Memory Cards Price Comparison 2026
Compare 1,125 memory cards from SanDisk, Samsung, Lexar and more. Find the best price from multiple UK retailers, from 7 £ to 403 £.
Memory cards are one of those purchases that look deceptively simple — until you buy the wrong one. A card that's too slow causes dropped frames mid-shoot; one that's incompatible with your device won't even mount. We've analysed 1,125 products across this category, and the range is striking: prices run from 7 £ all the way to 403 £, which tells you this market spans everything from a spare card for a child's tablet to professional cinema-grade storage.
SanDisk dominates the catalogue with nearly 300 references — more than double the next brand — and commands a noticeably higher average price than rivals like Integral or Intenso, which offer solid everyday performance at a fraction of the cost. Kingston Technology and Transcend sit in a comfortable middle ground, both averaging around £50–55, making them the go-to choice for photographers who want reliability without paying the SanDisk premium. Samsung's cards are worth a closer look too: fewer SKUs, but consistently well-reviewed and often the sharpest value at the 128 GB and 256 GB capacities.
The format question matters more than most buyers realise. MicroSDXC cards cover smartphones, action cameras, drones, and Nintendo Switch — the vast majority of everyday use cases. Full-size SDXC cards are the domain of DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and professional video rigs. If you're shooting 4K or burst RAW stills, the UHS bus interface becomes critical: UHS-I tops out at around 104 MB/s, which is fine for most, but UHS-II (up to 312 MB/s) is a genuine workflow upgrade for anyone transferring large files regularly. You'll want a compatible card reader to actually benefit from those speeds on a laptop, mind you.
One thing our price data makes clear: the sweet spot for most buyers sits between 19 £ and 34 £. In that range you'll find 128 GB to 256 GB UHS-I cards from reputable brands — more than enough for a weekend trip or a full day of shooting. Beyond 78 £, you're paying for V60/V90 video speed classes or very high capacities (512 GB to 1 TB), which only makes sense for specific professional workflows. And if you need to store or protect multiple cards, it's worth pairing your purchase with a memory card case. For broader storage needs, our USB flash drives category is also worth a browse.
How to Choose the Right Memory Card
The spec sheet on a memory card can look like alphabet soup — UHS-II, V30, A2, SDXC. But once you understand what each rating actually means for your use case, the choice becomes much clearer. Here's what genuinely matters, and what you can safely ignore depending on how you plan to use the card.
Form factor: microSD vs full-size SD
This is non-negotiable — you need the format your device accepts. MicroSDXC fits smartphones, drones, action cameras (GoPro, DJI), and the Nintendo Switch. SDXC/SDHC full-size cards go into DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, and most professional video equipment. Many full-size SD cards come with a microSD adapter in the box, but the reverse isn't always true. Check your device manual before buying — some cameras are picky about which UHS generation they'll accept, even if the physical slot fits.
Speed class for your recording needs
Speed class ratings exist specifically to prevent dropped frames during video recording. Class 10 / V10 is the bare minimum for Full HD. V30 (30 MB/s sustained write) is what we'd recommend as a baseline for anyone shooting 4K — it's widely available and not expensive. V60 and V90 are for high-bitrate 4K/8K cinema cameras and cost significantly more. If you're only using the card for photos or app storage on a phone, Class 10 is perfectly adequate. Don't pay for V90 if you're shooting holiday snaps.
UHS bus interface: UHS-I vs UHS-II
UHS-I is the standard for the vast majority of consumer devices and supports read speeds up to around 104 MB/s — plenty for everyday photography and 4K on most cameras. UHS-II doubles the theoretical ceiling to 312 MB/s, which translates to noticeably faster file transfers to your computer. The catch: your camera and your card reader both need UHS-II support to benefit. Putting a UHS-II card in a UHS-I camera works fine, but you'll only get UHS-I speeds. Worth the premium only if your gear actually supports it.
Capacity vs. price per gigabyte
Larger cards offer better value per gigabyte — a 256 GB card typically costs less per GB than two 128 GB cards. That said, there's a practical argument for spreading your data across multiple smaller cards when shooting professionally: if one card fails or gets lost, you haven't lost everything. For most users, 128 GB to 256 GB is the sweet spot. 512 GB and 1 TB cards make sense for extended travel, drone footage, or 4K video marathons. Cards below 64 GB are increasingly hard to justify unless you're buying for a very specific legacy device.
A-Class rating for Android and app performance
If you're expanding storage on an Android smartphone or tablet, the Application Performance Class matters more than raw sequential speed. A1 guarantees 1,500 random read IOPS — adequate for most apps. A2 (4,000 read IOPS) makes a tangible difference if you run many apps from the card simultaneously. Most budget cards skip A-Class ratings entirely, which can make your phone feel sluggish. Samsung and SanDisk's mid-range microSD cards typically carry A2 ratings; it's worth checking the spec before buying for a phone.
Brand reliability and counterfeit risk
Counterfeit memory cards are a genuine problem, particularly on marketplace platforms. A fake card may report the correct capacity but corrupt data silently or fail within weeks. Sticking to authorised UK retailers — Currys, Amazon (sold and dispatched by Amazon), John Lewis — dramatically reduces this risk. SanDisk, Kingston, Lexar, and Samsung are the most widely faked brands, ironically because they're the most trusted. Always check the seller carefully. Reputable brands also offer long warranties (10 to 30 years), which is a meaningful signal of confidence in their own product.
