Samsung Unveils New PRO Ultimate Memory Cards Designed with Increased Speed and Reliability for Professional Content Creators

The new Samsung PRO Ultimate microSD and full-size SD cards offer best-in-class read/write speeds with adoption of UHS-I Interface

Upgraded controller enables significantly greater lifetime reliability and power efficiency

Multi-proof protection is tested under industry’s toughest settings and offers worry-free everyday usage

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced its new flagship UHS-I memory card model ‘PRO Ultimate’ in microSD and full-size SD form factors, enabling professional photographers and content creators to maximize productivity in their creative workflows. The new PRO Ultimate lineup features a capacity of up to 512 gigabytes (GB) and a remarkable sequential read speed of up to 200 megabytes-per-second (MB/s).

“With the growing volume of high-resolution content generated from gadgets such as drones, action cameras and DSLR cameras, professional creators should be able to work with large–sized content seamlessly, whether they are writing, reading or transferring their data,” said Hangu Sohn, Vice President of Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. “As creators rely on high speed and performance of the memory cards, the new Samsung PRO Ultimate significantly reinforces such needs through enhanced controller technologies and multi-proof protection features.”

Best-in-Class Read and Write Speeds with UHS-I Interface

The PRO Ultimate underscores Samsung’s technical innovations, setting an industry-leading standard with read speeds of up to 200MB/s, the maximum speed achievable through the UHS-I interface, and write speeds of 130MB/s. These reliable high-performance read/write speeds, regardless of capacity, allow for the seamless transfer of heavy-duty files such as 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) and Full HD (FHD) video with Video Speed Class 30 (V30) support.

To meet consumer needs for the ability to manage large volumes of content and quick transfers to other devices, the PRO Ultimate microSD card showcases an Application Performance Class 2 (A2), facilitating high performance for random read and write operations as well as multi-tasking capabilities.

Increased Reliability and Durability

The Samsung PRO Ultimate provides professional photographers and creators with reliable performance, thanks to the controller’s enhanced Error Correction Code (ECC) engine and multi-proof protection features that ensure safer data storage over extended periods. With an upgrade to the ECC’s Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code from a 1-kilobyte (KB) to a 2KB engine, the PRO Ultimate offers enhanced durability for a higher volume of write-and-erase cycles.

The PRO Ultimate passes the industry’s most rigorous test settings and offers worry-free usage even in challenging environments, with features such as water protection for up to 72 hours in two meters of depth, drop-proof design from heights of up to five meters, wear-out protection for up to 10,000 swipes, as well as X-ray and magnetic protection. It can also operate in extreme temperatures ranging from -25°C to 85°C (-13°F to 185°F). Additionally, the PRO Ultimate SD card provides shock protection of up to 1,500g.

Maximized Power Efficiency with 28nm Controller

A new 28-nanometer (nm) controller brings a 37% improvement in power efficiency compared to Samsung’s previous lines that include the 55nm controller. This gives consumers the ability to use their devices for extended periods without the need for frequent recharging, allowing users to make the most out of their device’s battery life.

Multi-Device Compatibility

The PRO Ultimate SD card is compatible with DSLR and mirrorless cameras, camcorders, PCs and laptops, maximizing the ability to create, edit and transfer high-performance media across multiple devices.

The PRO Ultimate microSD card offers extensive compatibility with Android smartphones, tablets, handheld game consoles, action cameras, drones, PCs, and more. It is an ideal choice for professionals seeking a reliable and versatile memory card to meet their diverse needs.

General Availability[1]

The PRO Ultimate microSD card is available in three different storage capacities of 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. The PRO Ultimate SD card is offered in four storage capacities of 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB.

The PRO Ultimate microSD card will be available to users worldwide starting today, while the PRO Ultimate SD card will be available worldwide in October, 2023. A card reader-included option for all capacities in both sizes will also be available to users.

The new PRO Ultimate memory cards come with a ten-year limited warranty.

[1] Availability and timing may vary by market.

[2] 1GB = 1,000,000,000 bytes (1 billion bytes). Actual usable capacity may vary.

[3] Up to 200MB/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 130MB/s write speeds, based on Samsung’s internal testing, performance may be lower depending upon host device interface, usage conditions and other factors.

[4] Shock-proof is applicable to SD card only.