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Comparison of memory cards

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This table provides summary of comparison of various flash memory cards, as of 2025. Of memory cards (i.e. intended as such, to use e.g. internally), SD cards allow for largest capacity by far (with SDUC variant up to 4 TB max. currently available, and the spec allocs up to 128 max.), though the much bulkier CFexpress cards can also match the capacity. The relatively large (external) USB flash drives allow for more capacity, and are available with 8 TB.

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Common information

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Unless otherwise indicated, all images are to scale.
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Physical details

Note that a memory card's dimensions are determined while holding the card with contact pins upwards. The length of cards is often greater than their width. Most cards show a directional arrow to aid insertion; such an arrow should be upward.

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Speed comparison

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Technical details

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Consumer details

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Compatibility

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Chain of adapters:
microSD→miniSD→SD→CF

The following chart gives details on availability of adapters to put a given card (horizontal) in a given slot or device (vertical). This table does not take into account protocol issues in communicating with the device.

Following labels are used:

  • + (native) – A slot is native for such card.
  • D (Directly compatible) – A card may be used in such a slot directly, without any adapters. Best possible compatibility.
  • M (requires a Mechanical adapter) – Such adapter is only a physical enclosure to fit one card sized into another; all electrical pins are exactly the same.
  • EM (requires an Electro-Mechanical adapter) – Such adapter features both physical enclosure and pins re-routing as terminals are sufficiently different. No powered elements in such adapter exists, thus they're very cheap and easy to manufacture and may be supplied as a bonus for every such card.
  • E (requires an Electronic adapter enclosure) – These adapters must have components—potentially requiring external power—that transform signals, as well as physical enclosure and pin routing.
  • X (requires an eXternal adapter) – Technically the same as E, but such adapter usually consists of 2 parts: a pseudo-card with pin routing and physical enclosure size that perfectly match the target slot and a break-out box (a card reader) that holds a real card. Such adapter is the least comfortable to use.
  • XM (requires an eXternal electro-mechanical adapter) – Technically the same as EM, but such adapter usually consists of 2 parts: a pseudo-card with pin routing and physical enclosure size that perfectly match the target slot and a break-out box (a card reader) that holds a real card. Such adapter is the least comfortable to use.
  • Empty cell – Card cannot be used in such slot, no single adapter is known to exist. Sometimes a chain of adapters can help (for example, miniSD→CF as miniSD→SD→CF).
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References

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