Samsung has announced the launch of updated versions of its EVO Select and EVO Plus microSD cards. The new cards are designed for mobile devices and handheld gaming consoles and have improved transfer speeds. Samsung also announced that it will be releasing 1 TB capacity EVO Select and PRO Plus microSD cards later this year.
Faster transfer speeds
Samsung’s new EVO Select and EVO Plus microSD cards have transfer speeds of up to 160 MB/s. This is an increase of 23% over their predecessors. The new cards also have a Grade 3 (U3) speed rating which ensures compatibility with most high-resolution and 4K video recording devices. However, the video speed class rating is only V30 which means a minimum write speed of 30 MB/s. In addition, Samsung says that its microSD cards with capacities of 128 GB and higher support an application performance class of A2. This is important if you want to use apps with the cards on your tablet or smartphone.
Storage capacities
Samsung’s new EVO Select and EVO Plus microSD cards are available in capacities of 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB. In addition, Samsung is going to launch its first 1 TB microSD cards later this year. The 1 TB cards will be available as part of the EVO Select and PRO Plus microSD ranges. All of the cards are also backed by Samsung’s six-proof protection. This means that the cards can withstand water, extreme temperatures, X-rays, wear-out, drops and magnetic impact.
Mobile and handheld gaming
“With the mobile and handheld gaming market on the rise, we sought to make data transfers on those devices even faster with these updated EVO Select and EVO Plus lines,” said Jose Hernandez, senior director of memory product marketing at Samsung. “We also heard the need for more space options like a 1 TB memory card for digital files like games, video footage from phones, cameras and drones, photos, and creative designs. With this addition to the lineup, you can be confident you’ll have plenty of space, fast speeds, and the durability needed to last for years to come.”
What we think
Samsung’s new EVO Select and EVO Plus microSD cards are ideal for your smartphones, tablets and gaming consoles. As smartphones offer higher resolution and higher frame rate video, faster cards with larger storage capacities are becoming more essential. Samsung’s 1 TB cards will be very popular when they are released as a result. However, the V30 video speed class isn’t fast enough for higher frame rate recording on many mirrorless and cinema cameras. It’s also advised to use a full-sized card with those cameras, rather than a microSD card in an adapter.
Pricing and availability
Samsung’s new EVO Select and EVO Plus microSD cards are available now. The EVO Select cards start at $15 for 64 GB and go up to $56 for the 512 GB card. The EVO Plus microSD cards cost a little more, starting at $16 for the 64 GB and up to $61 for the 512 GB option.
Samsung hasn’t released pricing for the 1 TB EVO Select and PRO Plus microSD cards yet. These cards will be launched later this year.