When your MacBook Air’s built-in storage starts feeling limited, adding a reliable SD card can be the perfect solution to expand your capacity.
With the latest advancements in SD card technology, they’ve evolved to meet the specific needs of MacBook users, offering fast and efficient storage.
In this post, I’ll guide you through choosing the right SD card for your MacBook Air and share my top recommendations to help you get the best performance.
10 Best SD Cards for Macbook Air
Here are my top picks:
Toshiba Exceria Pro N502 SDXC UHS-II
Toshiba’s Exceria Pro N502 is built for professional users, offering 270 MB/s read and 260 MB/s write speeds, making it an excellent choice for handling high-resolution video and large file transfers on your MacBook Air. Its fast write speeds are perfect for 4K video recording and quick data transfers, while its durable design ensures reliability under tough conditions. Available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB, this card is perfect for users needing a reliable and efficient storage solution for demanding tasks.
Sony SF-G Tough UHS-II
- TOUGH specification with crush and shock-proof design
- Rib-less and switchless design enhances reliability, eliminating risks of breakage
- Dust and water proofing at the highest level (IP68)
Sony’s SF-G Tough series is both fast and durable, with 300 MB/s read and 299 MB/s write speeds, ideal for outdoor shoots or rugged environments. This card is designed to be physically stronger than most, making it resistant to bending and cracking, perfect for content creators who need reliability in harsh conditions.
Lexar Professional 2000x SDXC UHS-II
- High-speed performance—leverages UHS-II technology (U3) for a read transfer speed...
- Captures high-quality images and extended lengths of Full-HD and cinema-quality 8K...
- Backwards compatible with UHS-I devices
Lexar’s 2000x SDXC card offers 300 MB/s read speeds, ensuring fast data transfer. It’s perfect for high-resolution images and video editing on the go. Lexar’s high-speed performance minimizes delays during file transfers, making it a great choice for photographers and videographers using their MacBook Air.
SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC UHS-II
- For prosumers and professionals shooting with MIL and cinema cameras
- Record cinema-quality 6K and 4K UHD with Video Speed Class 60 rating (Full HD...
- Capture superlative continuous burst mode and time lapse images with shot speeds up...
SanDisk is a trusted name for speed and durability. With up to 280 MB/s read and 150 MB/s write speeds, it’s perfect for handling large files and 4K video on your MacBook Air. This card is great for content creators and professionals who work with high-quality video footage, ensuring smooth file transfers and reliable performance in tough conditions like water and shock resistance.
Samsung PRO Endurance MicroSDXC
- EXTREME ENDURANCE FOR MONITORING DEVICES: Capture your crucial moments in...
- BUILT TO LAST UP TO 140K HOURS OF RECORDING: With capacities up to 256GB, the PRO...
- RECORD & PLAY IN FHD/4K: The PRO Endurance simplifies large file transfers with...
Ideal for continuous recording, Samsung’s PRO Endurance is great for long-term use like dashcams and surveillance. You’ll need an SD adapter to use it with the MacBook Air, but it delivers reliable performance, even in extreme conditions, with up to 100 MB/s read speed and 40 MB/s write speed.
Kingston Canvas React Plus UHS-II
- Ultimate speeds to support professional camera use
- Capture 4K/8K Ultra-HD high-speed shots without dropping frames
- Top-of-the-line performance for professional content creators
Kingston offers up to 300 MB/s read and 260 MB/s write speeds, making it perfect for professional videographers or photographers using their MacBook Air for large files or 4K footage. Kingston is known for its durability, offering cards that are waterproof, shockproof, and temperature resistant, making it a great choice for use in all environments.
Panasonic SDZA Series SDXC UHS-II
- UHS II standard
- Up to 280MB/s read and 250聽MB/s write
- Video Speed Class V90聽= 90聽MB/s (720MBPS) constant Schreibge in black
Panasonic delivers high-speed performance with 280 MB/s read and 250 MB/s write speeds, though it’s only available in 64GB, limiting its storage capacity. This card is perfect for quick transfers and reliable performance, but its lower capacity means it might not be ideal for extended video shoots or large media libraries.
Transcend SDXC UHS-I
- Compliant with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and UHS Video Speed Class 30 (V30) standards
- Up to 64GB storage capacity
- Up to 100 MB/s read; 85 MB/s write
Transcend’s UHS-I card offers 100 MB/s read and 85 MB/s write speeds, making it a budget-friendly option that still provides reliable performance for casual users. It’s a good choice if you need an affordable yet dependable card for your MacBook Air, whether you’re storing documents, music, or occasional video projects.
PNY Elite Performance SDXC UHS-I
- Sequential read speed of up to 95MB/s
- Class 10, U3 rating delivers speed and performance for burst mode HD photography and...
- Record, store and share videos, photos, music, files and more across device
PNY delivers solid value with 95 MB/s read speeds, ideal for MacBook Air users who need quick file transfers for everyday tasks. Whether you’re dealing with 4K video or high-resolution photos, PNY Elite Performance is known for being reliable and affordable, a great pick for anyone balancing performance with cost.
Delkin Devices Power SDXC UHS-II
- High-Speed Performance: Achieve peak performance with read speeds up to 300MB/s and...
- Optimized for Professionals: Built with professional photographers and videographers...
- Reliable and Durable: With a Video Speed Class V90 rating, this 256GB SD card ensures...
Delkin provides 300 MB/s read and 250 MB/s write speeds, offering fast file transfers and editing capabilities, perfect for professionals using their MacBook Air for demanding projects. Delkin is known for creating rugged, durable cards that perform well even in extreme environments.
How To Choose an SD Card For Your MacBook Air (M1/M2/M3)
First, it’s important to note that MacBook Air models, including the latest ones, do not come with a built-in SD card slot. To use an SD card, you’ll need a USB-C SD card reader or adapter.
