Sandisk Ultra Vs Extreme: Which One Is Best?

The SanDisk Ultra and SanDisk Extreme memory cards are excellent choices if you’re in the market for a new memory card, but what’s the difference between them? First, it needs to be clarified why one card costs more than the other. Does the price indicate quality?

Sandisk Ultra Vs Extreme, the primary distinction between SanDisk Ultra and Extreme cards is the ability to record video. In this piece, you will learn about these distinctions and other important considerations when selecting a new memory card.

There is far more to discover than simply video recording skills. So let’s examine the distinctions between SanDisk Ultra plus and Extreme to assist you in selecting the optimal product.

Video: Sandisk Micro SD – Ultra vs Extreme Pro!! 

WHAT IS SANDISK ULTRA?

SanDisk Ultra is a memory card designed for point-and-shoot cameras instead of professional DSLR or Mirrorless models. These cards are capable of 120mb/s transmission speeds and vary from 32GB to 256GB in storage capacity. Unfortunately, while they can handle most photo formats, they only support 1080p video recording.

Due to the slow rates of this SD card for extreme plus, it is not suitable for a mid-range or professional-level camera. However, it is suitable for smartphones, tablets, and point-and-shoot cameras.

SanDisk Ultra memory cards are available in both SD and MicroSD formats, making them very interoperable. The storage capacities of the standard SD card are 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256 GB.

In contrast, Ultra MicroSD cards are available in capacities of 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 200GB, 256GB, 400GB, and 512 GB.

Since MicroSD models are designed for a broader array of devices, including cameras, smartphones, and game consoles, more storage alternatives exist.

WHAT IS SANDISK EXTREME?

SanDisk Extreme is SanDisk Ultra’s older sibling. It offers a substantial advantage over the Ultra because of its faster read/write rates and 4K video capability. These memory cards are designed for intermediate to professional-level picture and video cameras.

This SD card is designed for transferring huge files quickly. SanDisk Extreme memory cards handle everything from RAW burst photography to 4K video recording.

SanDisk Extreme memory cards are offered in both SD and MicroSD formats, making them compatible with DSLR/mirrorless cameras, action cameras, mobile phones, and gaming devices for ultra ii.

16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB are the five file size options available for the SD versions. In addition, there are seven capacity options for MicroSD Extreme cards, including 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 400GB, 512GB, and 1TB.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro is a significantly superior micro sd card choice within the SanDisk Extreme range. These cards’ reading and writing speeds, storage capacity, and video recording capabilities have been enhanced. Although they are more expensive, they are an intelligent investment for professional shooters.

COMPARING SANDISK ULTRA VS EXTREME

If you’re in the market for a new memory card, you don’t have to choose between Ultra and Extreme. Instead, let’s compare these two cards’ most significant attributes to make the decision simple.

READ/WRITE SPEEDS

The reading and writing speeds determine how quickly your memory card can read data from your device and write data to it. For instance, if you have a slow reading speed, photographs and movies will play back with a delay. With a slower writing speed, there may be a delay between capturing a photo and saving it to your memory card.

Memory card speed capabilities are referred to as bus speeds or UHS-Class ratings. The bus speed determines the rate at which a memory card imports and exports data from a device.

1. BUS SPEED

SanDisk Ultra and SanDisk Extreme memory cards are both UHS-1 compliant. This rating indicates that both cards employ only a single row of pins to control the influx and egress of data.

With only one row of pins, if you download something to the ultra card, you wannabees other stored media until the toncewnload is complete. Consider it a single-lane road. There is just one way of traffic permitted at a time.

In addition to having a single row of pins, UHS-1 cards are only rated for 104mb/s data transfer. However, there is also the UHS class to consider about card speed.

2. UHS CLASS

The speed class determines how much data a SanDisk ultra card can transfer continuously. With a faster-sustained writing speed, the memory card will unavoidably perform better when shooting video or a burst of photographs. The SanDisk Ultra has a speed class rating of U1, represented by a U containing a 1. This indicates that the card can maintain a maximum transfer rate of 10 MB/s.

Compared to the Ultra, the SanDisk Extreme with speed class U3 is three times faster at transferring data. With transfer rates of up to 30MB/s, the Extreme is an obvious pick in terms of its speed capabilities.

20MB/S per second may not seem like much on paper, but it makes a significant impact when shooting. This would result in less buffering while shooting in rapid succession and more 4K video recording format options.

3. SPEED CLASS

The C on the micro sd card indicates the card’s speed class. For example, SanDisk Ultra and Extreme memory cards share the same speed class, C10. The speed class is intended to indicate the minimum write speed of the card. For example, the Ultra and Extreme have a minimum write speed of 10MB/s with a C10 speed rating.

In addition to the minimum write speed, individual devices may require certain speed classes. Since C10 is the highest speed class, both cards are compatible with most modern devices.

Despite a few parallels between Ultra and Extreme, the vast speed gains in this category are difficult to overlook. The SanDisk Extreme is, therefore, the clear winner.

