Introduction
In India, the average data usage per user per month is around 11GB. There’s no arguing that Smartphones have gone much more powerful with all the computing hardware but they are still marred with storage requirements. Also, if you are a budding photographer or a pro who creates magic with his stills, you need a quality storage card to handle those high-quality videos and images.
With high speed Internet, it has become easier for us to listen to music, download movies, play games and browse the World Wide Web all day long. However, all these activities eat up the storage on our phones. An easy solution is to keep as minimum data on your phone as possible, but it is not possible if you want to play games or watch movies. Do you know that even playing PUBG requires you to have at least 2GB free storage on your phone?
Now that’s just one example, there are loads of other applications that you use on your phone that require free storage. Cloud storage apps do provide a solution, but these apps also require sufficient memory. On a camera, you do not have the luxury of cloud apps at all. The most obvious and best solution to deal with storage crunch is to choose the best memory card, also known as SD or Secure Digital cards.
Almost every Smartphone and camera support storage expansion via memory cards. These storage cards are available in capacities of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and 512GB. But for the most requirements, a 32GB memory card is the ideal choice. In India, a quality 32GB memory card is offered by reputed brands like Samsung, Sandisk, Kingston and HP.
That being said, not all memory cards are created equal, and you should know how to choose the best SD card.
Choosing the best 32GB memory card
Memory cards are classified into three categories, depending on the data input and output speeds:1
1. Pro SD Cards
The pro-class memory cards have data writing speed of 60 MBPS to 90 MBPS. If you want a 32GB memory card for recording full HD 4K videos or DSLR photography then the pro-class memory card will serve you the best.
2. Plus SD Cards
A Plus memory card has a writing speed of up to 45 MBPS and is more suitable for non-professional users like storing HD movies, DSLR photography and playing games.
3. Standard SD Cards
with a maximum writing speed of 30 MBPS. These memory cards can be used with compact cameras and Smartphones & for recording Ultra HD videos, storing images and playing games.
When you will be shopping for a 32GB memory card you won’t be able to find any explicit mention of Pro, Plus or Standard but instead the term “Speed Class” is used to denote the data transfer speed of an SD card. In technical terms, a Speed Class defines the minimum speed for data transfer in worst case scenario.
The SD Association has recognized four Speed Classes that can be used to mark SD cards-10, 6, 4, 2. A Speed Class (SC) 10 memory card is the fastest, while SC 2 being the slowest.
A Class 2 32GB memory card is ideal for standard video recording, while Classes 4 and 6 work well for HD videos and Class 10 is the ultimate choice for full HD video recording.
There are two Ultra High Speed (UHS) speed classes also made available recently.
Top 32GB memory card brands in India
Considering all of these features that are required in an ideal memory card and weighing the pros and cons we found Sandisk as the top flash drive and SD card brand in India. Following the topper is Samsung which like Sandisk offers products for professionals as well as non-professionals. Lexar, Transcend, Kingston, Strontium and Sony are also able to make it to our list as top memory card brands in India due to their popularity on e-commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart and Paytm.
Let’s have a look at the best 32GB memory cards offered by these brands in India:
Top 10 Best Memory Cards in India
1. Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-II 32GB Memory Card
This Sandisk 32GB memory card is one of the best on the list given its ultra-high reading and writing speeds. If you are seeking the best 32GB memory card for continuous video recording and photography then Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-II 32GB is an undisputed winner. If you need a memory card to take with you on a safari or hunting or for sports photography, this card allows you to record 4K video at best speeds possible.
Features
A Class 10/UHS-II U3 SD card
Mentioned as highest read and write speed of 280 MBPS and 250 MBPS
Average read and write speed of 278.3 MBPS and 247.8 MBPS
Supports true 4K Ultra HD video recording
If you want a 32GB memory card for professional photography and video recording then this is the product for taking continuous shots. Ideal for recording high-resolution 4K videos, Sandisk Extreme Pro is ruling the market for a while now. The only complain users have is the pricing of the SD card which is a bit over the top.
2. Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB
The best in class UHS-II model, Lexar Professional 1000x has the known highest speed of data writing at 150 MBPS which is an ultimate record. If you need a 32GB memory card for professional photography where continuous shots are a requirement, this Lexar SD card is for you. Ideal for recording HD 4K videos and images, it is a classic product.
Features
A Class 10/UHS-II U3 memory card
Maximum reading speed of up to 150 MBPS
Maximum writing speed of up to 90MBPS
On average you get read and write speed of 82MBPS and 75MBPS
Supports 4K Ultra HD recording
Lifetime limited warranty
With Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB, you also get backward compatibility with UHS-I devices and can recover files with any image recovery software. On the downside, this Lexar 32GB SD card is a bit expensive.
3. Transcend U3 UHS-I 32GB
Another Class 10 compliant, Ultra High Speed 32GB memory card which is known for its performance is the Transcend U3 UHS-I. Designed to be used for high-speed photography, it offers smooth full HD, 3D and 4K video recording along with MLC flash-based performance. If you have a Nikon D810 camera then pick this one.
Features
Mentioned read and write speed-95MBPS and 85MBPS
Actual read up to 91.3MBPS, write up to 82.8MBPS
Smooth 3D and 4K video recording
MLC flash-based performance
You can use this memory card for all professional purposes. It is waterproof, x-ray proof and temperature proof. However, comparatively the Transcend U3 UHS-I is slower than the preceding options on the list.
