Samsung Unveils Affordable Lineup of ‘Rugged’ SD Cards for Creators
When it comes to ‘rugged’ SD cards that can withstand drops and water and x-rays, Sony’s Tough cards haven’t really had any competition… until now. Samsung has just unveiled two new lineups of SD cards that bring some of the same adventure-proof benefits to a more affordable price point.
The two new SD card lines are called the PRO Plus and the EVO Plus, and they’re targeted directly at “content creators and photo enthusiasts.” Emphasis on the word photo, because while they can both handle 4K UHD video recording, these cards are definitely not the fastest you’ll find on the market.
The PRO Plus models boast read and write speeds of 100MB/s and 90MB/s, respectively, while the more affordable EVO Plus models cryptically advertise only “support for transfer speeds of up to 100MB/s.”
What makes them special is that they also feature “additional layers of protective measures to withstand intensive usage and the most rugged conditions.” Both lineups are: Waterproof, Temperature-proof, X-ray proof, Magnet-proof, Shockproof, Drop-proof, and Wear-proof.
They can be submerged in up to 1 meter (3 feet) of salt water for up to 72hrs; can withstand operating temperatures from -25°C (-13°F) to 85°C (185°F), and non-operating temperatures from -40°C (-40°F) to 85°C (185°F); will stand up to X-rays up to 100mGy and magnets up to 15,000 gauss; are resistant to shocks of up to 1,500Gs; can withstand drops from as high as 5 meters (16.4 feet); and are also “wear-proof” up to “10,000 swipes.”
Sadly, unlike the Sony Tough cards, they do not seem to be “bend-proof,” but they’ll get you most of the way there for less money, assuming you don’t mind the slower speeds. The PRO Plus cards will sell for between $10 (32GB) and $50 (256GB), while the EVO Plus will run you between $7 (32GB) and $40 (256GB). That’s not bad at all given the specs outlined above.
Pre-orders start today and most of the configurations above will begin shipping October 19th, with the 32GB and 64GB versions of the PRO Plus cards coming a bit later on November 8th. To learn more, head over to the Samsung website, which should have these cards listed any minute now.
