There’s no such thing as storage that’s too fast — but there is storage that’s so fast you can’t even utilize it to its maximum hardware potential. Such is the case for Lexar’s newest SD card.
Lexar’s Professional Gold Pro SDXC Express Card uses the new Secure Digital 8.0 standard and sports a maximum write speed of 1GB/s and a maximum read speed of 1.7GB/s. But good luck actually getting those speeds because no current devices actually go that fast.
To be clear, you can still buy and use the Lexar Adjective Adjective Adjective Acronym Adjective Card in anything with a standard SD card slot. (That’s the one that’s about the size of a US postage stamp, popular in high-end cameras.) But there are no cameras, computers, or even external card readers that can match its maximum speed, despite the standard being finalized back in May of 2020. The SD Association is currently working on version 9.1.
If you’re wondering who needs that kind of ludicrous speed for a card, the answer is photographers and videographers who work with massive amounts of video footage at up to 8K resolution. Even if they can’t actually max out the card’s speed with current equipment, it might make sense to invest in one knowing that future hardware will likely get there. For everyone else just looking for speed and capacity, a portable SSD makes a lot more sense.
Lexar
Lexar
Lexar
Personally, I’m more interested in some of the other cards Lexar announced at IFA in Germany (spotted by Liliputing), including some “ARMOR” SD cards made out of stainless steel. Considering how fragile plastic cards are, and how pricey they can get for huge capacities and incredible speeds, beefing up their durability makes a lot of sense. (Assuming they don’t harm your camera or PC when actually used, of course. I’ll wait for reviews before putting my money down.)
Speaking of which, when will you be able to buy the Lexar Professional Gold Pro SDXC? And for how much? No idea. Lexar hasn’t announced dates or prices for any of the new hardware it showed off, and they aren’t showing up in retail listings yet. Expect them to hit shelves later this year or in early 2025, for quite a lot of dough.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.