Best Memory Card for GoPro

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Best Memory Card for GoPro – Comparison Table

Best Memory Card for GoPro – Reviews

The Extreme Pro is Sandisk’s flagship micro SD variant, and it's a freakin’ micro masterpiece! As an SDXC-type card, it’s a high-capacity unit, capable of holding 400MB of video footage and stills. That equates to over 7 hours of 4K video — pretty impressive, right?

Wearing those prestigious class 10 and U-3 labels, it’s guaranteed to write at least 30MBps, but SanDisk claims it should perform at 90MBps consistently, which is breakneck speed. Simply put, this means that you’ll be able to shoot buttery-smooth high definition footage — hurray!

The A2 classification means that it’s primed for use with data-heavy apps on mobiles, which you shouldn’t be concerned about, but it’s a neat feature all the same.

What you should get excited about is the astounding durability of this tiny terror. It’s completely waterproof, shock and vibration proof, x-ray resistant (good for airports), and it can withstand temperatures between -25°C and 85°C.

Needless to say, the Extreme Pro can handle anything your adventurous lifestyle throws at it, making it perfect for shooting high-octane, action footage.

• 90MBps Write Speeds – No lag when recording in hi-res.
• 170MBps Read Speeds – Grants quick access to footage.
• 400MB Capacity – Essentially all-day recording potential.
• A2 – Streamlines mobile apps.
• Robust – Water, shock, and temperature proof.

• Price – So small, yet so expensive.

Samsung is another stalwart of the SD card industry, and the Evo Select is testament to that fact. With a 256GB capacity, you’ve got plenty of wiggle room to fit in tons of photos and high-resolution video footage — we’re talking upward of 6 hours.

It’s a UHS U-3 unit, which means write speeds never fall below 30MBps, but when it’s firing on all cylinders, it can save data at a rate of 90MBps, which is precisely what you need when you’ve just jumped out of a plane, and you're hurtling towards the Earth at 120 mph.

The footage will have minimal lag, creating a more immersive viewing experience when you decide to play it back at a later date.

At 100MBps, read speeds are even more snappy, so you can access the evidence of your daring pursuits instantaneously, no matter how extensive the footage is.

Perhaps best of all, it’s waterproof, temperature proof, and resistant to interference from X-rays and magnets, so don’t dial back on the adrenalin for Evo’s sake. Live your life to the fullest!

• 256GB Capacity – Upwards of 6 hours 4K footage.
• 90MBps Write Speeds – Fast enough to capture smooth high-res footage.
• 100MBps Read Speeds – Minute data loading times.
• Durability – Can roll with the punches.
• Price – Much more reasonable than the SanDisk Extreme.

• Amazon Exclusive – Limited availability outside of Amazon.

As the name suggests, this Lexar micro SD card is designed for professional use, when a drop in quality won’t just ruin the footage or shot, but could also affect your paycheck, so it goes without saying that it’s suitable for the GoPro life.

UHS-II technology amounts to 90MBps write speeds, capable of capturing every millisecond of action, no matter how fast-paced

The jaw-dropping 150MBps read speeds mean you won’t be waiting for minutes on end to watch playbacks or shift the data onto a more permanent device, and It offers 256MB of storage, which is plenty for all-day adventures.

While some people claim that SanDisk makes more reliable cards, the Lexar Pro 1000X is waterproof, shockproof, vibration proof, and X-ray proof.

They also offer a limited lifetime warranty, and nothing inspires consumer confidence quite like a manufacturer putting their money where their mouth is.

• USH-II – Designed for long-scale recording.
• 90MBps Write Speeds – Captures quick footage.
• 150MBps Read Speeds – Snappy file acquisition.
• Durability – Very robust design.

• Price – It’s a scary price tag.
• Comparisons – People claim SanDisk is more reliable.

I’ve chosen the SanDisk Extreme UHS-I for the GoPro Hero7 because it’s a quality micro SD card that’s compatible with every single iteration of the 7 lineup.

