Chromebooks are loaded to the brim with functionality, not to mention the many options we get in choosing the proper configuration for our favorite devices. With that said, some Chromebooks out there don’t exactly pack a high-rolling hard drive setup for extended storage, compelling us to look into other ways to increase the storage capacity.
While cloud-oriented options such as pCloud are nothing but commendable, using microSD cards to buff up, your storage still stands as utterly reliable. If your particular model doesn’t quite cut it in terms of having enough GBs for you to use, don’t fret just yet. The 10 best SD and microSD cards for your Chromebook will instantly take care of all that.
Let’s dive into this listicle and discuss the most high-quality storage expanding cards you can purchase now.
- Recommended from Chrome Ready: Top 10 headsets for Chromebook.
10 of the best SD and microSD cards for Chromebooks
The following is our hand-picked collection of the best SD and microSD cards you can use with your Chromebook. We’ve made sure to include only the most robust listings that are tried-and-tested and proven effective.
1. SanDisk 64GB Ultra microSD Card
Starting this list off with a bang is the 64GB Ultra microSD Card by the ever-famous SanDisk. The US-based company is relatively well-established and is popular for manufacturing PC peripherals such as the one in question. Costing just ten cents short of $12, you’ve got one of the most high-quality microSD cards to use alongside ChromeOS. The product manufacturer claims that the peripheral in question is certified to work with Chromebooks.
Moreover, the SanDisk 64 GB Ultra microSD card reaches up to 120MB/s transfer speeds to let you move photos and files around swiftly. This lightning-fast read speed is curated with proprietary technology, so there’s no doubt about the legitimacy of the product at hand. Combining the cost-effectiveness of the microSD card on top of its A1-rated performance makes the affair exceptionally terrific, setting you up to purchase the peripheral without breaking a sweat.
2. SanDisk 128GB Ultra microSD Card
Furthering the article is the same product, although in a different size than before. Power users looking to bump up their productivity with local storage will opt for the SanDisk 128GB Ultra microSD Card for their Chromebooks. You get the same terrific read/write speed and an identical transfer speed of more than 100MB/s. Another significant benefit of opting for a SanDisk product is that they’re always certified to work with Chromebooks.
When jotting this write-up, the SanDisk 128GB Ultra microSD Card boasts a high-class 4.7/5.0 overall rating with more than 800,000 global ratings. In addition, more than 83% of those who bought the product have left a 5-star review lauded with praise for the peripheral. Just be sure that you’re beware of fake cards when they arrive. SanDisk is extremely popular, and many people are out there trying to make cheap knockoffs of this particular product.
3. HP 128GB SD Flash Memory Card
The HP 128GB Flash SD Card will be furthering this list, offering users the best in data storage and transfer speeds. Moreover, this product stands out because it’s resistant to different types of elemental damage. That is to say, the HP Flash SD Card is a magnet, shock, temperature, and even waterproof to a reasonable extent. However, make sure not to put the peripheral to its paces. A mere $17 device can only do so much.
Please note that this is an SD card, not a microSD card. There is a significant difference between these two if we consider the port needed to hook the peripheral up to your Chromebook. You need to check whether your particular device has such a port. If the Chromebook you own does not come with an SD card slot, you must approach a workaround.
We’ll be discussing this in-depth later in the article in a separate section, so keep on reading to discover helpful information.
4. Samsung EVO Select microSD Card
Next up, the Samsung EVO Select microSD Card makes its mark on the list. This one costs relatively more than the entries we discussed above, but those extra couple of dollars are all worth it when things genuinely boil down to it. The peripheral will set you back about $27 for the 256GB variant, which, if we’re fair, is quite an excellent deal for expanding your Chromebook’s storage.
In addition, the EVO Select microSD Card, besides offering you a ton of space to save your favorite content, is also the fastest on the list regarding data transfer speeds. The superfast U3, class-10 rated protocol of the peripheral allows it to reach transfer speeds of up to 130MB/s, which is nothing but desirable for most situations. We recommend getting yourself the EVO Select microSD card for ChromeOS to buff up the operating system’s storage.
5. Lexar 128GB microSD Card
The Lexar 128GB microSD Card is yet another high-quality product you can grab from Amazon at a highly discounted price. The manufacturer has slashed off a whopping $32 from the MSRP of the peripheral, allowing you to purchase the Lexar microSD card for as little as $13.49. This price is nothing but great value for your money, especially if you’re after a top-notch storage expansion option for your Chromebook.
Moreover, the peripheral supports data transfer speeds that go as high as 100MB/s, which is neither slow nor too fast. If you’re not a power user looking for basic storage keeping and not a lot from that point onward, the Lexar 128 GB microSD is a terrific, inexpensive option that you can effortlessly opt for without breaking a sweat. The excellent 4.7/5.0 overall rating is enough to vouch for the peripheral’s authenticity.
