Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced the release of its 1-terabyte (TB) high-capacity microSD cards PRO Plus and EVO Plus. By adopting Samsung’s eighth-generation V-NAND (V8) technology, the PRO Plus and EVO Plus boast enhanced performance and high capacity, ideal for content creators and tech enthusiasts needing quick file transfers and storage for everyday use across their devices in everyday use.

“Creators and tech enthusiasts are increasingly using portable devices such as smartphones and handheld gaming devices to store data that demand high-performance and high-capacity,” said Hangu Sohn, Vice President of Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. “The new high-capacity microSD cards, PRO Plus and EVO Plus, are response to the demand for storing large amounts of high-quality data in a reliable and secure way.”

More Storage Capacity

The increased storage size of the PRO Plus and EVO Plus gives users the high-capacity storage options entering the TB capacity range that is mainly used in SSD devices. With 1TB of storage, users can store more than 400K 4K UHD (2.3MB) images or more than 45 console games (20GB). The enhanced capacity of the PRO Plus and EVO Plus unlock new possibilities for everyday devices on the go such as smartphones, action cameras, drones and handheld game consoles. The PRO Plus and EVO Plus offer a range of storage options including 128-gigabyte (GB), 256GB, 512GB and 1TB. The EVO Plus also has a 64GB option.

Enhanced Performance

The PRO Plus allows users storing large amounts of high-quality content to experience excellent performance for a seamless creative workflow. It promises exceptional efficiency and solid reliability with its storage options from 128GB to 1TB, offering sequential read speeds of up to 180 megabytes-per-second (MB/s) coupled with sequential write speeds of up to 130MB/s.¹ For fast loading and multitasking, the PRO Plus has UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30) for 4K UHD Video with A2 App Performance, allowing users to worry less about storing and organizing their content and focus on creating.

For daily use, storing data on devices can be enhanced with the EVO Plus with transfer speeds of up to 160MB/s.² It also boasts a UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30)³ for 4K UHD video with A2⁴ App Performance so users can experience seamless loading and multitasking. The 64GB EVO Plus model has varying specifications with UHS Speed Class 1 (U1), Video Speed Class 10 (V10) and A1 App Performance.

Maximized Power Efficiency and Increased Reliability With 28nm Controller

Samsung’s PRO Plus and EVO Plus 1TB microSD cards show improved power efficiency with its controller based on 28-nanometer (nm) process technology, compared to company’s previous lineup with a 55nm one. This allows users to make the most out of their device’s battery life with Samsung’s 1TB card.

With an Error Correction Code (ECC)⁵’s Low Density Parity Check (LDPC)⁶ code 2-kilobyte (KB) engine, the PRO Plus and EVO Plus 1TB cards offer enhanced durability for a higher volume of write-and-erase cycles, ensuring safer data storage over extended periods.

Proven Durability for Reliable Storage

The PRO Plus and EVO Plus are ultra-durable and have undergone comprehensive testing, achieving high-reliability ratings in six areas. Tested extensively under harsh conditions, the PRO Plus and EVO Plus are designed to withstand challenging environments and can withstand water,⁷ high temperatures,⁸ X-rays⁹ and magnetic field.¹⁰ For creators venturing into challenging conditions, the PRO Plus and EVO Plus have demonstrated durability through extensive testing and are drop-proof¹¹ and resistant to wear-out.¹²*¹³

Compatible Across Devices

The PRO Plus and EVO Plus are compatible with a range of everyday devices so that data is stored securely, including Android^TM smartphones, tablets and handheld gaming consoles. They are also compatible with devices used in harsh environments, such as action cameras or drones for creating, editing and saving data.

The 1TB models of the PRO Plus and EVO Plus microSD Cards will be available worldwide in July, 2024. The PRO Plus has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) ranging from $24.99 for the 128GB model to $153.99 for the 1TB model. The MSRP for the EVO Plus ranges from $12.99 for the 64GB model to $131.99 for the 1TB model.