It’s a 128MB micro SD, so it can hold just shy of 3.75 hours of 4K footage, which means it’s best used for specific events rather than all-day recording.

Alternatively, you could buy three and spread writing duties out between them, so if one fails, you only lose a third of your footage rather than all of it.

Write speeds top out at 90MBps, perfect for high frame rate footage, ensuring it can keep up with your fast-paced life. It’s also capable of lightning-fast read speeds up to 170MBps, which is just…crazy.

It’s A2-rated, which means it’s suitable for use with intensive applications should you wish to use it in such a way, but what makes it a shoo-in for the GoPro is the fact that it’s waterproof, shockproof, and resistant to X-rays, so nothing can compromise your footage.

• 90MBps Write Speeds – Silky smooth 4K recording.
• 170MBps Read Speeds – Instant access to stored files.
• Durability – It’s basically indestructible.
• Price – Decent for SanDisk.
• Compatibility – Works with all GoPro Hero7 devices.

• 128GB Capacity – You may need more than one.

Much like my GoPro 7 pick, This SanDisk micro SD snagged the final position because of its versatility. It’s compatible with every single older variant of the GoPro. If you’re not sure which older GoPro you’ve got, just get this, and you’ll be sorted.

Or should I say, get these, because the 32GB capacity won’t be enough to keep you going all day. I’d recommend purchasing four or five of these diminutive dynamos, just to make sure you’ve got enough storage space for all your adventures.

It has a 40MB write speed and a 90MBps read speed, which obviously pales in comparison to some others on our list, but pre 2019 GoPros weren’t all that powerful, so it matches up quite well with device specs.

That said, if you’ve got a 2018 GoPro, you can go ahead and treat yourself to an Extreme Plus or a Samsung Evo Select for a bolstered performance.

• Compatibility – Works with all pre-2018 models.
  
• Price – Very affordable.
• Reliable – Resistant to pretty much all dangers.

• 32GB Capacity – You’ll need multiple units.
  
• Read and Write Speeds – Nowhere near as fast as the Pro.
  

Best Memory Card for GoPro – Buyers Guide

You’d be forgiven for thinking that a memory card is a memory card, and that’s that. They all certainly look the same. But the truth is that they can differ significantly from unit to unit, so let’s take a look at what makes them a suitable option for your GoPro and your next adventure.

Compatibility

Unfortunately, finding a new SD card for your GoPro isn’t as simple as picking out the latest and greatest, as not all SD cards are compatible with these cameras.

Each GoPro has a slightly different ceiling on the technology it can support, so you’ll need to find one with specs that match up to the capacity of your GoPro. Otherwise, it simply won’t work, and you’ll have wasted time and money on a dud pairing.

SD Card vs Micro SD Card

Here’s another compatibility issue. All GoPro models require a micro SD card. They’re too small to accommodate the standard size SD memory card.

Micro SD Card Type

There are two main types of micro SD card, and these are SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) and SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity).

Simply put, SDHC refers to cards with capacities of 32GB or less, while SDXC cards usually run from 64GB onwards. All GoPro models support SDHC, but some older versions may not support the SDXC format, so be sure to check your user manual or look the specs up online.

Card Capacity

The more of your expeditions an SD card can capture, the better, right? Well, yes and no. Lots of capacity is great and everything, but you have another option.

As long as they’re not too expensive, you may be better off buying multiple SD cards with reduced capacity. That way, if one fails, you don’t lose all your footage in one fell swoop.

The only drawback is that you’ll be manually switching the cards out all the time.

Card Speed

A lot of people don’t realize it, but the speed of your SD card is way more important than the capacity when it comes to GoPro memory.

As a camera tailored for 1st-person action sequences, it stands to reason that you’re going to be traveling at speed whilst recording, and to capture the moment in a smooth and seamless manner, your memory card needs to be able to write the data instantaneously.

Otherwise, you’ll end up with lower resolution or stuttered results, which isn’t great, so, the moral of the story is that you should always choose the fastest SD card that your GoPro can support.

