Best SD Card for GoPro for 2022

Getting the best SD card for GoPro is an important task every GoPro user must know how to carry out. Many people don’t know that SD cards have a significant effect on how their cameras work. For instance, if your SD card’s speed is slow, you may not be able to record footage or take pictures in the highest quality possible. For this reason, you need to be sure about the kind of card you buy for your GoPro.

We’ve saved you the stress of having to read thousands of reviews before finding the best SD card for GoPro. Our review contains ten of the best memory cards for GoPro on the market. We’ve also added a detailed guide to help you know what to look out for when choosing an SD card for your camera. Without further ado, let’s get right to it:

The 10 Best SD Cards for GoPro

Design		Retailer
	SanDisk 128GB Extreme MicroSDXC UHS-I Memory Card	Check Price
	PNY U3 Pro Elite MicroSD Card	Check Price
	Samsung 128GB 100MB/s (U3) MicroSDXC EVO Select Memory Card	Check Price
	Patriot LX Series 128GB High-Speed Micro SDXC	Check Price
	Lexar High-Performance 633X 256GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Card	Check Price
	Netac MicroSD High Speed Transfer A1 C10 U3 MicroSDXC TF Card	Check Price
	SanDisk 256GB Ultra MicroSDXC UHS-I Memory Card	Check Price
	Amplim 667X 100MB/s UHS-1 256 GB MicroSDXC	Check Price
	Delkin DDSD19002HV 256GB SDXC Memory Card	Check Price
	LONDISK 4K 64GB Micro SD Card	Check Price

SD Card For GoPro Buyer’s Guide

Getting the best SD card for your GoPro camera might seem like a very easy thing to do. All you need to do is just purchase a microSD card and insert it into your camera, right? Well, the thing is, not all GoPro cameras support all types of memory cards. That is why you need to be sure you’re getting the best microSD card for your GoPro camera.

In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at the factors you need to consider before choosing the best micro SD card for your GoPro camera. Also, we’ll look at the storage capacity each GoPro camera has the ability to support. If you’d like to skip this guide, however, you can simply choose one of the cards we’ve reviewed above and be assured that you’re getting nothing but the best. With that said, let’s dive deep into the guide:

Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best SD Card For Your GoPro

There are many counterfeit SD cards on the market. Choosing the ideal one for your action camera would simply improve its functionality and efficiency. You’ll be able to capture photos and record videos at the best resolution possible. Also, you won’t be getting corrupted video or picture files like you would when you make use of counterfeit microSD cards for GoPro.

All GoPro devices require at least a Class 10 SD card. However, each camera model functions at different speeds and with different storage capacities. The Hero4 camera and newer models, for instance, can work well with up to 128GB of space while models older than the Hero 4 can only work with SD cards with a maximum capacity of 64GB. It’s, however, important to note that the ideal storage cards for GoPro action cameras are those that are above 64GB.

Now, when choosing the right SD card for your GoPro device, there are some factors you need to keep in mind. Some of the factors include storage capacities, device compatibility, as well as read, write, and transfer speeds. We’ve provided some information on each of these factors below:

Storage Capacities

While it is great to buy an SD card capable of storing huge amounts of video and picture files, it’s also noteworthy to know that every GoPro device has its own limitations in this area. The smallest storage unit you can buy for your GoPro device is 32GB. However, there are GoPro action cameras that will work well with a 32GB unit, but malfunction or work inefficiently with a higher storage unit. Below are some storage limits and video speed class for some GoPro devices:

32GB microSD cards: This storage unit is great for GoPro HD Hero, Hero 2, and HD Hero 960. While the GoPro HD Hero and Hero 960 action cameras require class 4 microSD cards, the Hero 2 works ideally with Video Class 10 memory cards. These devices will function efficiently with microSD cards that are no higher than 32GB.

64GB microSD cards: The Hero 3+, Hero+LCD, Hero 3 Black, White, and Silver models, as well as the Hero+ action cameras work well with 64GB memory cards. However, you need to ensure that the cards are Video Class 10 cards so as to get the most out of your device.

128GB microSD cards: These memory cards are great for Hero 4 Silver and Hero Session devices.