- Budget picks (From 7 £ to 19 £) : Entry-level 32 GB to 64 GB microSD cards from Intenso, Integral, and SanDisk's basic range. Fine for dashcams, older smartphones, or as a spare. Don't expect A2 ratings or V30 speeds here — and be cautious about buying from unknown marketplace sellers at the very bottom of this range.
- The sweet spot (From 19 £ to 34 £) : Where most buyers should be looking. You'll find 128 GB to 256 GB UHS-I cards from Kingston, Samsung, Transcend, and SanDisk Ultra. V30 and A1/A2 ratings become common. Solid choice for everyday photography, Android storage expansion, and action cameras.
- For the serious shooter (From 34 £ to 78 £) : 512 GB UHS-I cards and entry-level UHS-II options from SanDisk Extreme Pro, Lexar Professional, and Kingston Canvas React Plus. V60 ratings start appearing. Recommended for mirrorless camera users, 4K videographers, and anyone who needs high capacity without constantly swapping cards.
- Professional grade (Over 78 £) : UHS-II V90 cards and 1 TB capacities from SanDisk Extreme PRO and Lexar's top-tier lines. Genuine workflow tools for cinema cameras, high-speed burst photography, and professional video production. Overkill for most — but if your camera supports UHS-II and you're billing clients, the speed gains are real.
Top products
- SanDisk Ultra 128 GB UHS-I Class 10 MicroSDXC Memory Card (SanDisk) : The most-compared card in the category for good reason — excellent everyday reliability at a very competitive price. Not the fastest, but for smartphones and action cameras it's more than adequate.
- SanDisk Ultra 512 GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Class 10 (SanDisk) : Strong choice if you need serious capacity without stepping up to UHS-II pricing. Good for extended travel or drone footage, though write speeds won't satisfy professional videographers.
- SanDisk SDSDXEP-256G-GN4IN memory card 256 GB SDXC UHS-II Class 10 (SanDisk) : A proper professional card — UHS-II speeds make a real difference when offloading RAW files from a mirrorless camera. Only worth it if your camera and reader both support UHS-II; otherwise you're overpaying.
- SanDisk High Endurance 64 GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Class 10 (SanDisk) : The standout pick for dashcam and security camera use — built for continuous overwrite cycles where standard cards would fail within months. Overkill for photography, but exactly right for its intended purpose.
- SanDisk SDSQXAO-1T00-GN6ZN memory card 1 TB MicroSDXC UHS-I (SanDisk) : One of the few 1 TB microSD options available — impressive capacity, but the UHS-I interface means transfer speeds won't match the ambition of the size. Best for users who need maximum storage and rarely offload to a PC.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between UHS-I and UHS-II memory cards?
UHS-I supports read speeds up to 104 MB/s, while UHS-II can reach up to 312 MB/s — but only if both your camera and card reader support UHS-II. In practice, a UHS-II card inserted into a UHS-I device will simply run at UHS-I speeds. The upgrade is worth it if you regularly transfer large RAW files or shoot high-bitrate 4K video and your equipment supports it. Otherwise, save your money.
Which memory card speed class do I need for 4K video recording?
For 4K video, you need at minimum a V30-rated card (30 MB/s sustained write speed). V30 handles most consumer 4K cameras comfortably. If you're using a professional cinema camera or shooting high-bitrate 4K/8K, step up to V60 or V90. Using a card rated below V30 for 4K recording risks dropped frames and corrupted footage — it's not a risk worth taking.
Is a SanDisk memory card actually worth the premium over cheaper brands?
SanDisk cards are genuinely reliable, but the premium isn't always justified. Kingston, Transcend, and Samsung offer comparable real-world performance at lower average prices. Where SanDisk earns its price is in the Extreme PRO range — those UHS-II cards deliver consistently high speeds. For everyday use (smartphones, dashcams, action cameras), a Kingston or Samsung card at a lower price point is a perfectly sensible choice. Just buy from an authorised UK retailer to avoid counterfeits.
Can I use a microSD card in a full-size SD card slot?
Yes — most microSD cards come with a full-size SD adapter, which lets you use them in standard SD slots. However, the adapter limits the card to the speed of the slot, and some cameras don't read adapters reliably for sustained video recording. If your camera has a full-size SD slot, buying a native SDXC card is the safer choice for professional work.
What memory card should I buy for a Nintendo Switch?
A microSDXC card with at least 128 GB and a UHS-I Speed Class 3 (U3) rating is the recommended minimum for Nintendo Switch. The Switch doesn't support UHS-II, so there's no point paying for it. SanDisk makes official Nintendo-branded cards, but any reputable A1 or A2 UHS-I card from Kingston or Samsung will work just as well for less. 256 GB is a comfortable size if you download games digitally.
Are cheap memory cards from unknown brands worth the risk?
No — counterfeit and low-quality memory cards are one of the most common sources of data loss in consumer electronics. Cards sold below market rate on marketplace platforms frequently misreport their capacity or fail silently, corrupting files without warning. The price difference between a budget card from an unknown brand and a reputable Kingston or Integral card is often just a few pounds. It's not worth gambling your photos or footage on. Always buy from a known UK retailer.
How much storage do I actually need on a memory card in 2026?
For most users, 128 GB to 256 GB is the practical sweet spot. A 128 GB card holds roughly 35,000 JPEG photos or around 4–5 hours of 4K video. If you shoot RAW files or record long sessions without access to a laptop, 256 GB or 512 GB makes more sense. 1 TB cards exist and are useful for extended expeditions or professional shoots, but the cost per GB is still higher than mid-range capacities.