The speed of a Micro SD card is determined by its class. For example, a class 4 card guarantees data writing at 4MBps, and a class 10 card is rated to write data upward of 10MBps.

GoPro themselves recommend a class 10 card as a minimum for smooth footage, but you can also invest in UHS (Ultra High Speed) or VSC (Video Speed Class) cards too.

There are two classes of UHS cards, U-1 and U-3. U-1 are essentially just class 10 cards, while U-3 can write data at 30MBps.

VSC cards will be labeled V-10, V-30, V-60, or V-90, with the number corresponding to the write speeds of the card.

Reliability

Not all SD cards are made equal. Some are far more robust than others, so my advice here is to always stick with reputable brands such as SanDisk, Samsung, or Lexar.

Adapters

While you won’t need an SD card adapter for shooting your footage on a GoPro, they can help you after the fact when moving files around or watching the footage on television. Some micro SD cards are sold with an SD adapter, so feel free to treat yourself to one of these bundle deals.

Frequently Asked Questions

I know you’re itching to hit the road with your GoPro and make some new, exciting memories, but before you make your purchase, let’s discuss some FAQs, just to be sure you’re choosing the right micro SD card for you.

What SD card should I get for my GoPro?

Each GoPro model is compatible with a huge list of micro SD cards, too many for me to list in this brief FAQ segment, but if you want a comprehensive rundown of your options, I suggest visiting this SD Cards that Work with GoPro Cameras page on the GoPro website. You’re sure to find answers there.

What SD card is best for GoPro 9?

I’d suggest a SanDisk Extreme UHS U-3 micro SD card for your GoPro Hero9, and pick out whichever capacity you feel suits the intended application. 32GB is the baseline, so anything from there onwards to the 400GB SanDisk limit is fine.

If you want even more capacity, your only option is a Lexar micro SD card, as they run as large as 512GB.

Is a 32GB SD card big enough for a GoPro?

Yeah, a 32GB micro SD card is just fine for use in a GoPro, but if you want to make longer, higher-def videos, I recommend bumping the capacity up to at least 128GB.

How many hours of 4K video can 128GB hold in GoPro?

Generally speaking, if the micro SD card is up to scratch, 128GB should hold about 3.75 hours of 4K footage. That’s at full settings, too. If you don’t mind dropping a few frames per second or flicking off Protune, you can boost your recording time significantly.

Can GoPro work without an SD card?

Unfortunately, for the most part, no, GoPro cameras need an SD card to function. Some cameras have built-in memory facilities and can run without an SD, but to keep GoPros as portable as possible, they don’t have any baked-in storage.

The only GoPro that has any sort of integrated memory is the older standard definition Hero, and even then, it’s just 16MB, which is only enough for a very short low-definition video or roughly 25 photos.

What is the difference between the SanDisk Extreme and the Extreme Pro

Both of these Micro SD cards can be purchased in various capacities, so the difference between them comes down to their write speeds. The Extreme is rated for speeds up to 70MBps, while the Pro has a hypothetical top speed of 90MBps.

Where does the memory card go in a GoPro?

The memory (or SD) card can be found just behind the battery in a GoPro. To locate it, open up the battery compartment, remove the battery, and the SD port will be at the top of the lens-side of the camera.

It’s a spring-loaded port, so to get an SD card out, just push gently on it, and to put an SD card in, gently press it into place.

To replace the micro SD card in the correct way, have the lens-side of the camera pointing away from you, and have the side of the SD with the brand name and specs facing you.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, folks, five of the very best memory cards for your GoPro. I know I’ve featured a lot of SanDisk cards here today, but there’s a reason for that; they’re the best!

That said, Samsung and Lexar aren’t far behind, so if you can find a better deal on one of their cards, go for it.

As long as you double-check prospective micro SD cards for compatibility before confirming any purchases, you’ll have no problem setting your GoPro up for all your future adventures.