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SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB microSDHC UHS-I U3 Memory Card Review

SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s U3 MicroSDHC Card

Introduction

The Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSDHC 32GB card offers high performance in a very tiny package. The Extreme Plus is positioned between the Extreme and Extreme Pro. It supports UHS-I and features the UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) designation, meaning it can support at least 30MB/s continuous write for use in 4K video recording applications. Sandisk rates Extreme Plus microSD cards at 80MB/s read and 50MB/s write (except the 16GB version is rated 30MB/s write). The Extreme Plus microSD card is available in 16, 32 and 64 GB capacities. The 32GB microSDHC version is reviewed here.

SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s U3 MicroSDHC Card Front SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s U3 MicroSDHC Card Back

Performance

The Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB microSDHC card was tested in several USB 3.0 card readers. In card readers it was tested in a microSD slot, if available, and in a standard SD slot using the included SanDisk microSD to SD adapter. Speed tests with and without the adapter in readers with both slots provide virtually identical results (microSD to SD adapters are simple pass-though devices).

The microSDHC version of the Extreme Plus outperformed the standard SD card version that was previously reviewed. The microSD version supported about 5MB/s faster write speed, averaging 65.4MB/s sequential write across several USB 3.0 card readers. Sequential reads between the microSD and full size card were similar, with the microSDHC card reaching over 98MB/s in two of the faster USB 3.0 card readers, well above its 80MB/s advertised read speed.

Card: SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSD 32GB
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 Plus 80MB/s microSD 32GB
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
Lexar LRWM04U-7000 UHS-II Reader99.57065.45493.93353.8629.3932293.33.030739.67.7921902.42.402586.5
Lexar Professional Workflow SR2 UHS-II99.54265.62293.03853.7829.8272399.23.017736.67.9281935.72.414589.3
SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II SD Reader/Writer98.54165.38993.87153.7649.4372303.93.056746.17.7801899.52.317565.6
Kingston MobileLite G4 UHS-II98.43065.43493.79353.7029.8112395.23.037741.57.8231910.02.350573.7
Delkin Dual Slot SD UHS-II and CF Card Reader97.82465.18692.05735.4719.6462354.93.038741.67.8601918.92.397585.3
Transcend Multi-Card Reader RDF997.80665.36092.13335.6089.7212373.33.016736.47.9011929.02.361576.4
Kingston FCR-HS4 Card Reader97.63365.51692.81053.6679.7152371.83.046743.67.7961903.32.419590.5
Lexar Professional Dual Slot UHS-II Card Reader97.42465.09792.59752.3959.5932342.01.299317.38.7952147.21.295316.3
Delkin Travel Reader97.42465.64790.24553.1929.9122419.82.953721.18.0741971.11.312320.4
Transcend Multi-Card Reader RDF8 Black97.31665.59791.69253.7028.1741995.72.585631.17.6571869.32.695658.0
Lexar Professional Dual Slot Reader97.26165.65991.84454.2789.5392328.83.848939.37.7981903.91.949475.9
Lexar Professional Workflow SR196.42165.39390.32053.6059.7202372.93.035741.07.5481842.82.354574.6
Transcend SD Card Reader RDF5 Black96.23565.25590.36553.4287.7411889.92.507612.06.3361546.82.323567.2
Delkin Universal Memory Card Reader96.12965.25190.63553.53410.0052442.72.706660.68.2332010.01.258307.1
SanDisk ImageMate All-In-One USB 3.095.56865.37381.74350.1055.4791337.72.191534.94.8281178.62.049500.3
Lexar LRWM03U-7000 UHS-I microSD Reader95.11864.96888.56835.2609.0582211.53.822933.17.3761800.71.608392.7
Lexar LRWM05U-7000 UHS-II microSD Reader93.85865.34087.32353.4559.7102370.62.753672.17.9501940.81.325323.5
SanDisk microSD UHS-II USB 3.0 Reader93.63165.30786.53035.4889.4412305.02.864699.37.8841924.81.408343.8
Kingston Multi-Card Reader FCR-HS392.41865.47964.14943.3379.8172396.83.061747.37.7931902.52.379580.9

In camera tests the 32GB Extreme Plus microSDHC posted some impressive results. In some cameras it is among the top performing cards. For example, in the Canon 6D SD card comparison it was only behind the Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I, beating many cards with faster write speed benchmarks. Results from additional cameras show that in UHS-I cameras that support UHS-I mode SDR104 (104MB/s bus speed), this card is limited by its write speed. While in other cameras like the Canon 6D only support UHS-I 50MB/s bus speed, the card is not limited by its write speed. Its excellent performance is probably due to a very efficient controller (its sequential read benchmarks are similar to the Extreme Pro 95MB/s card).

SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSD 32GB
Tested in Camera
Write Speed
(MB/s)
Canon Rebel T6i/T6s58.6
Fuji X-Pro257.0
Nikon D710056.2
Nikon D720055.6
Nikon D550054.6
Canon 5Ds54.5
Samsung NX151.6
Fuji X-T1046.7
Olympus PEN-F39.5
Olympus E-M5 II38.1
Pentax K-3 II36.3
Sony A7R II36.1
Canon 70D35.7
Canon 6D35.5
Sony A600035.5

Cameras tested with this card: Canon 5Ds, Canon 6D, Canon 70D, Canon Rebel T6i/T6s, Fuji X-Pro2, Fuji X-T10, Nikon D7200, Nikon D7100, Nikon D5500, Olympus E-M5 II, Olympus PEN-F, Pentax K-3 II, Samsung NX1, Sony A7R II, Sony A6000

SD vs microSD

The microSD version of the Extreme Plus 80MB/s offers the speed and capacity of a full-size SD card in a minuscule package. For devices that require a microSD card size it would be an obvious choice, and in cameras or other devices that have standard SD slots it can be used with the included adapter. There is no speed penalty for using this card in an adapter (its performance is the same with and without the adapter), but the microSD version usually costs more. With more devices such as smartphones and action cameras (GoPro) using microSD cards, it might make sense to purchase the microSD version even if your primary camera uses standard SD cards.

The following table contains information encoded in the SD card.

SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSD 32GB microSD — Internal Card Information
Serial number (PSN)252218073
Product Name (PNM)SE32G
Product Revision8.0
Manufacturer ID (MID)0x000003
OEM ID (OID)SD
Manufacture Date (MDT)08/2014
Total capacity31,914,983,424 bytes

Available sizes and prices

Compare prices on the SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSD card. The lowest prices are highlighted in the table below. Prices are updated daily.

CardSize
GB
Lowest
$ / GB
Prices
AmazonB&H PhotoAdorama
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSDHC16$1.45$23.20Check priceCheck price
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSDHC32N/ACheck price Check priceCheck price
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSDXC64$0.86$55.00Check priceCheck price