The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ is the final iteration of the Pi 3 series, and sports great features like 5GHz wireless, Gigabit ethernet, full-size HDMI, and 4 USB 2.0 ports. Plus, there is a microSD card slot that allows you to vastly expand the base storage that is included. For that, we have found the best SD cards for Raspberry Pi 3b that you can use with the Pi 3 B+ to get the most out of this awesome piece of technology.
Getting started
SanDisk Ultra 32GB microSDHC Card
Staff Pick
This 32GB card is plenty for whatever OS you install on the Raspberry Pi, with some space left over for games, programming environments, and whatever else you want. If you intend to install a lot of games, though you may be better served with a higher capacity card.
$9 at Amazon
$13 at Walmart
$9 at B&H Photo
All the storage
Samsung EVO Select 512GB MicroSDXC Card
This is the card you’ll want if you need to store a lot of movie files and more thanks to its 512GB capacity. The EVO Select comes with up to 100MB/s read speeds and 90MB/s write speeds and the card itself is shockproof, water-resistant, x-ray proof, and comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
$134 at Amazon
A step up
SanDisk Extreme PRO 32GB microSDHC Card
If you want to use your Pi for a critical application or gaming, it’s worth getting the fastest card you can. This is the fastest card we could find with 32GB of storage, and it’ll be perfect for the rest of your projects.
$13 at Amazon
$38 at Walmart
Even faster
Samsung EVO Select 64GB MicroSDXC Card
If you’re going to use your Raspberry Pi for gaming or as a desktop computer, more space is always better. This 64GB card is more than fast enough to not slow your Raspberry Pi down, and it’s only a few dollars more than the 32GB version.
$29 at Amazon
$38 at Newegg
Great speeds
Silicon Power 128GB Superior Pro MicroSD Card
The Silicon Power Superior Pro card sports read and write speeds of 100/80 MB/s and is compatible with much more than just the Raspberry Pi. Plus, Silicon Power also includes a 5-year limited warranty on its memory cards.
$14 at Amazon
$17 at B&H Photo
Smooth experience
PNY Elite Class 10 64GB MicroSDXC Card
If you’re going to use the Raspberry Pi as a desktop computer or as a game console, you’ll need as much space as you can get for programs and games. This 64GB card is only a little more expensive than the 32GB option but offers twice as much storage. This card is a little faster to read from than the Samsung card above, so it may lead to a smoother experience.
$15 at Amazon
$15 at Walmart
$45 at Staples
Solid and reliable
Patriot EP 128GB MicroSD Card
Patriot Memory offers some of the more reliable microSD cards on the market, and the same sentiment rings true for the Patriot EP Card. This 128GB microSD card is more than capable of storing your OS and everything else for the Raspberry Pi.
$18 at Amazon
$15 at Walmart
$20 at Newegg
Step things up
Lexar 633X 256GB MicroSDXC Card
When it comes to stepping up the storage, you can’t go wrong with the Lexar 633X microSD card. As for speeds, you’ll get transfer speeds of 95MB/s with this Class 10 card, and there is also a standard SD adapter if you need to transfer files from your PC.
$30 at Amazon
$35 at Walmart
$35 at Newegg
Solid starter
Kingston Canvas Select 64GB MicroSDHC Card
Kingston’s Canvas Select offers a decent amount of space, depending on exactly what you’re using it for. This card is a good bit slower than the previous one from SanDisk, but if you want to spend as little as possible on your Pi build, it may work well enough for your project.
$10 at Amazon
$12 at Newegg
Almost the biggest
SanDisk Ultra 400GB MicroSDXC Card
SanDisk is helping to lead the industry of more storage in a compact form-factor, and the Ultra 400GB card is a great example. In addition to pushing the limits of storage capacity, this card offers up to 100MB/s transfer speeds, and there is a 10-year limited warranty included.
$57 at Amazon
$79 at Walmart
$55 at Newegg
Withstand the elements
AXE Memory 128GB MicroSDXC Card
Not only is this memory card water-, shock-, and x-ray-proof, it’s also temperature resistant. Plus, it comes with an adapter and offers speedy 95 MB/s read speeds and 65 MB/s write speeds.
$18 at Amazon
Never misplace it
Povee 128GB Micro SD Card
Typically, memory cards are pretty bland and boring looking, which makes sense. Or does it? With this bright and colorful card, you’ll never misplace it or have trouble finding it should you accidentally drop it. And it offers pretty fast 100 MB/s write and 50MB/s read speeds, to boot.
$18 at Amazon
Which SD card should you buy?
A storage capacity of 32GB isn’t a lot for our phones, but it’s more than plentiful for an SD card for your Raspberry Pi 3 B+. You’ll easily have enough space to use the Raspberry Pi as a print server, a VPN, media center, or even as a full desktop with the SanDisk Ultra 32GB card. At an incredibly affordable price, there’s really no reason to go any lower. You can get a bigger card — or a smaller one — but the 32GB card is a nice sweet spot.
But for those who really want the most amount of storage, then you’ll want to swing for Samsung’s EVO Select 512GB microSD card. The card offers fast read and write speeds, while also being shockproof, water-resistant, and even X-Ray proof. Plus, Samsung includes a 10-year limited warranty if something goes awry with your Raspberry Pi.
An interesting and affordable option if you tend to have slippery fingers is the Povee 128GB Micro SD Card. It literally stands out among memory cards for its colorful design that makes it easy to spot if you drop it on carpet or even outside in the snow or grass.
