Most smartphones may have now banished microSD cards from their compact bodies, but these tiny storage devices continue to thrive in other areas. Some cameras are switching over to this smaller version of the venerable SD card, and some laptops now have it as a part of their I/O collection. Every year brings some small improvements in their capabilities, whether it’s in speed or in durability, ensuring they won’t be phased out anytime soon.
Although microSD cards are often used to move files from one device to another, they often stay inside those devices for long periods of time. Unlike USB sticks that are relatively easier to pull out and plug in, memory cards sometimes require more than just a few steps to remove them from or insert them inside devices. That’s why they’re often used as semi-permanent storage expansion for devices and laptops, which makes these specially-designed microSD cards a little surprising and perhaps a bit pointless.
Designers: Samsung, SEGA
There are many fictional characters whose names are immediately associated with speed, from DC superhero Flash to video game icon Sonic the Hedgehog. The latter has gotten a bit of notoriety after jumping from games to the big screen, splitting fans between those who love the live-action adaption and those who consider it a disappointment. Regardless, that fandom remains solid and strong, at least enough for Samsung to dedicate a few of its memory cards to the franchise.
As the name clearly states, the new Sonic the Hedgehog PRO Plus microSD cards combine two things that are supposed to be related to speed. Samsung boats read and write speeds of up to 180 MB/s and 130 MB/s, respectively, making them ideal not just for cameras but for some gaming handhelds as well. It’s no surprise, then that Samsung would want to etch the image of Sonic the Hedgehog characters on these cards, whether those claims meet reality or not.
Interestingly, these PRO Plus microSD cards are also being promoted for their durability, much like the resilient heroes of the video game franchise. They are particularly boasted to be resistant to water, high temperatures, X-rays, and even magnetic fields, elements that are poison to data storage devices. The cards are also advertised to resist wear out up to 10,000 swipes, meaning you can exchange the card between two devices up to 5,000 times before it starts dying.
While the microsSD cards themselves sound quite capable, especially for their price tag, the choice of design is a bit questionable. For one, you basically only have the characters’ heads printed on the tiny card, barely identifiable at first glance. The other consideration is that you’ll barely see the markings while they’re inside their respective devices, so there’s very little chance to boast your love for the blue hedgehog and his pals. Curiously, the card with the highest capacity (1TB) doesn’t have the titular hero’s face, calling to question who is really the best among these speedsters.
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