Latest news with #microSD
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Gizmodo
Finally, We're Seeing More Ways to Quadruple Your Switch 2's Paltry Storage
If you're like me, your hungry Switch 2's belly is already full up with a slate of launch games combined with your backlog of original Switch titles. When a growing number of games take up 60GB or more on your new handheld, you'll want to look for extra storage options. Unfortunately, every option available right now costs close to half of what you already need to spend on Nintendo's $450 handheld console. The Switch 2 only accepts microSD Express cards, not stock-standard microSD. Express-level cards first debuted in 2023 to enable faster write speeds. For cameras, this meant images would load onto the card much faster after you press the shutter button. For gaming, the cards write faster, but they also read quicker as well. When games take up more storage space, being able to load that data faster matters. Fellow memory card maker Lexar announced the first 1TB microSD Express card back in April. That card cost $200 and had 900MB/s read and 600MB/s write speeds. GameStop also sells a 1TB card for $190. UK-based company Team Group, which makes memory cards and SSDs, dropped details about its Apex SD7.1 microSD Express with a standout 1TB of storage. That's four times the amount of space you get with the Switch 2, and it seems extra enticing until you realize there's no word about when it will be available and little to hint about how much it will cost. Team Group's Apex card has read and write speeds of up to 800MB/s and 700MB/s, respectively. Such a card would technically be able to handle 16 60GB games or 45 games the size of Mario Kart World. These newfangled microSD Express cards can plug into older handhelds, but you won't see the same read and write speeds on devices that normally support base microSD. Older full-size SD Cards with the SDXC (Secure Digital eXtended Capacity) standard with storage options up to 2TB max out at around 300 MB/s read speeds. You don't have to look too far in the past to see how the cost might scale on such a new form of flash storage. The first 1TB microSD card from SanDisk cost $450 at launch in spring 2019. That's as much as a Switch 2 today. Prices slipped fast once more manufacturers jumped on the 1TB train, and today you can grab that same SanDisk card for under $90. Currently, you can get a Nintendo-branded 256GB Samsung microSD Express card with a little Mario 'M' for $60. A 512GB ONN card also goes for $60, but that's currently sold out on sites like Walmart. Pricing doesn't scale linearly, but with more cards available, the cost of 1TB Express-level cards could come down at a relatively fast pace. Nintendo was very excited to tell the world the Switch 2 had eight times the amount of storage capacity of the original Switch. However, all that means is the sequel handheld has a bare 256GB to hold your mountain of games. Games like Street Fighter VI ask for 48.3 GB, while Split Fiction demands a full 73GB. What compounds this issue is the number of launch titles that don't exist on Nintendo's game cards. Games can come in three different digital formats: either as digital download only, as a code-in-a-box, or as a game-key card. The latter is a physical card that essentially acts as a code to download the game from Nintendo's eShop. You can't play the game without the card inserted into the Switch 2. Older microSD cards have completely different pin configurations, and they aren't compatible with the Switch 2. MicroSD Express can use two more modern standards of interfacing with devices, including PCI Express or NVM Express, which allow for faster speeds than the microSD card interface. Still, if you're installing your games on your system, you should look to fill up your internal storage first. Tests of load speeds on Mario Kart World show that the game loads three seconds faster through internal storage than through a microSD Express card. The Lexar card with the highest storage space played catch-up with the smaller Samsung and SanDisk cards. Coming up last was the flash storage on the physical game card. I would sacrifice slightly faster load times for the sake of actually owning the games I play, but if you play on Switch 2, you may not have the choice.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
The modular Fairphone 6 offers two-day battery life and a modern design
