microSD (SDHC, SDXC)

MicroSD cards are the smaller version of the standard SD card. All SD cards, micro and standard, are memory cards that store information for devices like cameras, audio recorders, drones, and more.

When it comes to the differences between microSDHC and microSDXC, SDHC is the older technology and SDXC is more advanced. MicroSDXC cards allow for storage capacities of up to 2TB, while older microSDHC cards cap out at 32GB—a big difference. If you are recording 4K video, taking photos in a RAW format or doing anything that requires substantial storage, the SDXC cards models will benefit you greatly. They also have faster data transfer rates. So, they are more advanced in all the meaningful ways.

The caveat when choosing an SD card is that your device must support SDXC in order for you to use it. Older devices may only accept SDHC. The good news is that SDXC devices will accept the older SDHC cards. So, if you have a new device, you can still use older memory cards.

Memory cards allow you to move information between devices with relative ease and no need for an internet connection. Some devices, like certain laptops and printers, have a memory card reader so that you can simply insert the card directly, and other devices accept a memory card reader through one of their ports. Imagine the ease of having a photo printer with a memory card slot. You don’t even need to have a computer or tablet to send your file to the printer.

Additionally, it’s good to invest in an extra microSD card. When you carry spare memory cards, you can immediately replace a full card with an empty one so that you can keep shooting video with your drone or capturing photos with your point-and-shoot camera.

When transporting spare microSD cards outside your device, use a memory card case to protect them just like you would protect a computer with a computer case or sleeve.