Winner: SanDisk Extreme

STORAGE CAPACITY OPTIONS

It is essential to choose a memory card with the appropriate storage capacity. Especially when recording video, you don’t want to run out of space just before capturing the perfect shot!

Capacity options for the SanDisk Ultra and SanDisk Extreme SD cards are comparable. Extreme is available in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB, while Ultra is available in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256 GB.

Because Extreme offers only one other capacity option, there is little difference between the two. In this regard, these two cards are highly comparable to one another.

Winner: Tie

CARD TYPE

The SanDisk Ultra and Extreme are SDXC (Secure Digital Extreme Capacity) cards, which employ the exFAT file system. ExFAT indicates that the memory card has a capacity of more than 32GB and may store files of any size.

However, the SanDisk Ultra 32GB model and the SanDisk Extreme 16GB and 32GB models are SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity), which use the FAT32 format.

FAT32 has a maximum storage capacity of 4GB per file, which is a drawback. This means you could not conceivably store a single 4GB video clip on this card. However, it is doubtful that you would use either of these capacity ranges if you meant to record video.

Winner: Tie

VIDEO SPEED CLASS

When comparing the SanDisk Ultra and Extreme, you will see that the Extreme cards contain the word “V30,” but the Ultra cards do not. This V denotes the Video Speed Class the SD Association created to signify sequential writing speeds.

The number next to the V indicates how many megabytes the card can record per second. Since the SanDisk Extreme card is rated V30, it can write at 30MB/s sequentially.

V30 is sufficient for recording 4K video in 4:2:2 on virtually any DSLR or mirrorless camera.

There is no indication of a video class rating on SanDisk Ultra cards. Without a video class rating, you must rely on the speed class, which is C10

Therefore, SanDisk Ultra cards can only record Full HD 1080p video at a rate of 10mb/s. If you wish to record anything with a more excellent quality or bit rate, more than 10mb/s is required. So again, the SanDisk Extreme card comes out on top.

Winner: SanDisk Extreme

COST

The price is the only factor influencing your selection when purchasing a memory card. As the Ultra and Extreme are two distinct models, there is slight price variation between them, mainly because the Extreme offers many apparent benefits.

Starting with the SanDisk Ultra, the 32GB SD card with the smallest storage capacity, costs $9.99 at the time of writing. The 256GB option is the most expensive, costing $32.30.

With the SanDisk Extreme, you will pay slightly extra. The 32GB model of the Extreme will set you back $18.99. The 256GB variant costs $48.90 more than the 128GB version.

The SanDisk Extreme’s numerous benefits justify the price difference between these two cards. Therefore, the SanDisk Ultra is slightly more enticing based on price alone.

Winner: SanDisk Ultra

SHOULD YOU PURCHASE SANDISK EXTREME OR ULTRA?

The SanDisk Ultra SD card is a suitable alternative if you only take photographs. However, you should choose the SanDisk Extreme SD card if you want faster performance when shooting in burst mode or taking 4K video.

If it were up to me, I would choose the superior model, the SanDisk Extreme. However, memory cards will last you years and through several cameras, so you may purchase one with the most capabilities.

With quicker writing speeds and less buff time, SanDisk Extreme cards offer a substantial improvement over Ultras. In addition, as 4K footage becomes more prevalent in tiny cameras, the Extreme card allows for expansion.

The SanDisk Ultra is a reasonable option if you know you will just be taking images or need an SD card for a device other than a camera. Although it does not support 4K video recording, you can save nearly all necessary data.

The SanDisk Ultra is more affordable, especially if you’re looking for a SanDisk sd card for your phone, tablet, or mobile gaming device. The decisive factor is what you intend to film.

Choose the SanDisk Extreme cards if you are a photographer seeking to enhance your work without constraints. On the other hand, if you’re a casual shooter or only require an SD card for primary file storage, the SanDisk Ultra cards are a more affordable option.

THE PERFECT CARD FOR YOU!

The answer to this question depends entirely on your circumstances and requirements. What type of device are you using initially? (DSLR, mirrorless, action cameras, drones, etc.). Determine the recording rate of your device and go from there.

Several tips:

• Only purchase a card with a video class lower than V30 if you are filming in 4k.
• High-speed photography (ten or more still images per second) necessitates fast read and write rates (otherwise, you’ll have to wait a while for the buffer to clear). I also advocate staying below 30 on this.
• The advantages and disadvantages of each are readily apparent: speed comes at a cost (in any way you look at it). You can also suggest that a less-priced card will be less reliable, although I’ve never had to worry about this with Sandisk. They are highly dependable).

CONCLUSION

Who won the match between Sandisk Ultra and Extreme? The winner is the solution that best meets your needs! You now understand the distinction between sd ultra and sd extreme (and pro) and can make a much more informed decision about which card to purchase next.

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Originally posted on April 10, 2023 @ 8:18 pm