Samsung EVO Plus microSD (2021) review: The ultra-popular portable storage gets a durability and speed update

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Samsung EVO Plus microSD (2021) review: The ultra-popular portable storage gets a immovability and speed update

Samsung's ultra-pop EVO Plus line of microSD cards got an update belatedly last twelvemonth, bringing faster speeds and better immovability.

Samsung Evo Plus Microsd 2022 Review Source: Windows Central

Samsung'south EVO Plus lineup of meaty microSD cards has long been a favorite of anyone looking for an affordable, portable storage solution. The microSD cards received a refresh late 2022, the first in a few years. While y'all can still find the older cards at plenty of retailers, the newer version advertises amend transfer speeds, amend protection against elements, and a toll that's hard to beat. I accept the largest 512GB version of the Samsung EVO Plus microSD in for testing; here's what you need to know.

Samsung Evo Plus

Samsung EVO Plus microSD (2021)

Bottom line: The new Samsung EVO Plus released late 2022 won't hit advertised transfer speeds without Samsung's reader, but it however offers steady performance. A 10-year warranty is generous, and six-proof protection helps safeguard your data. Grab the microSD cards in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB sizes.

Pros

Six-proof protection
10-year warranty
Competitive price
Multiple capacities bachelor

Cons

Requires Samsung reader to hit advertised speeds
64GB version has lesser specs

Samsung EVO Plus microSD (2021): Toll, availability, and specs

Samsung supplied Windows Central with a review unit of its new EVO Plus microSD card, refreshed late 2022. Shopping direct from Samsung, the 64GB version costs $14, the 128GB version costs $20, the 256GB version costs $35, and the largest 512GB version costs $80.

You tin can also discover the 2022 models at major retailers like Newegg, All-time Buy, and Walmart. Amazon seems to still exist holding onto the older cards with cherry-red color. The 2022 models are white with blue and grayness font.

Category	Spec
Course	microSDXC
Speed	UHS-I U3 A2, V30, C10
Chapters	64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Maximum read	130MB/s
Maximum write	130MB/south
Immovability	Water-proof Temperature-proof Ten-ray-proof Magnet-proof Drib-proof 10,000 insertions
Warranty	10 years

Samsung EVO Plus microSD (2021): What I similar

Samsung Evo Plus Microsd 2022 Review Source: Windows Central

The Samsung EVO Plus is a UHS-I microSD carte, which mostly offers the correct level of performance for most people. UHS-II cards are significantly more expensive, and they require a rarer UHS-Ii reader to hit maximum performance. Y'all'd probable want a UHS-Two card for video work; for most other casual tasks, a adept UHS-I menu will save yous money.

The new Samsung EVO Plus has a 10-year warranty, plenty of environmental protection.

Compared to the older EVO Plus cards, the 2022 versions now have two extra "proofs" to boost immovability. On top of beingness able to withstand upwardly to 72 hours in seawater, operating temperatures from -25C to 85C, airport Ten-ray scans, and MRI-level magnets, the new cards add v-meter driblet protection and at least 10,000 insertions.

Samsung tacks on a x-twelvemonth limited warranty with these cards, which is quite generous and shows it's confident in its product. The total-size SD adapter that comes with the microSD carte doesn't share the same guarantees, but these are inexpensive and easy to replace should it fail.

The new EVO Plus 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB versions now have an A2 class rating that means they're best suited for apply with apps on a phone, tablet, or PC. If you're looking for, say, the all-time microSD menu for Surface Become 3, this ane should be a contender. They likewise have Class 10 speed, U3 UHS speed, and V30 video speed ratings, making them all-time suited for FHD content. The cheapest 64GB version is capped at U1, V10, A1, and Course x, making it far less impressive. I recommend sticking with 128GB and up.

Operation results using ATTO Benchmark are solid, with performance steady in both minor (256MB) and large (32GB) file sizes. As we'll run into in the side by side department, raw transfer speeds aren't quite upwards to what's expected.

