Western Digital and Micron launch 1TB microSD cards at MWC 2019
Looks like the era of 1TB microSD cards has begun, as Western Digital and Micron unveiled the world’s first 1TB microSD cards at the ongoing MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2019 in Barcelona. These cards are meant to meet the requirement of professionals looking for higher storage space.
Western Digital
Western Digital’s offering, SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I 1TB microSD card offers up to 160MBps (megabytes-per-second) read speeds and a peak data write speed of 90MBps. The storage solution follows the A2 specification for launching and loading apps, which the company claims offer a performance output of 400 Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOPS) and 2000 IOPS.
Besides meeting the U3 rating in the Speed Class, the card also receives V30 rating in the Video Speed Class category. The card is temperature proof, waterproof, shockproof and X-ray proof and comes with the RescuePRO Deluxe data recovery software.
“People trust SanDisk-brand cards to capture and preserve their world. Our goal is to deliver the best possible experience so consumers can share the content that’s important to them,” Brian Pridgeon, director of marketing for SanDisk-branded products for Western Digital, said in a press release.
The SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I 1TB microSD card is priced at $449.99. If you find this card expensive, then you can opt for a 512GB variant with the same specifications that was launched alongside the SanDisk Extreme microSDXC UHS-I 1TB microSD for $199.99. Both of Western Digital’s offerings are now up for pre-order from the official SanDisk website. Starting in April 2019, they will also be available for purchase from select retail partners.
Micron
Micron Technology’s offering, Micron c200 1TB microSDXC UHS-I offers read speeds of 100MB/s and write speeds of 95MB/s. It employs the Dynamic SLC cache to accelerate the data write pace and performs automatic resource management for sustained peak performance.
Like the SanDisk Extreme 1TB microSD card, the Micron c200 also meets the A2 App Performance Class specification for handling applications. The microSD uses Micron’s advanced 96-layer 3D quad-level cell (QLC) NAND technology for faster speeds and meets UHS-I Speed Class 3 and Video Speed Class 30 specifications.
“Micron’s technology leadership in 3D NAND with CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) under the array and 96-layer QLC has been instrumental in developing and launching the world’s first 1TB microSD card,” said Aravind Ramamoorthy, senior director of NAND solutions for Micron’s Embedded Business Unit. “The new c200 1TB microSD card gives consumers the freedom to capture, share, store and enjoy more content while supporting their mobile-centric lifestyles.”
Currently, the Micron c200 1TB microSD card is going through the sampling phase and will be available in the second quarter of 2019. However, the company has not provided any information on the pricing of the card.
