SD memory cards, also known as SD Cards or Secure Digital Cards, have become a somewhat forgotten but familiar tech accessory in modern life. This memory card format was released by the SD Association (SDA) in early 2000. Up to now, SD cards have rapidly evolved to become one of the most widely used memory card types globally. Many wonder: How much storage can an SD card achieve?
1. What is the maximum storage capacity available for purchase on an SD card?
As of June 2023, the largest storage capacity available on a micro SD card is one terabyte. This indicates a significant leap in storage capacity development on SD cards. If just a few years ago, the largest SD card capacity was 512GB, now it's one terabyte.
The first introduction of SD memory cards to the world was in late 1999. At that time, micro SD cards initially only had a storage capacity of 32MB. Over 24 years of formation and development, SD cards have increased their storage capacity by thousands of times while still maintaining the same physical size, even becoming slightly smaller than the original version.
SDXC memory cards, also referred to as Secure Digital eXtended-Capacity, are the technical version 3.0 of SD cards, allowing support for storage capacities up to 2TB. However, currently, there are no 2TB SD cards available on the market.
In June 2022, Micron unveiled a 1.5TB micro SD memory card. This product was distributed through wholesalers in early 2023. By the end of 2023, Koxia introduced a prototype of a 2TB micro SD memory card, but a commercial version is still unavailable.
In reality, larger storage capacities aren't always advantageous. High-capacity SD cards often come with considerable price tags, making them less accessible to average consumers.
2. Theoretical Limits of SD Card Capacity
SD cards are divided into three main types: SD (up to 2GB), SDHC (up to 32GB), and SDXC (up to 2TB).
However, according to SDUC specifications, the maximum expandable capacity of an SD card can reach up to 128TB. SDUC utilizes a physical format similar to previous SD card generations but employs the exFAT file system and other data bus interfaces to accommodate this higher storage capacity.
As of 2023, no SDUC cards are available yet. Alongside the technical challenge of fitting such large storage capacities into a compact form factor, there are also economic hurdles. The cost of producing such storage devices is very high, while market demand remains relatively low.
Here's the solution to the question of the maximum storage capacity of an SD card that you need to know. Remember to save it for reference and application. Don't forget to follow Mytour for quick updates on the most useful information.