Samsung’s New Pro Ultimate Memory Cards Are Fast and Rugged
Samsung has announced a new series of UHS-I Pro Ultimate memory cards that are specifically made for professional photographers, videographers, and other content creators.
While not UHS-II, the memory card models offer read speeds up to 200 MB/s and write speeds up to 130 MB/s. Like SanDisk’s Extreme Pro high capacity memory cards announced last year, these models seem to defy the original boundaries of UHS-I standards. In SanDisk’s case, those speeds were reached using its proprietary QuickFlow technology. Samsung was less forth coming, saying only that the memory cards’ capabilities “[underscore] Samsung technical innovations,” though it’s likely Samsung used similar methodology.
Bear in mind, the cards only promise sustained transfer speeds of 30 MB/s via the V30 specification.
“These high speeds, regardless of capacity, allow for the seamless transfer of heavy-duty files such as 4K ultra-high definition (UHD) and Full HD (FHD) video with Video Speed Class 30 (V30) support,” Samsung’s release reads. “That means a game can load in as quickly as 31.5 seconds, 200 photos can transfer from PC to card in as fast as 0.6 seconds, and one 1.3 GB movie can transfer from PC to card in as swiftly as 11.2 seconds.”
The new Pro Ultimate cards also have “enhanced Error Correction Code (ECC) engine and multi-proof protection features that ensure safer data storage over extended periods of time.” Samsung also upped the durability on write-and-erase cycles to help prevent data loss. The cards come with wear-out protection for up to 10,000 swipes, according to Samsung. The Pro Ultimate line also brings a 37% improvement in power efficiency compared to the previous Samsung line.
For those taking their gear out of the studio, the cards sport drop-proof protection up to five meters, 72-hour water protection up to two meters deep, X-ray and magnetic protection, and can operate in temperatures ranging from -13 degrees to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. The SD card option also has shock protection of up to 1,500g. There’s a 10-year limited warranty, as well.
The new SD cards start at 128GB for $21 and goes up to 512GB for $65. There is also a 256GB model, and each iteration can be paired with a card reader. However, the card reader bundle for the microSD cards does not offer a full-size adapter, while the individual microSD card options do.
The microSD cards are available starting today in 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB capacities for $21, $35, and $65 respectively. The Pro Ultimate SD cards will be available in October and while the SD card option will have the same 128, 256, and 512GB models, there will also be a 64GB version. Samsung did not provide pricing on the forthcoming SD cards.
Image credits: Samsung
