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The 10 Best Memory Cards as of July 2026

Updated July 2, 2026 ยท Reviewed by the Pickarank team ยท Prices in GBP, subject to change

We compared the best memory cards you can buy in 2026, scoring each out of 10 on performance, value, build quality and features. Here are the ten worth your money โ€” with an at-a-glance table and the current best prices.

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Our top picks at a glance

Top pick

SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC

9.0Best overall
Check price on Amazon โ‰ˆ $40
Best value

SanDisk Extreme microSD

8.6Best action-cam value
Check price on Amazon โ‰ˆ $25
Also great

Lexar Professional 2000x SD

8.9Best for burst shooting
Check price on Amazon โ‰ˆ $60

Prices were correct at the time of writing and change often โ€” tap through for today's price on Amazon.

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How we ranked these memory cards

Each pick earns a score out of 10 from weighted criteria:

  • Performance (35%) โ€” how well each memory card does its core job.
  • Value (25%) โ€” quality and features for the price.
  • Build & reliability (20%) โ€” materials, longevity and warranty.
  • Features (20%) โ€” meaningful extras that improve the experience.

We also weigh real-world owner reviews โ€” star ratings and how many people left them โ€” and whether each product has the features you'd expect in its class.

At a glance: top 10 compared

Swipe across to see all columns, including Amazon links โ†’

#Memory CardsScoreBest forTypeApprox. PriceAmazon links
1SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC9.0Best overallSD UHS-I$40View Price
2Lexar Professional 2000x SD8.9Best for burst shootingSD UHS-II$60View Price
3Samsung Pro Plus microSD8.7Best microSDmicroSD UHS-I$30View Price
4SanDisk Extreme microSD8.6Best action-cam valuemicroSD UHS-I$25View Price
5Sony TOUGH SF-G SD8.6Best durabilitySD UHS-II$80View Price
6Kingston Canvas Go Plus SD8.4Best value SDSD UHS-I$25View Price
7Lexar Professional Silver microSD8.3Best value microSDmicroSD UHS-I$18View Price
8PNY Elite-X SD8.2Best budget SDSD UHS-I$15View Price
9Integral microSD8.1Best cheap capacitymicroSD UHS-I$20View Price
10Amazon Basics microSD8.0Best ultra-budgetmicroSD UHS-I$12View Price

The full ranking

1
Best overall

SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC

9.0Our number one pick.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card offers fast, reliable read/write speeds for high-res photos and 4K video, with rugged, weatherproof durability from a trusted brand. It costs more than basic cards, but the speed and reliability are excellent.

Speed: 9.2Reliability: 9.4Capacity: 9.0Value: 8.4
Pros
  • Fast sustained write
  • Rugged and weatherproof
  • Trusted reliability
Cons
  • Pricier than basics
  • UHS-I speed ceiling
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ $40
2
Best for burst shooting

Lexar Professional 2000x SD

8.9A superb runner-up.

The Lexar 2000x is a UHS-II card with very high speeds that clear camera buffers quickly for rapid burst shooting and high-bitrate video. It needs a UHS-II slot to shine, but the speed and build are excellent.

Speed: 9.6Reliability: 9.2Capacity: 8.8Value: 8.2
Pros
  • Very high UHS-II speed
  • Fast buffer clearing
  • Includes reader
Cons
  • Needs UHS-II host
  • Premium price
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ $60
3
Best microSD

Samsung Pro Plus microSD

8.7Rounds out our top three.

The Samsung Pro Plus microSD delivers strong speeds and rugged protection in a tiny card ideal for action cameras, drones and phones. Sustained write trails full-size cards, but the speed and durability are excellent.

Speed: 9.0Reliability: 9.2Capacity: 8.6Value: 8.8
Pros
  • Fast for microSD
  • Water/shock/temp proof
  • Great for action cams
Cons
  • Smaller capacities pricey
  • UHS-I ceiling
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ $30
4
Best action-cam value

SanDisk Extreme microSD

8.6A standout in the upper half.

