At CES, ADATA showcased its first microSDXC memory card with 256 GB capacity. The card is qualified for up to 275 MB/s transfer speed and can be used to record UHD and 360° videos. The manufacturer did not formally announce the product, but the product on display should indicate that the company plans to release it in the foreseeable future.

The ADATA microSDXC 256 GB memory card is based on 3D MLC NAND flash memory from SK Hynix, uses the UHS-II bus as well as is rated for up to 275 MB/s maximum read speed and up to 260 MB/s write speed when installed into an appropriate device. The new card carries Class 10, U3 and V90 labels meaning that its performance does not drop below 90 MB/s and it is suitable for recording 2Kp120, 4Kp120 and 8Kp120 videos.

ADATA is the second independent supplier of NAND flash-based devices to introduce a microSDXC card with 256 GB capacity after Patriot. Moreover, ADATA is also among the first to introduce a 3D NAND-based memory card with the UHS-II bus that is designed for the high end of the market.

ADATA micro SDXC 256 GB Card Specifications
Write Speed 260 MB/s
Read Speed 275 MB/s
NAND Type 3D NAND
SDA Labels UHS-II, U3, Class 10, V90

In fact, use of 3D MLC NAND flash memory for memory cards is important in general because it demonstrates that IC makers are ramping up production of 3D NAND and supply such memory to third parties. One of the advantages that 3D MLC NAND has over TLC NAND made using a thin planar process technology is higher endurance and potentially higher reliability. In addition to the 256 GB microSDXC, ADATA also uses 3D NAND for other SD cards as well as for lower-capacity cards.

ADATA did not announce pricing of its 256 GB microSDXC card, but given performance and positioning, we expect the device to have a professional-grade price tag.  

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Source: ADATA

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  • Ninhalem - Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - link

    Oooh! This card will be good for the upcoming Nintendo Switch.
  • fanofanand - Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - link

    Totally! Assuming you want to spend $250 for storage on your $300 tablet :)
  • BrokenCrayons - Thursday, January 19, 2017 - link

    I'm slightly ashamed to admit it, but I've spent more on a single outfit plus shoes than a Switch plus the probable price of that SD card.
  • Morawka - Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - link

    haha yeah right. Nintendo will have a 64GB limit most likely. Hell half the consumer electronics i buy only take 32GB as max.. why do they do this? is it cheaper on the memory controller or something?
  • SGTPan - Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - link

    Nintendo officially announced it will support at least up to 2TB microSDXC cards as is, so no paltry 64GB limit.
  • SquarePeg - Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - link

    Supposedly the Switch will accept up to 2 TB microSDXC cards. I doubt we'll see cards that size in the Switch's life cycle.
  • wavetrex - Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - link

    With 3D Nand advancing rapidly... don't bet on it.
  • drumist - Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - link

    The SDHC specification supports up to 32GB. The SDXC specification supports up to 2TB.
  • serendip - Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - link

    More like a licensing issue. A lot of phones are said to support only 32 GB cards but they have no problem taking 64 or 128 GB cards, as long as those cards are formatted as FAT32 and not exFat.
  • dstarr3 - Thursday, January 19, 2017 - link

    A lot of times, the marketing spec sheet will simply state compatibility with whatever happens to be the largest memory card on the market at the time, and that's because that's all they could get their hands on to test. A phone or tablet or camera or whatever may advertise its max capacity as being 64GB, but that's just the largest size they tested, when in reality, it's SDXC-compatible and will easily work with any SDXC card of any capacity.

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