Tests on hundreds of SD cards show unexpected disparities in performance and reliability

Testing reveals significant differences in performance among hundreds of SD cards examined.

: Memory card enthusiast Matt Cole conducted rigorous testing over two years on hundreds of SD cards, uncovering significant disparities in performance and storage accuracy. Brands such as Kingston, PNY, and SanDisk outperformed others for speed and endurance, consistently ranking among the best in 64GB and 128GB variants. The study revealed that fake SD cards, often sold on marketplaces like AliExpress, perform poorly compared to authentic ones from platforms like Amazon. Cole's database provides regular updates on the cards' rankings, offering valuable insight for consumers evaluating their options.

Matt Cole, a memory card enthusiast, embarked on a detailed study spanning two years, testing hundreds of SD card models to evaluate their true capacity, performance, and endurance. This extensive investigation aimed to address the prevalent issue among consumers who find it difficult to discern the true quality of SD cards, given that many appear similar superficially but vary significantly in performance and reliability. Cole's method involved utilizing multiple memory card readers and executing tests on two Ubuntu PCs, paving the way for the identification of both authentic and fake SD cards.

Cole discovered that many SD cards, particularly those sold on platforms like AliExpress, falsely advertise higher storage capacities than they can actually provide. Such discrepancies are exploited by counterfeiters who sell cards that report more storage to the host device than is genuinely available. Often, these scam cards not only underperform but also fail to consistently store data securely over time. Proper name brands like SanDian, Xiaomi, Nenovo, and Sony were noted for having significant storage discrepancies, thus highlighting the necessity for consumers to be cautious.

Cole's research uncovered that while counterfeit SD cards are typically less reliable, even genuine name-brand cards from AliExpress did not match the performance of those available through Amazon. Authentic cards from Amazon consistently delivered better sequential and random read/write speeds, underscoring the importance of sourcing specific brands from reputable sellers for best performance. Besides speeds, the endurance test—though incomplete—focused on the number of read/write cycles each card could handle before failures, revealing that some off-brand models endure over 5,000 cycles, surprisingly rivaling name-brands in longevity.

SD chart

Cole employed a public repository on GitHub to develop software capable of assessing SD card speed and spotting fraudulent cards. This tool actively encourages users to back up their data, as testing involves filling devices entirely to determine storage accuracy. The findings from these tests revealed Kingston, PNY, and SanDisk SD cards as the most reliable, consistently winning top positions across speed and reliability charts similar to measures in Cole's rankings.

The study highlighted how Kingston, PNY, Delkin, HP, Kioxia, and Samsung emerged as dependable providers, especially for 64GB and 128GB models. While SanDisk was regarded highly for its value, the results served as a vital resource for both casual buyers and enthusiasts when choosing their SD cards. Cole's continuously updated database gives a transparent view into SD card performance, enabling informed purchasing decisions based on the changing market scenario.

Sources: TechSpot, Bahjeez, GitHub

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