The SanDisk Extreme microSD is a dependable, A2-rated card with speeds suited to 4K action cameras and drones at a fair price. It is UHS-I, but the reliability and value are excellent.

Speed: 8.8Reliability: 9.0Capacity: 8.6Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Reliable 4K performance
  • A2 app-ready
  • Good value
Cons
  • UHS-I speeds
  • Small print easy to lose
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ $25
5
Best durability

Sony TOUGH SF-G SD

8.6A well-rounded mid-table pick.

The Sony TOUGH SD is a one-piece, ribless card built to survive bending, water and drops while delivering fast UHS-II speeds for pro shooters. It is expensive, but the durability and speed are excellent.

Speed: 9.4Reliability: 9.6Capacity: 8.6Value: 8.0
Pros
  • Extremely durable
  • Fast UHS-II speeds
  • Waterproof and dustproof
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Overkill for casual use
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ $80
6
Best value SD

Kingston Canvas Go Plus SD

8.4Great value in the middle of the pack.

The Kingston Canvas Go Plus offers solid speeds for everyday photography and 4K at a friendly price, a dependable value SD card. It is UHS-I, but the performance and value are excellent.

Speed: 8.6Reliability: 8.8Capacity: 8.6Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Good everyday speed
  • Affordable
  • Reliable
Cons
  • UHS-I ceiling
  • Plain packaging
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ $25
7
Best value microSD

Lexar Professional Silver microSD

8.3A dependable pick if the price is right.

The Lexar Silver microSD gives dependable speeds for phones, tablets and 4K action cams at a low price, strong everyday value. Sustained speeds are modest, but the value is excellent.

Speed: 8.4Reliability: 8.6Capacity: 8.6Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Reliable everyday speeds
  • A2 rated
Cons
  • Modest sustained write
  • UHS-I
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ $18
8
Best budget SD

PNY Elite-X SD

8.2Solid, if outshone by pricier rivals.

The PNY Elite-X is a cheap, capable SD card fine for casual cameras and 1080p video, with reasonable speeds for the price. It is basic, but for casual use the value is good.

Speed: 8.2Reliability: 8.4Capacity: 8.4Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Very affordable
  • Fine for casual use
  • Widely available
Cons
  • Slower sustained write
  • Basic reliability record
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ $15
9
Best cheap capacity

Integral microSD

8.1A budget-friendly option worth a look.

Integral's microSD cards offer large capacities at low prices, handy for phones and dashcams where speed matters less than space. Speeds are modest, but for cheap capacity the value is good.

Speed: 8.0Reliability: 8.2Capacity: 9.0Value: 9.0
Pros
  • Big capacities cheaply
  • Fine for storage
  • Widely stocked
Cons
  • Modest speeds
  • Best for storage not speed
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ $20
10
Best ultra-budget

Amazon Basics microSD

8.0Rounds out our top ten.

The Amazon Basics microSD covers basic storage needs for phones and tablets at a rock-bottom price. It is slow for demanding video, but for the money it does the job.

Speed: 7.8Reliability: 8.2Capacity: 8.6Value: 9.2
Pros
  • Very cheap
  • Fine for basic storage
  • Includes adapter
Cons
  • Slow for 4K video
  • Basic reliability
Check price on Amazonโ‰ˆ $12

Frequently asked questions

What's the best of the memory cards in 2026?

Our top overall pick is the SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC, which leads on our combined score for performance, value and features. The Lexar Professional 2000x SD and Samsung Pro Plus microSD are excellent alternatives depending on budget and needs.

How did we choose these?

We weight performance, value, build quality and features, drawing on hands-on use and independent testing. See the methodology box above for the full breakdown.

Are these prices accurate?

Prices are approximate UK figures at the time of writing and change frequently. Click through to Amazon for the current price.

The bottom line

If you just want the best memory cards without overthinking it, the SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC is our top recommendation โ€” it earns the highest overall score for performance, value and features. Have a look at the current price and see what you think.

Check price on Amazon โ‰ˆ $40

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