Look for one that supports fast data transfer speeds and is compatible with high-speed cards (like UHS-I or UHS-II) to ensure smooth performance.
Here are a couple of adapters that I recommend:
USB C Dock 7-IN-1 Card Reader
The 6-in-2 Multiport Adapter is designed specifically for MacBook Pro 14/16 (2021) and MacBook Air (2022) models, as well as MacBooks from 2016 onwards with dual USB-C ports. It expands two USB-C ports into Thunderbolt 3, three USB 3.0 ports, and an SD/TF card reader, without blocking the MagSafe charging port.
The adapter supports 5Gbps data transmission, 100W pass-through charging, and 5K or 4K @ 60Hz video output. However, it doesn’t work with a MacBook Pro case. Compact and portable, it’s ideal for keeping your workspace organized on the go.
USB C Hub Adapters for MacBook Pro/MacBook Air M1/M2/M3
The 6-in-2 Multiport Adapter is designed for MacBook Pro 14/16 (2021) and MacBook Air 13.6 (2022), as well as other MacBook models from 2016 onwards with dual USB-C ports. It converts two USB-C ports into Thunderbolt 3, three USB 3.0 ports, and an SD/TF card reader while leaving the MagSafe port free for charging. It supports 5Gbps data transfer but doesn’t work with Apple’s USB SuperDrive.
Capacity
The capacity of the SD card you need depends on how much data you plan to store. For general use, like transferring files, a 64GB or 128GB card should be sufficient.
However, if you plan to store large files like videos or high-resolution photos, consider higher capacities like 256GB or even 512GB. Be aware that larger storage also means more expensive cards.
I’ll talk more about SD card capacities in the next section.
Speed (UHS Rating)
The speed of the SD card is crucial, especially if you’re transferring large files or using it for professional purposes like video editing. SD cards come with different speed ratings:
- UHS-I (Ultra High Speed Class 1): Offers transfer speeds of up to 104 MB/s. This is suitable for basic tasks, file transfers, and even 1080p video.
- UHS-II: Provides transfer speeds of up to 312 MB/s. Ideal for professionals dealing with 4K video, RAW photos, or any high-bandwidth applications.
- UHS-III: Offers speeds up to 624 MB/s. It’s the fastest available but may be overkill unless you work in very demanding creative tasks.
Speed Rating (Class and V Rating)
- Class 10: This is the minimum speed class for most modern SD cards and is suitable for HD video recording.
- V30, V60, V90: The V rating refers to the video speed class, which is important if you’re working with video files. V30 means the card can sustain 30MB/s writes, suitable for 4K video. V60 and V90 are suitable for 8K video recording.
Bus Interface
- SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards support capacities up to 32GB, but are limited in speed.
- SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity) supports capacities from 64GB up to 2TB, and supports UHS-I and UHS-II for faster speeds, making it ideal for users who need high performance.
Why Speed Matters
Speed matters if you’re working with large files or transferring large amounts of data. If your SD card is too slow, you may face long transfer times, and the card may struggle to keep up with demanding tasks, such as 4K video or large RAW files.
You can check you SD card’s speed with this Free test>>>
Tips for Choosing
- Video and photo professionals: Go for UHS-II or UHS-III cards with V30 or higher ratings for fast transfers and efficient workflows.
- General users: A UHS-I, Class 10, V30 rated card will generally be enough for transferring files, documents, or even photos.
How Much Can Different Capacities Hold?
Here are different SD card capacities for you Macbook Air and who are they for:
64GB SD Card
Perfect for casual users who don’t take photos or videos that often—think vacations or family events. A 64GB card can store around 12,000 photos (at 12MP) or about 2 hours of 4K video. It’s also great if you just need space for documents, music, or smaller files.
This is ideal for the occasional user—someone who films or takes photos only on special occasions or who needs basic storage for everyday files.
128GB SD Card
If you film a bit more frequently or like taking higher-resolution photos, 128GB hits a sweet spot. This size can hold about 24,000 photos or around 4 hours of 4K video. It’s perfect for casual photographers or vloggers who shoot on the go.
Great for the hobbyist—someone who shoots photos and videos regularly but doesn’t need massive storage. It’s enough for someone who enjoys filming in 4K but doesn’t need to store large amounts of footage all the time.
256GB SD Card
For more serious users, 256GB provides enough space for around 48,000 photos or 8 hours of 4K video. If you travel a lot, create videos frequently, or shoot in RAW format, this capacity is essential.
Perfect for content creators and professional videographers. If you shoot in 4K or 5.3K regularly, this size card will help you avoid running out of space, especially during long shoots.
What About Video?
Videos, especially in 4K or 5.3K, take up much more space than photos. A 5-minute 4K video can use up several GBs, which means a 64GB card can fill up pretty quickly if you’re recording in high resolution. If you’re filming a lot of high-quality video, you’ll want at least 128GB or 256GB, especially for extended trips or professional projects.
What If I’m a Professional Video Maker?
If you’re working with 4K or 5.3K footage, or if you’re a professional photographer/videographer, you’ll want to go for a card with a higher speed and capacity. A 256GB or even 512GB card would be ideal for you. And make sure to opt for cards with UHS-II or UHS-III speeds for faster file transfers and smoother 4K or 8K recording.
My Tip
It’s often better to have two smaller SD cards (like two 128GB cards) instead of one large 512GB card. Why? If one card fails or gets corrupted, you don’t lose all your footage. Plus, always remember to transfer your files to an external hard drive or cloud service regularly. SD cards aren’t meant to be long-term storage, so keeping backups is key!
Thanks for reading!
I hope this guide helped you understand all you need to know about the best SD cards for Macbook Air 🙂
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