The 7 Best 256gb Sd Card Of 2025, Tested By Our Experts

As we looked into dependable SD cards for everyday use, the Amazon Basics model kept showing up as a smart choice. It supports everything from smartphones and tablets to DSLRs and drones, and it even comes with an SD adapter, making it flexible enough for most devices right out of the package.

On paper, the card checks all the right boxes: up to 100MB/s read and 90MB/s write speeds, UHS, U3, Class 10, and A2 ratings. That translates to smoother app performance on smartphones and faster data transfer for those shooting in Full HD or 4K. It's also built to last, with protection against shocks, water, temperature extremes, X-rays, and magnets—ideal for people always on the go.

What we found noteworthy in reviews and product specs is its durability for travel and outdoor use. It’s clearly designed to handle tough conditions, giving peace of mind when shooting in unpredictable environments. One minor drawback is that it doesn’t come with a storage case. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does mean you'll need to be a bit more careful when carrying or storing it loose, especially if you tend to switch between cards often.

When researching reliable microSD cards for cameras, gaming consoles, and smartphones, we found the Samsung EVO stands out for its speed and versatility. It supports read speeds up to 160 MB/s and write speeds that make it suitable for 4K UHD video and HD content creation. Whether you’re recording on a GoPro, storing games on a Switch, or offloading videos from a camera, it’s built to handle everyday demands with ease.

We like that it comes with a full-size SD adapter, making it compatible with a wide variety of devices right out of the box. Plus, it meets U3, V30, A2, and Class 10 standards, so it’s not just fast, it’s dependable. Storage sizes go all the way up to 1TB, which is a game changer for creators who don’t want to stop mid-project.

Nevertheless, transfer speeds can lag slightly with especially large files. Still, if you're looking for an SD card that delivers solid performance and dependable durability at a great value, this one seems to do the job remarkably well.

If you’re looking for a straightforward SD card that delivers good performance at a reasonable price, the Gigastone Gaming Series is worth a look. Designed with gamers in mind, it supports fast app loading and data access with its A1 rating, and it reaches read speeds of up to 100 MB/s—more than enough for smooth game play and fast file transfer.

We found it particularly interesting that this card is marketed toward gaming consoles, though it's equally compatible with phones, cameras, laptops, and more. The rugged design is a bonus—it’s waterproof, shockproof, and built to endure tough conditions, which adds peace of mind whether you're at home or on the go.

One note to keep in mind: some users mention needing to reformat the card before first use. While it’s a quick fix, it’s good to be aware of it if you’re planning to use it right away. Overall, the Gigastone SD card is a great option for gamers, video enthusiasts, or anyone looking for a durable and affordable memory card that does its job without fuss.

When looking into high-performance SD cards for security and ongoing recording, the Samsung PRO Endurance was always the most reliable. With support for up to 140,000 hours of video recording and rewriting, it’s clearly designed for the long haul. Add in its resistance to water, temperature extremes, X-rays, and shock, and you’ve got a memory card that holds up even in rugged outdoor or high-risk environments.

This SD card also handles Full HD and 4K footage with ease, offering read/write speeds up to 100MB/s and 40MB/s, respectively. This means it can quickly transfer large files and won’t skip a beat during continuous recording sessions.

One thing we did note across reviews and customer feedback: while this card is built for longevity, there have been occasional reports of premature failure. That said, Samsung backs the product with a warranty of up to five years, which helps balance out that risk for most users. If you're setting up a dash cam, security system, or body camera, the PRO Endurance offers peace of mind in both performance and durability.

The SanDisk is a popular and affordable choice for most daily-use monitoring setups. It offers up to 20,000 hours of recording time (in Full HD), with support for 4K footage as well, depending on your device. With a max capacity of 256GB, there's plenty of space for longer footage loops without having to constantly clear data.

This card is also built tough—it’s been tested against temperature extremes, water, shocks, humidity, and magnets. That kind of resilience makes it a reliable pick for use in vehicles, outdoor setups, or unpredictable conditions. One minor thing to note is that transferring files from the card to a computer isn’t always seamless. While it's not a big issue, it’s something to keep in mind if fast file access is a big part of your workflow. Despite this, for its price and performance, it holds up well for everyday security use.

The PNY card is built for speed and versatility, with Class 10, U3, and V30 ratings, which means it’s ready for burst-mode photography and smooth 4K video capture. Whether you're out flying a drone or recording action-packed footage on a GoPro, this card can handle the workload. The A1 App Performance rating allows users to run apps directly from the card, especially useful for Android users looking to free up internal storage without compromising app speed.

Add in its included SD adapter, and it’s compatible with everything from DSLR cameras to laptops and desktops. Durability is another highlight. It’s magnet-proof, shock-proof, temperature-proof, and waterproof—so it’s built to go wherever your gear goes, whether that’s a hike, a travel shoot, or a wet day on set.

While its read speeds are quick, the write speeds tend to be a bit slower, which may cause a slight delay when saving large files or recording at high bitrates. It’s not a dealbreaker for casual users, but professionals working with large 4K video files might notice the difference.

With UHS-I support, up to 100MB/s read speeds, and write speeds up to 45MB/s, the TOPESEL SD Card is designed for users working with 4K UHD video or large image files. Its U3 and V30 speed ratings make it a reliable match for drones, action cameras, smartphones, and dash cams, especially for those who record frequently in high resolution.

According to the manufacturer's details, it’s water, shock, temperature, and X-ray resistant, making it a solid choice for travel or outdoor shoots where conditions aren’t always ideal. While it's widely compatible, some users reported occasional issues when pairing it with Wyze cameras. Although it performs well in most devices, it’s worth double-checking compatibility if you’re using specific security cams. Still, for the price and performance, it’s a great value for photographers, hobbyists, and everyday users who need reliable storage without breaking the bank.