6. Micro Center 128GB microSD Card
If you’re still not genuinely convinced about making an SD card purchase for your Chromebook, let the Micro Center 128GB microSD Card instill a new perspective. This is an exceptionally reliable product with more than 73,000 global ratings on the famous US retail platform. It comes with a 3-year limited warranty that’s not only waterproof and shock-proof but also resistant to temperature and X-rays.
Moreover, the peripheral construction is rugged, so you don’t have to worry about any damage from falls, drops, or other scenarios. At the time of writing, the Micro Center 128GB microSD card has accumulated a 4.6/5.0 overall rating, which is commendable. People have tested it with many software and have always found it to be working up to the mark, not to mention its profound compatibility with ChromeOS.
7. Gigastone 256GB microSD Card
The Gigastone 256GB microSD Card is the most premium product on the list, costing about $42 and offering the utmost reliability daily. There’s just no complaining about the quality of this peripheral, provided that it also comes with a 5-year warranty to go along with. The read speed reaches 100 MB/s while the write speed is a bit slower, tapping in at about 60MB/s.
Approximately 5,000 people have made the purchase, most of whom have given it 5 stars. You’ll be pleased to discover that the Gigastone 256GB microSD Card boasts a 4.7/5.0 overall rating on Amazon. Moreover, 83% of the people who bought it have left a 5-star review for the product. You cannot turn a blind eye to these reliable figures, so get this 256GB microSD card and enter a world of convenience.
8. Amplim 128GB microSD Card
The Amplim 128GB microSD Card is well worth mentioning on this list of the 10 best SD cards and microSD cards. First, it costs around $20—quite nominal—and even has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so the customer can breathe a little easier while making the purchase. Regarding its compatibility with ChromeOS, multiple users have left reviews under the product’s description claiming that the microSD card works just fine.
It’s a tough peripheral that can tolerate all situations, whether fire, shock, water, X-ray, or magnet-based damage. In addition, the overall reputation that the product has garnered on Amazon is just too sublime to pass up. Around 2,300 people have bought the device and have been delighted with it. The 4.6/5.0 overall rating further vouches for the product’s authenticity.
9. SanDisk 128 GB Extreme microSD Card
The second-last entry on this list pertains to SanDisk again—the famous US PC peripheral manufacturer who’s made a name for itself in this vast industry. There’s no doubt about the quality this company has retained for all these years, blending high quality and affordability in a perfect combination. The same can be said about the brilliant SanDisk 128 GB Extreme microSD Card that costs just about $18.87 and offers more in return.
That is to say, what we have here at our disposal reaches read speeds of up to 160 MB/s which is best-in-class. It’s rated A2 for better loading times and in-app performance, should you choose to put the peripheral to its paces on ChromeOS. More than 337,000 people have purchased this product on Amazon, while 86% of those customers have left a 5-star rating for the microSD card. We highly recommend it as your front-running storage expansion for Chromebooks.
10. PNY 128GB Elite Class microSD Card
Ending this list of the 10 best SD cards and microSD cards for your Chromebook is the PNY 128GB Elite Class microSD Card. It’s one of the more budget-friendly options you’ve got here since the peripheral only costs $14 for the 128GB variant. It is a Class-10 product, but due to its U1 speed rating, you will only be able to reach read speeds of up to 100MB/s, which is nothing but fair given its pricing.
Moreover, you get the added benefit of durability with this fantastic MicroSD card. It’s exceptionally reliable and can magnetic, fire, shock, and even water damage on the fly. More than 17,000 people have dived in and made the purchase, and they haven’t been left distraught at all. Instead, the product has received a stellar 4.7/5.0 overall rating, making it entirely worth the money it comes for.
What to do if your Chromebook does not have an SD card or a microSD card port
In this case, you can effortlessly opt for a memory card reader to go along with your Chromebook. The COCOCKA USB 3.0 SD Card Reader is a great option to go along with in that regard. It allows you to plug in your SD and microSD cards to plug the whole thing right into your Chromebook through its USB port. Check out the product that we’ve linked to for more information.
Conclusion
Some Chromebooks are loaded to the brim when it comes to port selection. Some are endowed with multiple options, while others are kept minimalistic in this respect. The Lenovo Chromebook Duet, for instance, features just a single USB-C port for peripheral connectivity. In this case, you can get yourself a high-quality USB-C hub or an SD card reader for better flexibility.
You’ll need the extra help if you also plan on expanding your Chromebook’s storage. We’ve discussed the 10 best SD and microSD cards for your Chromebook in this guide, so you should be ready to go with all the options we’ve picked for you. Please let us know in the comments section what option you finally choose.
Chrome Ready wishes you good luck!
1 comment
Your number 1 pick: Amazon and Netflix can’t download on Chromebook. I spoke with WD support: “SanDisk Ultra 128GB was not tested on Chromebook”, directly contradicting other WD sources. Yes, I’ve enabled storage and allowed permission to both apps and rebooted and slayed a chicken on the Sabbath. Both apps recognize SD card, but neither can write to it. Please recommend another SD Card that might offer a better experience on new Lenovo Chromebook C340 15″ 2-in-1.