SanDisk

SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC Memory Card Review

Reviews
17
Score
88/100
From
$55
Released
January 2021

We've aggregated 17 high-signal reviews and 3 live retailer prices below.

SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC Memory Card
Available
Our take
Worth buyingPreliminary

Our editorial take on the SanDisk 256GB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC Memory Card

The SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-I is one of the most visible and recommended SD cards on the market, and for good reason. It has become a de facto industry standard for photographers and many videographers, offering a dependable blend of speed, capacity, and reliability from a trusted brand. For creators working with cameras that have UHS-I slots, this card is often the first and last one they look at. It provides more than enough performance for high-resolution photography, including burst shooting, and is perfectly capable for most 4K video recording workflows.

While the Extreme PRO is a workhorse, prospective buyers should manage expectations regarding its top-end speed claims. As is common with memory cards, real-world performance inside a camera often falls short of the 'up to' speeds printed on the packaging, which are typically achieved only in ideal lab conditions with specific readers. This is not a deal-breaker, but it is an important consideration. The card is a top performer within its class, but it will not transform a UHS-I slot into a UHS-II powerhouse. For those shooting in the most demanding, high-bitrate video formats, a faster UHS-II or CFexpress card will be necessary.

Best for: Photographers and hybrid shooters using cameras with UHS-I slots who need a reliable, high-capacity card for stills and standard 4K video.
What's great
  • Established as an industry-standard, widely trusted card
  • Excellent reliable performance for photography and most 4K video
  • Great value balancing price, speed, and capacity
  • Widely available and frequently recommended
  • A top-tier performer in the UHS-I category
Watch outs
  • Real-world write speeds may not consistently reach advertised maximums
  • Insufficient for the highest bitrate video modes that require UHS-II or faster media

Synthesized by Geared editors from early expert reviews.

What reviewers say

Best reviews

The highest-signal reviews from creators and editorial blogs.

Editorial reviews

Imaging-resource·
ProGrade Digital's new SD card is wicked fast, affordable ...

SanDisk has an Extreme card that is stated to get up to 300 MB/s, but fails to get anywhere near that spec in our testing.

Read review
Cined·
ProGrade 512GB UHS-II V90 SDXC Card Review – is it Canon C70 ...

On paper, the recently released ProGrade 512GB UHS-II V90 memory card is sitting right near the top of the SDXC memory card field. Banner features include a 300 MB/s read speed and a 250 MB/s write speed and, of course, the 512GB of space for all the juicy 4K RAW footage your camera can throw at it. But how does it hold up in the field? Find out by continuing to read my review.

Read review
Newsshooter·
Angelbird 512GB AV Pro Mk 2 UHS-II SDXC Memory Card review

Media cards are not very exciting, but they are a crucial part of any production and that is why I have and will continue to review them on the site.

Read review
Nofilmschool·
Crazy Fast SanDisk Type B CFExpress Cards Debut in Europe

This article does not contain a review of the product.

Read review
Bhphotovideo·
Everything You Need to Know About SD Cards | B&H eXplora

If you're in the market for UHS-I media, the SanDisk Extreme PRO is a great card with which to start your search.

Read review
Petapixel·
Ritz Golden Eagle SD Express Card Review: It's Worse Than We ...

Not only would this card already have limited utility even if it worked as advertised, it doesn’t. Not even close. Not even in the same ballpark, area code, or on the same continent.

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Engadget·
The best microSD cards in 2026 - Engadget

Most microSD cards are fast enough for boosting storage space and making simple file transfers, but some provide a little more value than others.

Read review
Dpreview·
A7RV using Kingston 256GB Canvas vs SanDisk 256GB Extreme ...

No information about the reviewer's verdict is available in the provided text.

Read review
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Overview

About this product

Designed for SD devices that can capture Full HD, 3D, and 4K video, as well as raw and burst photography, the 256GB Extreme PRO UHS-I SDXC Memory Card from SanDisk has a capacity of 256GB, is compatible with the UHS-I bus, and features a speed class rating of V30, which guarantees minimum write speeds of 30 MB/s. It has max read speeds of 200 MB/s and max write speeds of 140 MB/s.

Specs

Bus Type
UHS-I
Card Type
SDXC
Read Speed
Maximum: 200 MB/s
Speed Class
Class 10 / U3 / V30
Write Speed
Maximum: 140 MB/s
Storage Capacity
256 GB
Storage Conditions
-40 to 185°F / -40 to 85°C
Minimum Write Speed
30 MB/s
Operating Conditions
-13 to 185°F / -25 to 85°C
Built-In Write-Protect Switch
Yes
Live prices

Where to buy

Live prices from retailers. We earn a small commission when you click through - never affects ranking.

  • Amazon
    new● In stockBest price
    $55
    Buy
  • B&H Photo
    new● In stock
    $85
    Buy
  • Adorama
    new● In stock
    $180
    Buy