6 Best Micro SD Cards for Raspberry Pi in 2024 (Buying Guide + Reviews)
Arguably the most important component to the Raspberry Pi is the Micro SD Card. Without this tiny piece of plastic, the entire machine is rendered useless. For this reason, it’s a good idea to get an SD Card that can handle the paces the Pi will put it through.
If you have a Raspberry Pi and are in need of a good Micro SD Card and don’t know what to get, we can help! Follow along as we go over the 6 best Micro SD cards for Raspberry Pi!
SD Cards on Raspberry Pi
On the Raspberry Pi, all operating systems are distributed via an image file. This image file needs to be “flashed” (AKA copied) to the card to use the operating system. Before we get into some of the best SD cards to use on your Raspberry Pi, let’s take a moment to discuss Etcher.
Etcher is an excellent cross-platform imaging tool that can handle SD cards as well as USB flash drives. It’s super easy to use, and the best way to burn your favorite OS to an SD card for use on the Raspberry Pi.
For more information on Etcher, head over to its homepage. There you’ll be able to download the app for Linux, Mac, and Windows.
Best Micro SD Card for Raspberry Pi
We’ve done the research for Raspberry Pi users on the best MicroSD cards you could use with your device. Here are the 6 best:
1. Samsung (MB-ME32GA/AM) 32GB 95MB/s (U1) microSDHC EVO Select Memory Card with Full-Size Adapter
The Samsung Evo Select is probably the best all-around bet for Raspberry Pi owners. The Evo Select is a perfect size, coming in at 32 GB. Most Raspberry Pi OSes only take up a GB or two, so this will give you a lot of space to store files for an incredible price.
The card is excellent and has a speed rated at 95 MB a second, perfect for even the most advanced operations on the Raspberry Pi.
Like many Micro SD Cards on the market, you’ll get a full-size SD Card adapter with the Samsung Evo Select. So, if your computer has a full-size SD Card slot on it, you’ll have no issues getting it working to flash the latest Raspberry Pi OS.
Pros
- Samsung makes very fast, dependable SD cards and is the standard in the Raspberry Pi community.
- Great transfer speeds.
Cons
- Does not come with a USB adapter.
2. SanDisk 16GB Ultra MicroSDHC UHS-I Memory Card with Adapter – 98MB/s, C10, U1, Full HD, A1, Micro SD Card
The Sandisk Ultra MicroSDHC Micro SD Card is a little smaller in size (16 GB) compared to the Samsung, which clocks in at 32. So, you won’t be able to store nearly as much data on the card. However, it makes up for that size deficit by performing at a slightly faster rate (about 98 MB a second).
That speed difference is everything if you’re trying to get the most out o Additionally, it’s the price is incredibly competitive. You’ll be able to pick up this card for next to nothing to use on a Raspberry Pi device.
When it comes down to it, Sandisk is known for its memory cards, and the microSDHC is no exception. It’ll run excellent on your Raspberry Pi, with no issues. And, it comes with a standard full-size SD Card adapter, which is an excellent value.
Pros
- Sandisk is dependable and has been around for a long time.
- Very fast transfer rates.
Cons
- Does not come with a USB adapter.
3. GeeekPi 32GB Preloaded (Noobs) SD Card for Raspberry Pi,Class 10 MicroSDHC Memory Card
Part of the trouble of Raspberry Pi is that you need to be a bit of a nerd to set everything up. You need to have some kind of knowledge about what operating systems to download, how to flash it to the card, etc. Not with the GeeekPi 32GB Preloaded SD Card.
It comes with NOOBS, a tool that makes it easy to download some of the best operating systems and apps that the Raspberry Pi community has to offer.
In terms of speed, the GeeekPi SD Card is no joke. It’s a class 10 card, meaning it’ll deliver some seriously impressive and competitive speeds like the Samsung and Sandisk cards out there.
However, it gets even better! For a killer price, they also include a USB Micro SD Card adapter and a full-size SD Card adapter. So, no matter what, you’ll be able to fully utilize this card!
Pros
- Configured with NOOBS, which is a godsend for Raspberry Pi newbies.
- Fast transfer rate.
- Comes with both a full-sized adapter and a USB adapter.
Cons
- The off-brand SD card might not be as reliable as Samsung or Sandisk.
4. Raspberry Pi 32GB Preloaded (NOOBS) SD Card
The Raspberry Pi 32 GB Micro SD card is another excellent choice for those unsure with how the Raspberry Pi ecosystem works and would prefer to use NOOBS to easily get an OS up and running. Much like the GeeekPi 32GB card, it is a class 10 card and performs very well.
The real value with this card is the fact that it comes with NOOBS pre-loaded. Setting up a Raspberry Pi is pretty tough for a beginner.
If you’re in the market for an easy to use SD card for the Raspberry Pi and aren’t on board with the GeeekPi 32GB card, give this one a go!
Pros
- Is pre-loaded with NOOBS which makes setting up a Raspberry Pi super simple.
- Speedy transfer rate.
Cons
- Does not have a USB adapter included.
- A bit on the pricy side for what is offered.
5. Samsung 32GB Evo Plus MicroSD Card (2 Pack EVO+) Class 10 SDHC Memory Card with Adapter (MB-MC32G) Bundle
Do you have multiple Raspberry Pi devices that you need Micro SD Cards for? If so, the Samsung 32GB Evo Plus MicroSD Card may be just what you need.
It’s a bundle deal that comes with 2 excellent Samsung Evo+ class 10 micro SD cards (which perform at 95 MB per second), as well as a nifty USB card adapter, and two full-size SD adapters.
As it goes, the cards included in this bundle are no different than the card talked about in #1. However, for an impressive price, you’ll be able to get two and a pretty nice SD card adapter.
If you’re trying to find micro SD cards for multiple Raspberry Pi devices, look no further!
Pros
- Comes with a full-size SD adapter as well as a USB adapter.
- Fast transfer rate.
Cons
- 32 GB, while pretty good, may not be enough for those who require a lot of data storage.
6. Netac 128GB Micro SD Card, microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card
Some people want a whole lot of storage available for the Raspberry Pi, but they don’t want to spend a whole lot. When it comes to incredibly affordable storage for the Raspberry Pi, it’s hard to compete with the Netac 128GB Micro SD Card.
It offers up a speed of 100 MB a second with 128 GBs of storage to spare. And, the cost doesn’t break the bank!
As per usual, the Netac Micro SD Card comes with a full-size SD Card adapter so that you can plug it into the card reader on your PC. Suffice it to say, if you need an affordable, large, and speedy SD card for your Raspberry Pi, get this one!
Pros
- Large size.
- Fast transfer rate.
- Comes with a full-size SD adapter.
Cons
- Does not come with a USB adapter.
Conclusion
In this list, we discussed the best Micro SD Cards to use on the Raspberry Pi. If you’re new to the Raspberry Pi, hopefully, we’ve made things a little easier!