With the flagship smartphone market in a continued state of stagnation and more people making an effort to be more sustainable with their tech purchases, it feels like a good time for the Fairphone 6 to arrive. It's been nearly two years since the Fairphone 5 first launched, and as you'd expect, its successor is another highly repairable modular smartphone designed to last you a long time. The Fairphone 6 is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and ships with a 4415mAh battery that Fairphone says will last you nearly two days. You can get 50 percent of juice back into the phone in 25 minutes with a 30W charger. When that battery inevitably degrades a few years down the line, it's one of the 12 components in the phone that can be swapped out after removing a few screws. Nothing in the phone is glued down, so tinkering is fully encouraged here. That said, like the Fairphone 5 before it, its water and dust resistance is only rated at IP55, which means it won't take well to a swim. The Fairphone 6 has a 6.31-inch 1,116 x 2,484 OLED display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a jump up from the previous model's 90 Hz panel. You get 256GB of internal storage which is expandable by up to 2TB via microSD, and the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. As for cameras, you have a 50MP main rear lens with up to 10x digital zoom, which is flanked by a 13MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, there's a 32-megapixel selfie camera. On paper, the Fairphone's photographic arsenal is actually a fairly sizable step downgrade from its predecessor, which used a 50MP lens for all three cameras. The Fairphone 6 runs Android 15 and its maker guarantees updates until 2033 (on top of the phone's five-year warranty). There's also some custom software called Fairphone Moments. Activated by flicking the lime green-colored switch on the side of the device, it's effectively a minimalist focus mode that lets you streamline your phone to show only five apps of your choice. You can have multiple Moments collections, from essentials to more relaxation-oriented apps. As well as the phone's modular innards, you're also free to replace its backplates with custom alternatives with built-in features like a cardholder, finger loop or lanyard. And that remains the main appeal of the Fairphone brand. The fairly mid-range specs are less important than its future-proofed, anti-wastage design. The Fairphone 6 is available to buy now for €599 (around $695), and comes in three colors: Cloud White, Forest Green and Horizon Black.
Engadget
4 days ago
- Engadget
The modular Fairphone 6 offers two-day battery life and a modern design
With the flagship smartphone market in a continued state of stagnation and more people making an effort to be more sustainable with their tech purchases, it feels like a good time for the Fairphone 6 to arrive. It's been nearly two years since the Fairphone 5 first launched, and as you'd expect, its successor is another highly repairable modular smartphone designed to last you a long time. The Fairphone 6 is smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and ships with a 4415mAh battery that Fairphone says will last you nearly two days. You can get 50 percent of juice back into the phone in 25 minutes with a 30W charger. When that battery inevitably degrades a few years down the line, it's one of the 12 components in the phone that can be swapped out after removing a few screws. Nothing in the phone is glued down, so tinkering is fully encouraged here. That said, like the Fairphone 5 before it, its water and dust resistance is only rated at IP55, which means it won't take well to a swim. The Fairphone 6 has a 6.31-inch 1,116 x 2,484 OLED display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, which is a jump up from the previous model's 90 Hz panel. You get 256GB of internal storage which is expandable by up to 2TB via microSD, and the phone is powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. As for cameras, you have a 50MP main rear lens with up to 10x digital zoom, which is flanked by a 13MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, there's a 32-megapixel selfie camera. On paper, the Fairphone's photographic arsenal is actually a fairly sizable step downgrade from its predecessor, which used a 50MP lens for all three cameras. The Fairphone 6 runs Android 15 and its maker guarantees updates until 2033 (on top of the phone's five-year warranty). There's also some custom software called Fairphone Moments. Activated by flicking the lime green-colored switch on the side of the device, it's effectively a minimalist focus mode that lets you streamline your phone to show only five apps of your choice. You can have multiple Moments collections, from essentials to more relaxation-oriented apps. As well as the phone's modular innards, you're also free to replace its backplates with custom alternatives with built-in features like a cardholder, finger loop or lanyard. And that remains the main appeal of the Fairphone brand. The fairly mid-range specs are less important than its future-proofed, anti-wastage design. The Fairphone 6 is available to buy now for €599 (around $695), and comes in three colors: Cloud White, Forest Green and Horizon Black.