The PRO Plus and EVO Plus have a 10-year limited warranty.

microSD Cards PRO Plus and EVO Plus Specifications

¹ The foregoing read & write speeds are based on internal tests conducted under controlled conditions. Actual speeds may vary depending upon card capacity. Stated performance was achieved by using PRO Plus microSD cards with Samsung readers.
² The foregoing read & write speeds are based on internal tests conducted under controlled conditions. Actual speeds may vary depending upon card capacity. Stated performance was achieved by using PRO Plus microSD cards with Samsung readers.
³ UHS Speed class (U1, U3) and Video Speed Class (V10, V30) are the speed class defined by SD Association, based on minimum sequential write speed of the memory card, For more information, please refer to the SD specification.
⁴ Application Performance class (A2) are the speed class defined by the SD Association, based on the minimum random read and write speed of the memory card. For more information, please refer to the SD specification.
⁵ Engine that detects and corrects errors in NAND flash
⁶ Error correction code that detects and corrects errors during memory transmission
⁷ 1M depth, salt water (3% NaCl), 35℃, 24hr
⁸ Operating temperatures of -25℃ ~ 85℃, Non-Operating temperatures of -40℃ ~ 85℃
⁹ 0.1 Gy of medium-energy radiation, 210 secs
¹⁰ 15,000 Gauss, 30 secs
¹¹ 10 cycles drop from 1.5 meter
¹² Insertions and extractions the card for a total of 10,000 cycles
¹³ Results from actual use may vary. Any damage or loss of data incurred as a result of exposure to water, high temperatures, X-rays, magnets, drop and wear-out are not warranted by Samsung. All tests were performed in accordance with microSD Card Addendum to Physical Layer Specifications Version 7.10 by SD Association. Please refer to the products’ page for more information.
¹⁴ 1GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes, actual usable storage capacity may vary. User capacity measured with SD Formatter 3.1 tool with FAT file system.
¹⁵ Performance results are based on internal testing conditions. Stated performance was achieved by using PRO Plus / EVO Plus microSD card with Samsung microSD Card reader (ver3.0) in a controlled environment. Actual read/write speeds may vary depending on host configuration and user environment. For more information, please refer to the datasheet.
¹⁶ V10, V30: Video Speed Class means sustained video capture rates of 10MB/s (V10) and 30MB/s (V30) which enable to support real-time video recording to UHS Bus IF products. Transfer speeds may vary by host device.
¹⁷ For more information on the warranty, please visit https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/support/documents/

“With our two new microSD cards, Samsung has provided effective solutions to address the growing demands of mobile computing and on-device AI,” said Hangu Sohn, Vice President of the Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. “Despite their tiny size, these memory cards deliver powerful SSD-like performance and capacity to help users get more out of demanding modern and future applications.”

Industry-First SD Express microSD Card Offers Maximum Speeds of 800 MB/s

For the first time in the industry, Samsung introduced a new high-performance microSD card based on the SD Express interface. The development was the result of a successful collaboration with a customer to create a custom product.

Thanks to its low-power design as well as firmware technology optimized for high-performance and thermal management, Samsung’s SD Express microSD card offers performance equivalent to SSDs in a small form factor. While read speeds for traditional microSD cards based on the UHS-1 interface were limited to 104MB/s, SD Express was able to boost it to 985MB/s, although commercial availability of the latter were not viable in microSD cards until now.

The sequential read speed of Samsung’s SD Express microSD card reaches up to 800MB/s — 1.4 times faster than SATA SSDs (up to 560 MB/s) and more than four times faster compared to traditional UHS-1 memory cards (up to 200 MB/s), allowing improved computing experiences in various applications, including PCs and mobile devices. To ensure stable performance and reliability for the small form factor, Dynamic Thermal Guard (DTG) technology maintains the optimum temperature for the SD Express microSD card, even during long usage sessions.

