra microSDXC 128GB memory card. It works with any camera that accepts SD cards and is compatible with both Android and Windows phones (it comes with an SD card adaptor). Although it has the greatest storage of any microSD card currently on the market, the user does give up some performance; with a reported read speed of 30MB/s, it is one of SanDisk’s slower microSD cards. But, for many people, this trade-off would be simple to justify; anyone who uses their phone or camera to capture a lot of HD video or photographs and doesn’t want to clear the card as regularly may fully enjoy the benefits of this card.
The Ultra microSDXC is similarly resistant to water, shock, X-rays, and severe temperatures as other SanDisk microSD cards. The user will have piece of mind knowing that their media will be stored in a location that is even secure than the devices that use the card.
A 10-year warranty is included with the $199.99 cost of the Ultra SDXC.
Specifications
- Model: 128GB SDSDQUA-128G
- MicroSDXC form factor
- Up to 30MB/s read and 30MB/s write performance
- Card Size: 0.59 by 0.043 by 0.03 in (15mm x 11mm x 1.0mm)
- Card Dimensions: 1.26″ x 0.94″ x 0.08″ with Adapter (24mm x 32mm x 2.1mm)
- -25 to 85°C during operation
- -40 to 85 degrees Celsius for storage
- Compatible with host devices that support microSDHC and microSDXC
- 10 year Construction warranty
Design
The Ultra microSDXC may be used with both microSDHC and microSDXC devices and shares a general design with other microSD cards. The full size SD card converter is also provided by SanDisk to make it simple to use with most computers and digital cameras.
The card’s rear is identical to other microSD cards; it has eight gold pins with the circuit board layout and NAND package as well as a little label displaying the model number. The card’s entire front is black with red branding.
Performance
We evaluated the SanDisk Ultra microSDXC 128GB’s transfer rates using our Consumer Testing Platform and IOMeter. The random large-block performance was determined to be 43.98MB/s and 2.45MB/s for read and write, respectively, while its sequential activity was measured at 44.66MB/s and 14.29MB/s. Both read values were greater than what SanDisk disclosed; the firm only states that predicted write speeds will be poorer than read performance.
We can see the extent of the SanDisk Ultra microSDXC card’s performance compromise when compared to the SanDisk Extreme PLUS microSDXC 64GB card. The Extreme PLUS microSDXC outperformed the Ultra microSDXC in every category, scoring sequential transfer speeds of 89.41MB/s and 58.51MB/s for read and write, respectively, and random transfer speeds of 82.10MB/s and 41.54MB/s for read and write.
While comparing the Extreme Plus to the Ultra is unfair, it does provide a thorough picture of what the user can anticipate. In this instance, you get a single card with twice the capacity, but with reduced read and write performance. In the big picture, the speeds will be fine for the majority of people who are considering the card to fulfill capacity demands, and many of the use cases will be read-oriented anyway — music playback, video viewing, and so on.
For consumers that need a lot of storage but don’t mind slower performance than other SanDisk microSD cards, the SanDisk Ultra microSDXC 128GB is ideal. The Extreme PLUS microSDXC, the card we used as a comparison for the Ultra microSDXC, gives the Ultra microSDXC some context. With the 128GB Ultra, the customer practically sacrifices twice the storage for around half the performance speed. Whilst the card will still complete all tasks required in the intended use cases, prospective purchasers shouldn’t be too hard on the Ultra microSDXC’s performance.
When compared to SanDisk’s 64GB Ultra microSD card, the current street price of about $200 is a 4X price premium and just a 2X capacity boost, which may be the largest drawback. Although it is still early, as output increases, prices will more closely match. There isn’t another single card solution for capacity-constrained end users, thus price isn’t going to be a deterrent for those who have a true need for the additional capacity.
Pros
- Top capacity point in the market
- A ten-year guarantee
- Good construction
Cons
slower transfer rates compared to the majority of microSD memory cards
The conclusion
Consumers wishing to expand the storage capacity of their Android or Windows phone or camera without having to sacrifice by juggling several cards or storage systems may consider the SanDisk Ultra microSDXC 128GB memory card.
