The Raspberry Pi is probably the best-known single-board computer, beloved by hobbyists and tinkerers worldwide. Its most recent incarnation, the Raspberry Pi 5, adds a physical power button for the first time, a Real Time Clock, and a PCIe Gen 2.0 for peripherals. What it doesn't come with is storage, so you'll have to supply your own. Before you start thinking of all the projects you'll power with the Raspberry Pi, picking up storage is a must. The Raspberry Pi has a microSD card reader, so you'll need a microSD card handy to put the operating system onto. Below are the best options that meet the Raspberry Pi's requirements, so you can pick one and then get straight into the fun stuff.
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Editor's choice
SanDisk Ultra microSD card
For the best price-to-capacity microSD card you can get for the Raspberry Pi, look no further than SanDisk's Ultra range. These microSDs are reliable and come in a wide range of capacities, between 16GB and 512GB. You can get 32GB for an astonishing value without looking at lesser-known brands.
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Premium pick
Samsung EVO Select microSD
There can be quite a difference between UHS-I compatible microSD cards in real-world performance when buying a less-premium product. To avoid the slowdown on your single-board computer, pick one from a trusted name, like this Samsung Evo Select, which gets you 64GB of U1, A1, and V10-certified microSD storage for a wallet-friendly cost.
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Best high-capacity
SanDisk Extreme microSD card
- Brand
- SanDisk
- Capacity
- 1TB
- Hardware Interface
- microSDXC
- Speed (Read, Write)
- Up to 160MB/s read, 90 MB/s write
If you plan on packing your Raspberry Pi with data, you'll want the largest microSD card that you can find at a good price. That's currently the SanDisk Extreme, which comes in capacities of up to 1TB. It's worth noting that the Pi won't be able to take advantage of the full 160MB/s speed, as the interface isn't fast enough. But if you're buying this card for the capacity, that's less of an issue.
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Best value
Lexar High-Performance 633x V10 microSDHC card
Lexar's high-performance microSD cards are rated to UHS-I and A1 specifications, which the Pi's microSD card reader prefers, while being capable of up to 100MB/s read speeds. The cards are incredibly affordable, too, as you get a two-pack of 32GB cards for not much more than a single card from other brands.
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Best for endurance
SAMSUNG PRO Endurance 256GB MicroSDXC Memory Card
The Samsung Pro Endurance microSDXC memory card was designed for high-use scenarios like security cameras, so it will be right at home tackling the needs of the operating system on the Raspberry Pi. It's got 256GB of space and is a Class 10, U3-rated microSD card with up to 100MB/s read speeds.
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Best 64GB card
Kingston Canvas Select microSD card
Kingston's Canvas Select microSD cards aren't the fastest memory cards around, but they are still rated to UHS-I and Class 10. And with up to 80MB/s sequential write speeds, the cards are more than fast enough to use in your Raspberry Pi. They're also more affordable, thanks to the slightly slower speeds.
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Best 32GB card
Silicon Power 3D NAND MicroSD Card
Silicon Power might not be the best-known brand, but this is still a well-priced 32GB microSD card that is rated for UHS-1 and Class 10. So it's fast enough for your operating system to use on the Raspberry Pi, whichever model you own. With up to 85MB/s sequential read speeds, it's slightly slower, but that might not make much of a real-world difference.
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Best random-write performance
KIOXIA Exceria Flash microSD card
While any UHS-I microSD card will work well with the Raspberry Pi, you'll need specific performance levels for some tasks. Bret at bret.dk found that this Kioxia card had the best random write performance out of nearly two dozen cards, tested on various Raspberry Pi models. It's also rated to 100MB/s for sequential writes, so it's an overall top performer.
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Dependable and fast
PNY 32GB Elite microSDHC card
This Class 10, U1-rated microSD card from PNY features 100MB/s read speeds, and continuous transfer speeds for everything you want to use your Raspberry Pi for. At this price, get a few just in case, or so you can load up a bunch of operating systems to test to see which one meets your needs the most.
What you need to know about buying a microSD card for the Raspberry Pi
When choosing a microSD card for your Raspberry Pi, it's important to pay attention to a few key things. You'll want at least 32GB of capacity because, while you can run Raspberry Pi OS on an 8GB card, it won't be the optimal Raspberry Pi experience. You can certainly get more than 32GB of storage if you prefer, but the sweet spot for the price is with cards of capacities between 32GB and 128GB. With the new Raspberry Pi's microSD card reader supporting UHS-I speeds, it's important to choose a card that is rated to that standard. Even if buying a card for an earlier model, it's still worth getting this type because it will be usable for longer, and the price difference isn't large anymore.
This is why our top recommendation is the SanDisk Ultra. It's Class 10 and rated for A1 performance, supports UHS-I and can transfer data at up to 100MB/s. It's also fairly affordable and is available in capacities from 16GB to 512GB. If budget is the main consideration, the well-priced Lexar High-Performance line is perfect, with dual packs saving you even more. Those who need oodles of storage space should consider the SanDisk Extreme, which adds up to 1TB of storage to your SBC. For specific task performance, the Kioxia Exceria Flash Memory Card is the one to pick up, as it beats the competition in many real-life tests for random write performance.
Once you get the main storage plan lined up, don't forget that your time with the Raspberry Pi will be significantly enhanced by putting it in one of the best cases. They not only protect the exposed PCB from damage but can add important cooling for the Arm-based processor with heatsinks or cooling fans.
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