4. Samsung SDA PRO+ 32GB
It was imperative that a Samsung product will make it to the list. The Samsung SDA PRO+ 32GB memory card carves a niche for itself as it uses the MLC NAND-type whereas other cards use TLC. With MLC NAND-type concept, this Samsung SD card has better durability and enhanced performance. With a high reading and writing speed (87.4 MBPS and 76.8 MBPS respectively) you can use it to record 4K videos on your phone, drone and camera.
Features
A Class 10 UHS-I memory card
Maximum read speed 90 MBPS and write speed 80 MBPS.
Actual read speed 87.4 MBPS and write speed 76.8 MBPS
Supports MLC NAND-type technology
This Samsung 32GB memory card has enhanced durability and performance because of the MLC NAND-type technology. The only fallback is its slower reading speed than most UHS-I SD cards.
5. Kingston 32GB microSDHC Class 10 UHS-I memory card
Kingston is another reputed storage solution provider. This Kingston 32GB memory card is a Class 10, Ultra High Speed (UHS-I) that supports Full HD video recording and images. This SD card offers a good writing speed with a maximum data transfer rate of 80 MBPS. For mirrorless cameras, Smartphones and high-quality drones, the Kingston microSDHC Class 10 UHS-I memory card is ideal.
Features
Kingston 32GB microSDHC Memory Card Specifications
UHS-1, Class 10 SD card
Maximum transfer speed up to 80 MBPS
5 years warranty
It is one of the most reliable 32GB memory cards that is waterproof, vibration proof, shockproof and X-ray proof. On the downside, it is not as fast as other memory cards on the list.
6. Strontium Nitro 32GB Class 10 UHS-1 MicroSDHC Memory Card
Strontium is slowly creating a place for itself in the Indian memory card market. The Strontium Nitro 466X 32GB UHS-1 Class 10 microSDHC Card is another very popular 32GB memory card suitable for camcorders, Smartphones and drones. You can use it with DSLR cameras but you will need to buy an adapter to do so. Supporting Full HD video recording, this Strontium SD card offers an actual read speed of up to 70 MBPS and write speed of 20 MBPS. There is an in-built write protect switch that prevents accidental deletion of data.
Features
A UHS-1 Class 10 memory card
Actual read and write speed-70 MBPS and 20 MBPS
Full HD video recording
Lifetime Limited Warranty
This Strontium memory card is a superior mobile data solution for Smartphones. It is waterproof, temperature proof and magnet-proof. The writing speed is, however, a drawback for this SD card.
7. Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-I 32GB
If you are looking for a 32GB memory card for extreme photography and data transfer from your mobile to PC, then Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-I 32GB memory card is the one you should pick. It offers incredibly fast file transfers between devices up to 95 MBPS. Also, a high writing speed of 84.5 MBPS makes it suitable for any camera or camcorder.
Features
A Class 10, UHS-I U1-U3 SD Card
Mentioned read and write speed of 95 MBPS and 90 MBPS
Offers actual read and write speed of 95.02MBPS and 84.48MBPS
Supports 4K Ultra HD video recording
Lifetime limited warranty
This Sandisk memory card offers the best in class reading and writing speed. You can record true 4K videos on this memory card quickly. However, its high price is a bit of an inconvenience.
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8. Samsung Evo 32GB MicroSDHC Memory Card
A best seller on Flipkart and Amazon, the Samsung Evo 32GB MicroSDHC Class 10 48 MB/s Memory Card is one of the best from Samsung. This SD card is an excellent performer in its class with 45 MBPS reading and 20 MBPS writing speed. Whether you want a memory card for your DSLR camera, Smartphone, camcorder or tablet, you can definitely rely on this one.
Features
A Class 10, UHS-I U1 memory card
Actual read and write speed of 44.6MB/s and 19.89MB/s
10 years limited warranty
A bestselling 32GB memory card from Samsung it can be used with any device. However, it is not ideal for professional use.
9. Sandisk Extreme PLUS U3 32GB
If you want a memory card for high-end Smartphones capable of capturing 4K videos and Full HD images, then go for SanDisk Extreme Plus 32GB UHS-I/ U3 Micro SDXC memory card. Reaching up to 83 MBPS reading speed and 61 MBPS writing speed, you can use this card with SLR cameras as well.
Features
A UHS-I/ U3 Micro SDXC memory card
Fast at read and write speed of 82.7MB/s and 60.8MB/s
Supports 4K Ultra HD video recording
Lifetime limited warranty
One of the best features of this phone is its compatibility with SLR cameras. Its fast reading and writing speed make it suitable for professional purposes. The only drawback is that it is not a pro SD card.
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10. Sony 32GB MicroSD Class 10 UHS-1 High Speed Memory Card
The only entry from Sony in our list of best 32GB memory card brands in India is the Sony 32GB MicroSD Class 10 UHS-1 High Speed memory card. Just like other cards on the list, this one is a high-speed SD card offering reading speed of up to 90 MBPS.
Features
A UHS-I Class 10 memory card
Offering up to 90 MB/s read speed
Comes with SD adapter
One of the pros of this Sony 32GB memory card is its in-built File Rescue software that allows you to recover any deleted data. Furthermore, it is waterproof, x-ray proof and magnet proof.
Final thoughts
We have tried our best to list the top 32GB memory cards available in India. The final choice boils down to what purpose you want to use the memory card for.
If you are looking for the best performance professional storage card then Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II or Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-II serve the purpose, else if you want a general purpose high-quality 32GB SD card, go with Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-I or Samsung Evo 32GB card.