How to Choose A Memory Card for Your Smartphone or Tablet

Any mobile device is equipped with built-in memory. That’s why you can install applications on it and save photos and videos, music files and audiobooks, documents, and other files without purchasing an additional memory card.

But, first of all, the built-in memory is not infinite. This applies even to advanced models with 64 or 128 GB on board. Secondly, in reality, there is always less space than is indicated in the description because the operating system and pre-installed applications occupy part of the volume.

And what conclusion do we draw from this? Completely logical and very simple: you can’t do without a memory card. But what kind of card are we going to buy? Let’s understand.

There is a nuance: in Apple smartphones, you can not install a memory card – you have to use what you already have. Some manufacturers of Android smartphones also exclude the possibility of adding memory. Most often, it is found in flagship models, where the amount of built-in memory starts from 128 GB.

Contents

1 Types Of Memory Cards
2 Protection
3 Conclusion

Types Of Memory Cards

Smartphones, tablets, e-books, navigators, and even set-top boxes use cards in the MicroSD format. They are tiny – 15mm long and 11mm wide. But at the same time, it can have an impressive amount of memory.

MicroSD cards are divided into four types:

MicroSD proper – their capacity is up to 4 GB
MicroSDHC – cards of higher capacity – up to 32 GB
MicroSDXC – ultra-high capacity cards up to 2TB
MicroSDUC – up to 128TB

The larger the capacity, the more files you can store on the card, but the cost goes up too. At the same time, it’s not that simple. If you’re ready to jump up and run to the store for a 512GB card, wait and read this article to the end.

The thing is that the principle of backward compatibility applies to the listed MicroSD card types. This means that a slot designed for regular MicroSD cards will not support MicroSDHC and MicroSDXC cards. But a slot for MicroSDUC cards will read all other formats.

How do you know if your device supports a particular format? Very simple! It is indicated in the specification of the device. If you don’t have the manual at hand and can’t go online and check, keep in mind: as a rule, flagship models support all formats up to MicroSDXC, but budget smartphones most often work only with MicroSD.

Protection

Imagine how many threats tiny MicroSD cards face in the world around them! They can fall out of the owner’s hand or pocket and fall into the water, get caught under someone’s ruthless boot, or end up in the cold or heat. If the owner is traveling, they are bound to be x-rayed at least once at the airport. For any of the above reasons, essential files stored on the card can be affected.

Therefore, when choosing, be sure to pay attention to the degree of protection of the card. Manufacturers, as a rule, write that their products are protected against shock and X-rays and also indicate the temperature range in which the card can be operated without any problems.

An exciting option – is memory cards with installed software, which helps in case of how to restore a damaged or even accidentally deleted file. There are also cards with antivirus installed.

Conclusion

Selecting the right memory card for your smartphone or tablet is crucial to expanding storage and ensuring the smooth functioning of your device. The limitations of built-in memory highlight the necessity of a supplementary memory card, especially considering factors like the operating system’s space requirements and pre-installed applications. When choosing a memory card, it’s essential to consider the device’s compatibility with MicroSD formats, ranging from standard MicroSD to the high-capacity MicroSDUC.