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Gizmodo
SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO MicroSD Card Drops Below Last Prime Day Price, Feels Like an Amazon Giveaway
If you've ever lost footage or had your camera freeze up in the middle of recording, you know how critical a good memory card really is. If you lose all the work you just did, there's no way you want to do it all again. And you don't want to lose important memories you took while on a trip or even video game saves. On the flip side, you might just need to expand the memory for a console or a device you're using. And you can do all this with a new microSD card. We've got one in mind, too. And you won't have to spend too much to get that security you're looking for, or the extra storage space for things like all your new Switch 2 games. See at Amazon Run to Amazon right now to get the SanDisk 128B Extreme Pro SDXC Memory Card for $33, down from its usual price of $60. That's $27 off and a discount of 45%. This microSD card is compatible with a wide variety of devices. It uses UHS-II technology, which gives it for blisteringly fast transfer speeds of up to 280MB per second read and up to 150MB per second write. That means less transfer time as well as write speeds that mean no more lag and issues with filming video. Plus, it's shockproof, temperature-proof, waterproof, and even X-ray-proof. It's designed to withstand the elements, wherever it is you end up taking it. That peace of mind is something you don't often get from cheaper cards, and it actually means something here, too. You won't have to worry about the card getting messed up because a puddle might have splashed it. The 128GB capacity is large enough to store plenty of high-quality video or thousands of images, yet still small and affordable enough to keep as a dedicated card for specific projects. If you're a photographer, videographer, drone operator, or even a student working on media production, this is the kind of card that you should keep on you at all times, or at least a double of if something happens to your original. Memory cards aren't the most exciting thing to buy, but the right one makes a world of difference. And when you can get a card like this for just $33 that's also fast, durable, and backed by a name like SanDisk, it's really a good idea all around. If you've been meaning to replace an older card or need a backup, now's the time to grab this deal. See at Amazon
Gizmodo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
Despite Lack of Real Competition, SanDisk 256GB MicroSD Card Hits Near All-Time Low on Amazon
Currently, there is a great chance if you're looking for high-speed storage space for your devices: the SanDisk 256GB Extreme microSDXC memory card can be purchased at an all-time low price on Amazon. For a limited time, this powerhouse of a card is listed at just $24, down from its usual $34 which represents a 29% discount and a rare chance to grab a top-tier memory solution at a low price. The deal is part of a broader promotion that includes a wide range of SanDisk microSD cards, from the modest 64GB to the generous 256GB, but it's the 256GB model that's the most popular and best-rated among users with an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 121,000 reviews. See at Amazon Best microSD Card on the Market SanDisk is the gold standard in the microSD space. Even Amazon, which has ventured into the memory card space with its own branded offerings, hasn't been able to dent SanDisk's stronghold. The 256GB microSD card is the perfect example of why SanDisk is the go-to option for both casual users and pros: It combines speed, reliability, and the value is unmatched. The SanDisk 256GB Extreme microSDXC card is engineered for speed: It leverages SanDisk's proprietary QuickFlow Technology to deliver astonishing read speeds of up to 190MB/s, far surpassing the UHS-I standard of 104MB/s. This means you can transfer large files such as 4K and 5K video footage and high-resolution photos, in a fraction of time it would take with lesser cards. These speeds can be maximized with the SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD card reader, though this is sold separately. It offers write speeds of up to 130MB/s so that even the most demanding shooting scenarios, such as high-res video recording or burst photography are handled with ease. No matter whether you are capturing in Full HD, 4K UHD or even 5K UHD, you can rely on this card to keep pace with your artistic needs. Support for microSDHC, microSDXC, microSDHC UHS-I, and microSDXC UHS-I host devices makes it easily compatible with a wide range of gadgets. This memory card ard is a best-in-class product that's now available at an unbeatable price. If you've been waiting for the right moment to invest, now is the time to act. See at Amazon
