Back in August 2008, I reviewed the Kingston 8GB Class 4 Micro SD Card.  The unit’s higher storage capacity and faster transfer rate were the biggest selling points.  Kingston, being the leader in memory cards and other storage units, has once again upped the ante for digital media storage by introducing their new Class 10 16GB Micro SD.

Besides supporting double the amount of storage space, you will be hard pressed to find another company producing Class 10 cards.  So what exactly does Class 10 mean?  It basically guarantees that the card will read and write files at a specific speed.  Here is a quick break down of transfer rates for comparative purposes:

Class 2 – guaranteed minimum Data Transfer Rate of 2MB/sec.

Class 4 – guaranteed minimum Data Transfer Rate of 4MB/sec.

Class 6 – guaranteed minimum Data Transfer Rate of 6MB/sec.

Class 10 – guaranteed minimum Data Transfer Rate of 10MB/sec.

Long story short – this microSD card is fast.  If you like to take full advantage of your smart phone, digital camera, video recorder, and portable music devices, then having a card with a fast data transfer rate will be an important factor when determining which card to purchase.  

If you are simply transferring Mp3’s or small jpgs to your SD card, you probably would not notice much of a speed difference if using a Class 10.  However, the biggest and most noticeable different will be apparent when transferring larger files, like HD video clips or movies.  So if you are planning on taking full advantage of that new high res/HD digital camera, you should consider a card with a higher transfer speed. 

Like the other Kingston units, this microSD 16 GB package also comes bundled with a MiniSD and SD adapter which assures that you will be the full functionality of all types of SD cards.  It also needs to be noted that this unit has some great packaging.  The microSD card and both adapters are clearly visible and the entire package is made of cardboard with a low profile plastic shell; it is not one of those plastic clamshell casings that are impossible to open. 

If there is one thing I must say about Kingston products, is that their reliably is unmatched.  Of all the Kingston products that I have used, I have never encountered a single problem with them.  Besides being durable, I also have never experienced accidental data lose either. 

In comparison, I recently had the displeasuring of tinkering with a cheap SD card, which I will keep the brand nameless.  Each time I plugged this cheap SD card into my memory card reader, the Lock tab would always shift to the locked position, rendering the card useless.  Simple flaws like this are enough to frustrate consumers and can easily separate a quality card from a bargain bin unit.  Kingston also strongly backs their products with a lifetime warranty and 24/7 tech support.

This 16GB card will run you about $140.  This might seem a bit steep but keep in mind that Class 10 technology, especially in a microSD, is a newer speed rating and Kingston leads the pack in speed rating.  Like all technology, it is only a matter of time before there is a price drop, but you are also paying for quality, as well as performance, when you buy a Kingston. 

To summarize: if you are looking for a fast and reliable memory card, especially if you are shooting video at 1080p, look no further than Kingston.

For more information visit www.kingston.com.

Kingston 16GB microSDHC Class 10 Features and Specifications:

·         Compliant: with the SD Specification Version 3.00

·         Versatile: when combined with an adapter, can be used as a full-size SDHC card with write protection or as a miniSDHC card to transfer data

·         Compatible: with microSDHC, miniSDHC and SDHC host devices; not compatible with standard microSD-enabled device/readers

·         File Format: FAT32

·         Reliable: lifetime warranty

·         Capacities*: 16GB

·         Dimensions: 0.43" x 0.59" x 0.039" (11mm x 15mm x 1mm)

·         High-Speed Class Rating: Class 10 – 10MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate

·         Operating Temperature: -13°F to 185°F (-25°C to 85°C)

·         Storage Temperature: -40°F to 185°F (-40°C to 85°C)

Better Than: Sculpting your own Tiki Head

Also Try: Kingston’s line up of USB drives

Wait For It: the inevitable 32GB Card

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