Samsung EVO Plus microSD (2021): What I don't like

Samsung Evo Plus Microsd 2022 Review Source: Windows Fundamental

Samsung advertises its new EVO Plus cards as existence able to hit 130MB/s transfer speeds. UHS-I, however, tops out at 104MB/s. Samsung is able to advertise this past using proprietary technology to suck every terminal ounce of functioning out of its cards. You can purchase Samsung'southward specialized card reader separately, only if you lot're just using a regular UHS-I card reader, speeds are going to be much closer to the actual 104MB/due south limit.

I was only able to hit about 95MB/southward read speeds in CrystalDiskMark. I tested three different microSD menu readers, both UHS-I and UHS-Two, and received the aforementioned results. I tested with a 1GiB and a 64GiB file size.

This is still decent performance for a UHS-I microSD carte du jour, but it's not what Samsung is advertising. Samsung isn't the simply company to make its UHS-I cards seem a lot faster than about people volition feel. Many of SanDisk's UHS-I cards besides require a special reader (sold separately) to hit advertised speeds.

Samsung EVO Plus microSD (2021): Competition

Silicon Power Superior Pro 128GB Source: Windows Cardinal

There's no shortage of microSD cards on the market, and you can spend hours shopping for the perfect one. If you are planning on working with high-res video, something like Silicon Power's Superior Pro should be a solid choice. It's a UHS-II carte with V90, U3, and C10 ratings, making it cut out for photographers and videographers. It comes in 64GB and 128GB sizes.

As mentioned, the Samsung PRO Plus is a new addition appear alongside the new EVO Plus cards. They share most specs with the EVO Plus, merely they accept a higher theoretical speed limit with a special carte du jour reader. If you like Samsung's protection and warranty, this should be a amend performer.

SanDisk'due south Extreme UHS-I microSD cards are available in plenty of sizes and offering solid performance with V30, U3, and A2 ratings. Sizes range from 32GB all the mode up to 1TB. These cards accept a loftier theoretical functioning limit, though again a special card reader volition be needed to go past the UHS-I 104MB/s read speed ceiling.

Samsung EVO Plus microSD (2021): Should you buy it?

Samsung Evo Plus Microsd 2022 Review Source: Windows Central

You should purchase this if ...

You want a x-year warranty
You lot want plenty of ecology protection for your card
You want a microSD card to work with a phone, tablet, or PC

You shouldn't buy this if ...

You have a UHS-II card reader and want a card that can match
Yous want the cheapest microSD carte du jour out there
You're expecting advertised speeds with a regular UHS-I menu reader

Advertised speeds of these microSD cards can and no doubt volition catch many people off guard. The 130MB/southward transfer promise isn't achievable without a specialized reader, which well-nigh people don't have. Testing the card in three different readers saw read speeds get no college than near 95MB/southward. That's not a bad result for a UHS-I card, only it'south not close to what'south printed on the bundle. At least performance is steady whether you're working with large or small-scale file sizes.

The A2 rating makes the cards better suited for use with phone, tablet, and PC apps, and the C10, V30, and U3 ratings have them hands handling FHD video. Do annotation that this simply applies to the 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB versions; the 64GB version has lesser specs.

The new EVO Plus cards for 2022 aren't the cheapest options out there, but the supporting features should make up for the cost. The 10-year warranty won't necessarily relieve your data if something goes wrong, but it inspires confidence when combined with the six layers of protection. As long every bit you don't go in expecting whatsoever old card reader to hit the advertised functioning ceiling, the new EVO Plus cards will go the job done.

Samsung Evo Plus

Samsung EVO Plus microSD (2021)

Bottom line: Samsung'south updated EVO Plus microSD cards are durable and come with a lengthy 10-year warranty. Look standard UHS-I speeds without Samsung'due south reader, with performance all-time suited for FHD video or phone, tablet, and PC apps.

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