256GB to 2TB microSD cards: These memory cards are great for GoPro cameras that are newer than the Hero6. This means that cameras like the Hero6, Hero 7, GoPro5, and more have the ability to support this capacity.

Speed

There are many different factors influencing the speed of the memory cards you can get for your camera. Some of them include:

• Whether you want to use it for video recording
• The kind of picture format (RAW, JPEG, etc.) you use as well as the size.
• Your camera model
• Shooting options, such as continuous shooting mode

Your camera’s model has an impact on the write speeds you’ll get from your memory cards. If you decide to go for memory cards that have write speeds higher than what your camera can process, your device’s buffer may cause you to experience some irregularities.

Except if you are a professional who is constantly changing equipment and adding more gear, it’s ideal that you stick to memory cards with speeds your camera can efficiently work with. The reason is that a professional will change their device every so often. So having the fastest cards they can afford in the format of their choosing will be of great benefit when they change their gear.

However, it’s important to note that getting cards that are faster than your camera isn’t a bad idea. While your camera may not be able to utilize the cards to their full potential, your computer and card readers will be able to utilize their full read speeds.

GoPro cameras make use of cards with a Class 10 speed or anything above that. Simply put, a class 10 unit stores files at the speed of 10MB/s. Each GoPro camera has its own speed and that speed must tally with what you’d get from your microSD. Newer models tend to have a higher processing speed class than older models. If cards in the Class 10 family don’t have a U3 or U1 processing speed, they’ll be slower than cards with either of these processing speeds and their output quality won’t be up to par with what you’d get on the U3 or U1 cards. Below is a breakdown of the different processing speeds available:

U3: Cards with this processing speed have the ability to capture content at the rate of 30MB/s. They are basically new and have the ability to read 4K videos at high speeds.

U1: MicroSD cards with the U1 processing speed save files at 10MB/s. They have the capacity to provide real-time capture and HD video recording support.

V90: If you’re consistently recording videos at high resolutions, you’ll want to get memory cards with the V90 processing speed. These cards support 8K and they are specifically tailored to meet the needs of those recording high-resolution videos. Memory cards with the V90 power are new and less popular than the V30 cards.

V30: Memory cards with this processing power function at a minimum speed of 30MB/s. Many of the latest GoPro devices are compatible with this processing power. This is because the SD association decided to create SD cards that are tailored to meet multifunctional usage.

Format

GoPro action cameras typically function with two microSD formats; Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) and Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC). Action cameras work well with these two formats, however, there are differences between both formats.

SDHC Format: You can easily identify memory cards using this format as they are usually formatted with the exFAT file system. And they tend to be in the 64GB to 2TB range.

SDXC Format: MicroSD cards in this format range from 4-32GB in size. These cards are typically formatted with the FAT32 file system. They support single recordings that are no bigger than 4GB. But they can hold different recordings totaling 32GB.

Device Compatibility

You need to be sure if the microSD cards you want to use for your action camera are compatible with it or not. Most GoPro action cameras have the same type of microSD slot. Therefore, determining that the memory cards you buy will work efficiently with your device just by looking at the slot size may cause some errors. The size isn’t what matters; the compatibility is what matters.

For instance, while the GoPro 6 action camera works efficiently with a faster speed microSD, the GoPro 3 camera won’t function properly with the same processing speed. The GoPro 6 camera is built with more improved functions than the GoPro 3 camera, including the capability to record 4K UHD videos. Therefore, it’s very important that you are conversant with your camera’s properties.

Capacity

What is the ideal size you should get for your GoPro camera? Well, that depends on the model and type of camera you have. It also depends on how well you use your camera as well as the activities you use your camera for. For most people, cards within the 32Gb to 64GB range is okay as it will allow you to store your files and videos with no problems.

However, if you’re a video blogger or professional who loves recording every time or you take pictures almost all the time, getting a bigger capacity would do you a lot of good. Getting cards that can store between 1000 to 3000 high-quality photos should be your aim. If you shoot video, you should aim for a card that can hold at least an hour-long video recording.

For professional videographers who are probably going to shoot 4K videos, you should get nothing less than 128GB cards. This is the most practical thing to do if you don’t want to consistently offload and backup your content every time.