1TB UHS-1 microSD Card With Cutting-Edge 1Tb V-NAND

Samsung’s new 1TB microSD card stacks eight layers of the company’s 8th generation 1-terabit (Tb) V-NAND within a microSD form factor, realizing the high-capacity package that used to be possible only in SSDs. The new 1TB microSD card passes the industry’s most rigorous test settings and offers reliable usage even in challenging environments, with features such as water protection, extreme temperature, drop-proof design, wear-out protection, as well as X-ray and magnetic protection.⁴

Availability

The 256GB SD Express microSD card will be made available for purchase later this year, and the 1TB UHS-1 microSD card is set to launch within the third quarter of this year.

¹ 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1,000,000,000 bytes (1 billion bytes). Actual usable capacity may vary.
² SD Express: The new SD card interface with PCIe Gen3x1 (based on SD 7.1 specification released in Feb. 2019), the theoretical transfer speed of an SD Express card is 985MB/s
³ 1 terabyte (TB) = 1,000,000,000,000 bytes (1 trillion bytes). Actual usable capacity may vary
⁴ Samsung is not liable for any damages and/or loss of data or expenses incurred from memory card data recovery. The six proofs claimed is only applicable for 1TB UHS­-1 microSD Card, not for 256GB SD Express microSD Card. 1M depth, salt water, 72hrs. Operating temperatures of -25℃ to 85℃ (-13°F to 185°F), non-operating temperatures of -40℃ to 85℃ (-40°F to 185°F). Withstands standard airport x-ray machines (Up to 100mGy). Magnetic field equivalent of a high-field MRI scanner (Up to 15,000 gauss). Withstand drops up to 5meters (16.4feet). Up to 10,000 swipes.

The new microSD cards are ideal for expanded mobile device storage and capturing high-quality photos, 4K Ultra HD (UHD) video² and other content on action cameras and drones – even in extreme conditions.

Samsung’s newest microSDs offer improved six-proof protection, two more layers of protection than the previous generation, making them able to withstand water, extreme temperatures,³ x-ray, wear out,⁴ drops and magnetic impact. Offered with a 10-year limited warranty,⁵ the PRO Plus and EVO Plus microSDs thus enable users to store data without the worry of lack of space, while also providing confidence that the content is well protected.

“Professionals and consumers of all kinds want memory cards that make it easy to save and retrieve data while also knowing that their valuable images and video files are protected,” said KyuYoung Lee, vice president of the Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung’s new suite of microSD cards offer the features and capabilities consumers and professionals need: faster speeds along with increased reliability and durability to deliver the ultra-high performance every user wants.”

PRO Plus microSD cards, a new addition to Samsung’s microSD lineup, are designed for more discerning content creators, offering exceptional read and write speeds of up to 160MB/s and 120MB/s,⁶ respectively. The PRO Plus microSD cards will be available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB capacities.

The EVO Plus microSD is designed to give casual users peace of mind by providing high reliability and stable performance during day-to-day use. It offers transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s,⁷ providing up to 1.3x faster sequential read speed when compared to the previous version. EVO Plus microSD card will be available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB capacity.

The PRO Plus and EVO Plus microSD cards, featuring a reimagined Blue Wave design that gives the cards a fresh new look, will be available starting today. For more information on Samsung’s microSD card offerings, please visit samsung.com/memorycard.

¹ The read & write speeds are based on internal tests conducted under controlled conditions. Actual speeds may vary depending upon card capacity and device compatibility. Stated performance is achieved by using microSD with Samsung readers.

² EVO Plus 64GB is not supported

³ Temperature proof: operating temperatures of -25 C to 85 C; non-operating temperatures of -40 C to 85 C.

⁴ up to 10,000 swipes

⁵ https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/memory-card-warranty/

⁶ Stated performance is achieved by using PRO Plus microSD cards with Samsung readers.

⁷ Stated performance is achieved by using EVO Plus microSD cards with Samsung readers.

⁸ Up to 160MB/s read speeds, engineered with proprietary technology to reach speeds beyond UHS-I 104MB/s, require compatible devices capable of reaching such speeds. Up to 120MB/s write speeds. Based on Samsung’s internal testing; performance may be lower depending upon host device interface, usage conditions and other factors.