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SanDisk-Feature

SanDisk is offering a new 400GB microSD menu, a breakthrough that would brand it the largest microSD currently on the market. SanDisk, which is owned by Western Digital, hasn't revealed details beyond stating that the capacity breakthrough was the consequence of WD "leveraging its proprietary retentiveness engineering science and pattern and production processes that allow for more than bits per die." Western Digital set the previous record two years ago, when information technology launched a 200GB microSD card.

The speed appears to come with a tradeoff. SanDisk trumpets its A1 speed rating, maxim: "Rated A1, the SanDisk Ultra® microSD card is optimized for apps, delivering faster app launch and performance that provides a amend smartphone experience."

This is a generous reading of the A1's target operation specification. Last year, the SD Association released a report discussing the App Performance Class retention carte specification and why the spec was created in the first place. When Android added support for running applications from an SD card, in that location was a demand to make certain the cards people bought would exist quick enough to run apps in the starting time place. The A1 is rated for 1500 read and 500 write IOPS, with a sequential transfer speed of 10MB/due south. The SD Association writes:

It'south not bad. It's only non fast.

"The SD 5.ane Physical specification introduced the first and virtually basic App Performance level, which sets the absolute minimum requirement bar named A1 or App Performance Course one. College App Operation Course levels volition be introduced to meet market needs." (Emphasis added).

This SanDisk drive should run applications but fine. SanDisk claims it tin can be used for recording video, not but storing it. But it'due south non going to be fast plenty for 4K information; Form 10 devices are limited to 10MB/due south of sequential write operation. Obviously not all phones support shooting in 4K anyhow, so whether this is a limitation volition depend on what device yous plan to plug information technology into. The 100MB/s speed trumpeted by Western Digital is a reference to read speeds; write speeds are lower and likely closer to the 10MB/s sequential target mentioned above.

The microSD card is expected to retail for $250, which honestly isn't bad for a product that could fit on a thumbnail. From the product clarification, even so, information technology looks like this bulldoze will work all-time for moderate recording needs. It won't exist suitable for 4K video, merely if you're shooting a lot of 1080p it should work well. An updated SanDisk Memory Zone app for managing data storage on your Android device is also available for download.

Now read: How do SSDs work?