However, while it’s great to have cards with large capacities, it’s also important that you backup your content every so often. This is to ensure that you have your files even if you lose your cards or something happens to them. Ensure that you get cards that will be able to handle your videos and photos quite well while still forcing you to offload and backup every so often.

UHS-I or UHS-II?

Many people get confused when it comes to deciding on the ideal rating for their cards. They are unsure about whether to choose the cheap UHS-1 option or the more expensive UHS-II option. Simply put, UHS-I cards come with lower speed levels but they are cheaper. These cards are usually great for shooting stills.

UHS-II cards, on the other hand, are more expensive but offer faster speed levels. For instance, you can get 64GB UHS-I cards for $10, while the same capacity for UHS-II cards can cost up to $70. UHS-I cards used to be the gold standard, until recently. Technology has improved, even in the photography world, and there is now more demand for hardware that can keep up with the transfer speeds and data demand of new cameras. And the answer to these demands is the UHS-II rating.

UHS-II cards can keep up with the intensive data demands of today’s technology. For you to be able to shoot videos and images in the highest resolution possible today, such as 4K and 5K, your cards need to be able to handle the pressure your camera will throw at them. You’ll want to shoot at the maximum frame rate and maximum bit rate, which can put a lot of pressure on your cards. A UHS-II card will be able to handle the task with more ease than a UHS-I.

So basically, if you’re a professional who shoots high-resolution videos and images, it would be in your interest to get UHS-II cards. Even if you’re not a professional but you plan on shooting pictures and videos in the highest resolution possible, getting UHS-II cards would be the most ideal thing. However, if you are not the type that captures everything every time, or you simply capture more stills and fewer videos, UHS-I cards may be the most suitable for you. Additionally, if you use a camera with two slots, you can easily just put your UHS-II card into a slot you’ll assign for intensive shooting and recording, while you put your UHS-I card in the other slot, which you’ll reserve for stills only.

How Do You Know If You Have UHS-I Or UHS-II Cards?

Most manufacturers print this information on their cards. You’ll be able to tell just by looking at the front sticker. If you purchase cards with no sticker, simply flip them over and look at the connection row. One row of connection points signals a UHS-I rating while two rows of connection points denote a UHS-II rating.

What SD Card Is Recommended For GoPro?

Each and every GoPro camera has its own limitations when it comes to SD cards. While some support cards up to 64GB, other models can support up to 128GB. There are even newer versions that can work with 256GB cards with no issues. Below is a list of all GoPro cameras and the storage capacities they support.

• GoPro Hero 3: supports up to 64GB
• GoPro Hero 3+: supports up to 64GB
• Hero 4: supports up to 128GB
• Hero+: supports up to 64GB
• Hero (2014): 32GB only
• Hero 2018: supports up to 128GB
• Hero Session: Supports up to 128GB
• Hero5 Black and Hero5 Session: supports up to 128GB
• Hero 6, 7, and Fusion: supports up to 128GB

However, newer models such as the Hero5 Black and Session, Hero 6,7, and 2018 have the potential to support up to 256GB.

What SD Card Is Best For GoPro Hero 7?

Well, since the Hero 7 can support up to 256GB, getting an SD card within that range is quite safe. We would, however, recommend the Samsung EVO Select, PNY U3 Pro Elite as well as the Netac and SanDisk micro SD cards in our review.

What Card Is Best For GoPro Hero 4?

The GoPro Hero 4 supports up to 128GB. Therefore it’s recommended that you get an SD card that doesn’t go beyond its limit. This way, you’ll be able to bring your camera to its full potential.

Can I Use 128GB In GoPro Hero 7?

Yes, you can. In fact, GoPro Hero 7 has the potential to support 256GB cards as well.

Conclusion

Getting the best SD card for your device looks like a simple task. But so many people do not know that their SD cards may be the reason why their camera isn’t functioning efficiently or providing them with the results they desire. You may have the wrong storage capacity stuck in your camera or maybe it doesn’t come with the right video speed class. However, we believe you should be able to resolve these issues with our guide above.

We’ve provided a list of the best SD cards for GoPro above. You can simply choose the one that matches your device’s capacity and start recording the best videos and capturing stunning images. Our guide, on the other hand, contains all the information you need to know before choosing an SD card for your GoPro. With both review and guide, we hope you’ll be able to find the correct microSD card for your GoPro.

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