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Toshiba microSD Class 10 UHS-I Review

by Lyle Smith

The Toshiba microSDXC Class 10 UHS-I is a budget-friendly memory card designed for users on the go who require additional storage for their mobile devices. This Toshiba card is labeled as a Class 10, which is currently the fastest read-write performance class for SD cards. However, it is specced lower than some of the top-in-class SD cards as it quotes transfer speeds up to 30MB/s read and 10MB/s write. It will definitely get the job done in most cases though, as it is capable of high speed data transfers and can handle HD content including at Full 1080p HD videos with 60FPS.


The Toshiba microSDXC Class 10 UHS-I is a budget-friendly memory card designed for users on the go who require additional storage for their mobile devices. This Toshiba card is labeled as a Class 10, which is currently the fastest read-write performance class for SD cards. However, it is specced lower than some of the top-in-class SD cards as it quotes transfer speeds up to 30MB/s read and 10MB/s write. It will definitely get the job done in most cases though, as it is capable of high speed data transfers and can handle HD content including at Full 1080p HD videos with 60FPS.

Included with the microSDXC card is a full sized SD adapter so that the card can work with standard SD devices such as digital cameras, camcorders, and laptop computers. These types of converters are included because as performance increases with microSD memory cards, the need for a traditional full-size SD card is diminishing where a more flexible card can take its place. For the consumer this means one card can be purchased for both a mobile phone, camcorder, or digital camera, instead of duty-specific cards for each. Do be aware that fake memory cards– substandard performance or smaller capacity cards labeled and modified to look like larger capacities–are quite common with microSD cards, so make sure you buy this from a reputable seller if you want the best performance possible.

Toshiba’s micro SD memory cards come in capacities of 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB street priced at $12, $16, $24, and $48 respectably. It is also backed by a 5-year standard limited-warranty. We are working with the 64GB model for this review.

Specifications:

  • Ideal for mobile phones, tablets, and other microSD-compatible devices
  • Fast transfer speed up to 30 MB/s read and 10 MB/s min write
  • Plug and Play with no software to install.
  • Capacities: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB
  • Interface: SDXC
  • Speed rating: Class 10 UHS-I
  • Transfer speed: up to 30MB/s Read, 10MB/s Write
  • Color: Black
  • Toshiba microSD Memory Card (Class 10 UHS-I)
  • SD adapter
  • 5 Year Limited Standard Warranty

Design and build

Toshiba’s microSD Class 10 UHS-I has the same standard design as most microSD cards. It is compatible with any microSDHC or microSDXC device. The packaging has a holographic sticker top left and says that the card is waterproof (IPX7) and x-ray proof.

On the front of the card is the Toshiba branding, capacity information, and performance numbers; its chassis is black with white font. The back of the card shows the eight gold pins as well as the model number.

The front side of the adapter has a blue sticker with the Toshiba logo as well as other general information.

Performance

In the review, we include the following comparables:

Using our Consumer Testing Platform, we measured transfer speeds from the Toshiba microSD Class 10 UHS-I 16GB with IOMeter. Sequential read speeds measured in at 34.3MB/s, while write activity hit 12.1MB/s. As expected, the two top-in-class comparables outperformed the Toshiba, with the Samsung microSDHC Plus 32GB clocking in at 71.44MB/s read and 20.08MB/s write and the SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-1 boasting reads of 89.4MB/s and write speeds of 58.51MB/s.

When comparing random large-block transfers, we measured read and write speeds of 33.1MB/s and 1.6MB/s respectively for the Toshiba microSD card. The Samsung microSDHC Plus 32GB hit 67.35MB/s read and 20.04MB/s write, while we measured the SanDisk Extreme microSDXC at 82.1MB/s read and 41.5MB/s write.

Toshiba was able to hit their quoted speed spec for the card and while it’s slower than high-performance and more expensive comparables, end users who just need more capacity are unlikely to feel a difference in most applications.

Conclusion

The Toshiba microSD Class 10 UHS-I line is an economical alternative for consumers who want expand the native capacity of their mobile devices including tablets and smartphones as well as taking on high performance tasks such as HD video recording. Toshiba’s Class 10 memory cards range from 8GB to 64GB in raw capacity and are quoted to have 30MB/s read activity and 10MB/s write activity. Three of the capacities (8GB, 16GB and 32GB) are labeled as SDHC cards, or SD High Capacity, and the 64GB is formatted as an SDXC (Xtended Capacity) card. Additionally, Toshiba rates these cards to handle extreme conditions; its water-proof designation allows it to withstand submersion in sea water for up to 24 hours.

In our testing, results were slightly higher than what Toshiba quoted for this product, delivering the 34.3MB/s read and 12.1MB/s write sequential performance. In our random large-block workload, the Toshiba microSDXC provided near-identical figures in the read column; however, the write activity saw a noticeable drop-off to 1.6MB/s. We compared these figures to the performance of the SanDisk Extreme microSDXC and Samsung microSDHC Plus, which are both top of the line microSDXC format cards. In comparison, the Samsung microSD Pro Series lagged behind the SanDisk just slightly but is nearly $40 cheaper. Performance aside, the Toshiba microSDXC is the best deal, which goes for a street price of just under $50. That said, the decision to purchase the Toshiba card is really a toss-up depending on what the intended use is as the Samsung and SanDisk cards provide considerably more performance, especially for demanding applications in high-end smartphones and tablets.

Pros

  • Great price
  • Decent performance for its class
  • Sequential activity higher than what was quoted

Cons

  • Substantially slower than high-end cards

Bottom Line

The Toshiba microSD Class 10 UHS-I 64GB offers users big capacity without breaking the bank. For those who are more concerned with storage space than top-tier performance, the Toshiba card is a great option.

Toshiba microSD Class 10 UHS-I at Amazon