When you’re on the market for an SD card, finding the right one can be a daunting task. How much storage do I need? What speed class should I buy? How durable is it? There are many things to consider, so we’re here to make things easier. With that said, we’ve got our hands on Team Group’s Elite A1 SD Card which according to them, is definitely going to turn some heads.
If you’re unfamiliar with the tech jargon that comes with SD cards, it can certainly be confusing. Storage capacity will likely be your main concern, but there’s more to these portable cards than simply how many dozens or hundreds of gigabytes they can hold. You may be wondering how and why performance is a concern for memory cards, and we’ll get to all that in this review!
Specifications
First off, storage. Team Group’s Elite A1 SDXD comes in a variety of sizes. If you’re looking for something small for storing photos and documents, then the 64GB and 128GB models are perfect. However, if you’re a photographer or filmmaker dealing with 4K video files and high-quality audio, then the 512Gb or 1Tb models may be what you’re after. If you’re using a GoPro, you might want to consider this.
For context, 64Gb is enough to store approximately 10,000 pictures (of 18MP quality), 130 minutes of 4k30fps video, or 16,000 songs (of Mp3 quality). By comparison, the 256Gb model offers just over four times that figure, making room for an impressive 525 minutes of 4k footage, 42,000 pictures, and a staggering 66,000 songs.
While SD cards aren’t really known to be particularly aesthetically appealing, Team Group does seem to put on some effort. However, it still ends up looking like – well, you guessed it – a generic SD Card. Don’t get us wrong, that isn’t a particularly bad thing. But, if for some reason, you were in the market for a more aesthetically pleasing package, this SD Card sadly does not budge.
Performance
Regardless of how much storage you’re after, the Elite Micro will deliver on speed. With a random read speed of up to 1500 IOPS (input/output operations per second) and a random write speed of up to 500, it offers great performance and is ideal for Android smartphones and tablets.
But why is speed important? Well, first off, the faster the card, the more smoothly your camera will function. With a slow SD card, you may experience significant ‘lag’ as you take rapid-fire photos or shoot in high quality. Think of it as a processor in a computer. The slower the processor, the slower the computer. It’s important to understand that the speeds that are claimed by the manufacturers don’t always match real-world tests. Some SD cards might promise speeds of up to 300Mb/s and yet barely reach 250Mb/s.
Testing the 256Gb model gave us some solid results, however. Using CrystalDiskMark 7, we got speeds of just under 100Mb/s when reading and just under 70Mb/s when writing. Marketed towards users seeking high performance and reliability, the 256Gb is a strong middle ground that’ll give you speed and flexibility without overstretching your wallet.
With 256Gb, you could take advantage of the card’s speedy performance and have enough room for high-quality 4k videos, allowing you to capture, store, and replay with minimal delays. Alternatively, if you’re looking for more space, the 512Gb and 1Tb models are also available, but here the price point starts to get steep.
Durability / Longevity
When it comes to longevity, Team Group’s range boasts some very handy insurance features. Not only does it come with a lifetime warranty, but the card also claims to be able to face the elements. It’s waterproof, dustproof, and can even safely go through an X-ray, which is particularly nice if you’re a traveling photographer. The A1 can also withstand very high and low temperatures, meaning it should be able to keep up whether you’re shooting 4k footage in scorching heat or taking landscape shots atop a mountain.
With Team Group products, you’re also helping the environment (or so they claim). The Elite A1 Card adopts eco-friendly printing and inks, allowing them to produce their products on a wider and more responsible scale. Buy an SD card, help the environment.
Is The Elite A1 Worth It?
If you’re in the market for SD cards, make sure you know what you’re after and be sure you know what you’re getting. Ultimately, the Elite A1 is an affordable card with reliable performance and impressive durability. If you’re a traveling photographer or filmmaker, this card will provide you with the speed and storage capacity in a reliable package.
Besides that though, you also gain a foothold in trying to help improve the environment while also securing yourself a reasonably long warranty with the added solace of the card itself being quite durable.