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SanDisk Extreme 160MB/s UHS-I V30 A2 256GB microSDXC Memory Card Review

SanDisk Extreme 160MB/s UHS-I V30 A2 256GB microSDXC Memory Card

Introduction

The SanDisk Extreme microSDXC card was updated in late 2018 with new A2 performance rating. The new Extreme microSD cards offer up to 160MB/s read speed when used in SanDisk's own readers. Their maximum speed is closer to 99MB/s when used in other card readers, including older SanDisk readers. The card's A2 performance rating indicates the card can perform at least 4,000 random read and 2,000 random write operations per second. This rating means the card is well suited for in smartphones, tablets and mobile devices. The card Video Speed Class V30 performance designation means this card can sustain at least 30MB/s continuous write speed which makes it idea for 4K video recording.

Extreme 160MB/s V30 A2 microSD cards are available in 32, 64, 128, 256 and 400GB capacities. The 256GB capacity microSDXC card model SDSQXA1-256G-AN6MA with UPC 619659169718 is tested in this review.

SanDisk Extreme 160MB/s UHS-I V30 A2 256GB microSDXC Memory Card Back

Performance

Performance of the Extreme 160MB/s A2 256GB microSD card was tested using card readers. The benchmark tests show that the card surpasses its quoted speed in the SanDisk MobileMate USB 3.0 Reader (SDDR-B531) reader. The highest sequential read speed reached up to 169.3 MB/s. In other card readers, including older SanDisk readers, the card only reached 99.3 MB/s read speed. Sequential write speed measured up to 101.4 MB/s in the fastest reader, also a SanDisk reader. Other readers performed up to 89.3MB/s write speed.

Card: SanDisk Extreme V30 A2 microSDXC 256GB
Benchmark: CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3 x64
Program settings: 1000 MB, 5 passes, random test data
Operating system: Windows 10 Pro
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H
Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 4.40GHz
RAM: 32GB DDR3 1600

SanDisk Extreme V30 A2 microSDXC 256GB
Card Reader Benchmarks
Seq.
Read
1000MB
MB/s
Seq.
Write
1000MB
MB/s
Rand.
Read
512KB
MB/s
Rand.
Write
512KB
MB/s
Rand.
Read
4KB
MB/s
QD1
Rand.
Read
4KB
IOPS
QD1
Rand.
Write
4KB
MB/s
QD1
Rand.
Write
4KB
IOPS
QD1
Rand.
Read
4KB
MB/s
QD32
Rand.
Read
4KB
IOPS
QD32
Rand.
Write
4KB
MB/s
QD32
Rand.
Write
4KB
IOPS
QD32
SanDisk UHS-I Card Reader SDDR-C531169.31699.760130.78960.5913.869944.62.471603.24.2021025.92.594633.4
SanDisk MobileMate USB 3.0 Reader169.098101.380131.22360.5613.640888.62.391583.73.943962.72.497609.5
Hama USB 3.0 UHS-II SD Card Reader99.33587.57881.66255.6835.6991391.33.298805.25.8391425.53.290803.2
Lexar Professional Workflow SR2 UHS-II99.25987.59381.64955.0705.6861388.13.312808.55.8511428.43.306807.2
Lexar LRWM04U-7000 UHS-II Reader99.25987.35281.63556.5695.6671383.43.287802.65.8411426.03.309807.9
SanDisk Extreme Pro SD UHS-II Reader/Writer98.98887.85074.63852.7444.5681115.42.432593.84.8931194.52.558624.5
Hama USB Type-C 3.1 UHS-II SD Card Reader98.97888.23481.60856.1195.7101394.03.279800.65.8761434.63.278800.2
Sony S1 High Speed UHS-II Reader/Writer98.96087.04073.59053.5434.2591039.82.320566.54.7521160.22.467602.2
Delkin Black Rugged Card Reader98.88587.38187.07754.2254.3041050.92.448597.64.7901169.42.599634.6
SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II USB-C Reader SDDR-40998.61588.42086.06255.7484.6051124.22.457599.74.7881168.92.550622.6
SanDisk Extreme Pro SD UHS-II USB-C Reader98.61588.12371.06153.2804.4471085.72.459600.34.7621162.62.603635.4
Kingston FCR-HS4 Card Reader97.62488.55581.44656.5505.6761385.83.313808.95.8421426.43.278800.3
Kingston MobileLite G4 UHS-II97.56988.39090.66552.0735.7031392.23.302806.15.8451427.13.288802.8
Delkin Multi-Card CFast SD UHS-II microSD Reader97.36188.32390.90756.2745.6221372.53.335814.25.8291423.23.313808.9
ProMaster Professional Dual Card Reader SD UHS-II97.30788.27991.31556.2835.7131394.73.269798.15.8341424.33.285802.0
Transcend Multi-Card Reader RDF997.18988.24990.86756.7635.6851387.93.298805.15.8441426.83.312808.6
Lexar Professional Dual Slot UHS-II Card Reader97.18087.98390.27554.9175.6481378.92.884704.05.8331424.03.125762.9
Delkin Dual Slot SD UHS-II and CF Card Reader97.17188.32381.50056.3115.6761385.73.312808.65.8371425.03.274799.3
SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II SD Reader/Writer97.15388.08690.59051.8935.6831387.43.316809.55.8381425.33.302806.1
Delkin Travel Reader97.02788.02788.29053.9875.6291374.33.354818.85.8421426.33.332813.4
DriverGenius USB 3.1(G1) / 3.0 UHS-II SD Card Reader96.56387.99084.73050.8115.4371327.42.829690.75.5681359.43.056746.1
Transcend Multi-Card Reader RDF8 Black96.52789.27972.39955.6835.3071295.72.801683.95.4941341.23.071749.7
Delkin Universal Memory Card Reader96.00688.87788.74455.8655.3551307.42.816687.55.4501330.73.043742.8
SanDisk ImageMate Pro Multi-Card Reader/Writer95.89285.47280.32454.0684.3071051.62.421591.14.7931170.12.558624.4
Verbatim USB-C Pocket Card Reader95.65687.98377.76254.7025.6451378.22.830691.05.6291374.32.914711.5
Transcend SD Card Reader RDF5 Black95.10087.68172.95056.5964.5721116.12.484606.44.8441182.52.586631.4
Sony MRW-E90 XQD 2.0 / SD UHS-II Card Reader93.13284.97484.99655.2065.2461280.62.838693.05.5041343.83.061747.2

This 256GB Extreme 160MB/s V30 A2 microSDXC card will be tested in digital cameras to evaluate actual write performance. Results will be posted in the following table.

Cameras tested with this card:

The following table contains information encoded in the SD card.

SanDisk Extreme V30 A2 microSDXC 256GB microSD — Internal Card Information
Serial number (PSN)2149649674
Product Name (PNM)SN256
Product Revision8.0
Manufacturer ID (MID)0x000003
OEM ID (OID)SD
Manufacture Date (MDT)08/2018
Total capacity255,869,321,216 bytes

The internal card register shows this card was made in August 2018. The Manufacturer ID 0x000003 and OEM ID "SD" are consistent with memory cards produced by SanDisk.