Hardware

Mobile Phone | Memory Card

Long-term Field Test: 07.05.2014–23.09.2014 22.09.2014–24.03.2016


SanDisk Ultra microSDXC 128 GB

Same Product available under two Names

  • SanDisk Ultra Android 128 GB microSDXC (Class 10, UHS-I)
  • SanDisk Ultra 128 GB microSDXC (Class 10, UHS-I)

1. Generation

SanDisk Ultra 128 GB microSDXC (30 MB/s, Class 10, UHS-I)
Was unreliable on my smartphones; some files were lost.
Fortunately, I was able to make backups in time beforehand.

2. Generation

SanDisk Ultra 128 GB microSDXC (48 MB/s, Class 10, UHS-I)
Faster and now also reliable.

Purchasing

SanDisk Ultra 128 GB microSDXC (30 MB/s, Class 10, UHS-I)

Offered also as SanDisk Ultra Android 128 GB microSDXC (Class 10, UHS-I). Same Memory Card.
This first generation wasn't reliable on my smartphones, have some files lost. Fortunately I had a backup.

07.05.2014: Ordered online at Cyberport Dresden for my BlackBerry P'9982. 129.00 EUR.
05.06.2014: Ordered online at Cyberport Dresden for my BlackBerry Z10.       111.00 EUR.

SanDisk Ultra 128 GB microSDXC (48 MB/s, Class 10, UHS-I)

The second generation of this tiny memory card – reliable and faster then the first generation.

22.09.2014: Ordered online at Cyberport Dresden for my BlackBerry P'9982. 99.00 EUR.
23.09.2014: DHL has delivered my shipment to my favourite DHL Packstation.
10.10.2014: Have changed the fast SanDisk from BlackBerry P'9982 to my new BlackBerry Passport.

02.12.2014: Ordered online at Cyberport Dresden for my BlackBerry P'9982. 99.00 EUR.
05.12.2014: DHL Packstation was full, postman has deposited my parcel in a post office outlet.
08.12.2014: Ultimately I can pickup my parcel! Opening hours very inconvenient for working people.
Change of memory cards in the evening: move the older slower SanDisk into BlackBerry Z10.
Move the newer faster SanDisk Ultra 128 GB microSDXC into my favourite device BlackBerry P'9982.

Equipment

  • SanDisk Ultra® microSDHC™/SDXC™ Memory Card + SanDisk Memory Zone Android App
  • SD™ Adapter for microSDHC™/SDXC™ Memory Cards
  • Jewel Case made of plastic

Tech Specs

Tested Version

Model: SDSDQUIN-128G-G4 microSDXC Ultra 128 GB
Class 10, UHS-I, 48 MB/s + SD Adapter
Measurements: 0,1 x 1,5 x 1,1 cm
Weight: 9 g
Memory Size: 128 GB

max. reading speed: 48 MB/s*
max. write speed:  48 MB/s*

Successor of this Memory Card

Model: SDSQUNC-128G-GN6IAmicroSDXC Ultra 128 GB
Class 10, UHS-I, 80 MB/s + SD Adapter
Measurements: 0,1 x 1,5 x 1,1 cm
Weight: 9 g
Memory Size: 128 GB

max. reading speed: 80 MB/s*
max. write speed:  48 MB/s*

* reading speed and write speed are depending from miscellaneous factors, among others the used device and the file size which will be read and/or written

Field Test – my personal Experience with that Memory Card

First Generation with Issues

First I had purchased two memory cards of this type (first generation; max. 48 MB/s) after a price reduction.
One for my daily driver smartphone BlackBerry P'9982 and the other one for my BlackBerry Passport. Some weeks after the purchases I had the first read errors on both memory cards which made it impossible to play some of my MP3 files. So I had checked the memory cards with the MS Windows checkdisk tool on my notebook. Unfortunately the check shows me that much files are corrupted so I have invalided out both memory cards to prevent data loss. That was the comeback for my older but reliable SanDisk Extreme Plus microSDXC 64 GB Memory Card.

Second Generation is reliable

Later on SanDisk has offered a new generation of this memory card. Because I have had never ever issues with products from Sandisk in the past I have risked to buy two memory cards again after price reduction. My two pieces of this new generation are absolutely error-free and reliable.

Big Collection of Music Files on microSDXC

I listen my music collection usually as MP3 files from a microSDXC memory card in my smartphone. Therefor I had converted my collection of purchased compact discs to MP3 with highest quality. Some CDs I have saved als WAVE (.wav) file.

Photograph not on slide film but digital on microSDXC

Photos made with my smartphone will be saved on the memory card in general, because at a sudden death of the smartphone I will lost no image.

Backup of the Backup

The complete data I copy with regularity to an external hard disk drive because even a memory card can have a defect or could be ruined by a malfunction of the device.

Current Using of this microSDXC

One of these newer memory cards I use in my BlackBerry Passport and the other one in the rarely used Samsung Galaxy Note. Because I have purchased the new SanDisk Ultra Android 200 GB microSDXC for my daily driver BlackBerry P'9982 – after price reduction, needless to say. Cool Smiley

Pros

  • reliable (second and third generation only, which you can recognize by their mentioned max. write speed 48 MB/s and 80 MB/s)

Cons

  • stated max. write speed hasn´t reached in test reports from several pc magazines

I can´t check the max. write speed without a measurement device but the most test reviews shows lower measurement values.
Reading speed and write speed are depending from miscellaneous factors, among others the used device and the file size which will be read and/or written.
More important as highest speed is reliability – so I am very pleased with the second generation of this memory card!

Conclusion

Only the new Generation is recommendable!

If you are on a budget and get an offer with a price up to 60 EUR then it is worthy for the newest generation only.
Do not buy the first generation which you can recognize based on the package description “30 MB/s”. Hands off! Don´t buy it!

Because I had purchased two pieces which had the same issues after the same time of using I think it was no particular case.

Perhaps not the whole series was concerned but because SanDisk offers two newer generations in the meantime it isn´t worth the risk to buy an older version and may lose excellent photos or other important data.

Tip: some vendors are very carefully with their statements about the maximum size of memory cards or do not update their website.
For example Smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note or the BlackBerry Z10 had the capability to use memory cards with a size of 64 GB right from start.

It´s your own risk if you buy a bigger sized memory card as the vendor recommends.
But in worst case use the microSDXC memory card with the SD Adapter in your digital camera or MP3 player or as a backup storage for the notebook.
Side benefit: because of the higher performance of this microSDXC memory card you can make faster serial photo shoots depending from the capability of the camera model.

Included Software not recommended

Memory Cards from SanDisk with "Android" in the product name are not produced for Android Smartphones only!
There is a software tool stored on the memory card named SanDisk Memory Zone to manage your storage.
You can find this software tool also at the Google Play Store to download and install it with your Android smartphone.
But much of the reviews at Google Play are not very positive so I wouldn´t install it if I would use an Android phone.

Software Alternatives for Android Users

Instead of SanDisk Memory Zone I recommend you Explorer from Speed Software Ltd. and DiskUsage from Ivan Volosyuk.
I personally enjoyed using this on my Samsung Galaxy Note at the time.

Alternatives

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