Lexar MicroSD cards discontinued, here are some good alternatives

Micron Technology, the company behind the Lexar microSD card range, announced Monday that it is shutting down its removable storage retail business.

This means you’ll no longer be able to get your hands on Lexar memory cards, USB flash drives, readers, and storage drives — though the company has vowed to provide ongoing customer support for these products as it searches for a potential buyer for the division. This indicates that Lexar products may once again be sold under the direction of another company, but for now, you’ll have to choose another brand for your mobile storage needs.

Thankfully, there are lots of affordable, high-quality options out there — no doubt something that contributed to Micron’s folding of the Lexar business. Here are a few brands you could check out instead.

SanDisk

SanDisk microSD cards are easy to find, fast, reliable and low cost — basically, everything you want from a microSD card. These tend to be well-stocked so should be able to find exactly the storage capacity option you want if you’re searching online. The company also provides a lifetime warranty on the products; you’re in safe hands.

Current prices include:

• SanDisk 16 GB: $10.99
• SanDisk 32 GB: $16.45
• SanDisk 64 GB: $27.39
• SanDisk 128 GB: $46.99

Samsung

Samsung’s SD cards are generally very similar to SanDisk’s offerings, but if you live in the US, you’ll be lucky enough to have access Samsung’s EVO Select range.

These are Amazon-exclusive microSD cards that are an absolute bargain for the performance they offer (with the exclusion of the oddly priced 64 GB version currently available). They come with a 10-year warranty and provide faster read/write speeds (90 MB/s compared to 45 MB/s) for largely the same prices as the SanDisk cards.

While this range doesn’t include a 16 GB version, the 32 GB card is less expensive than Samsung’s 16 GB alternative — so we’re not complaining.

Current prices include:

• Samsung 16 GB: $14.99
• Samsung 32 GB: $12.99
• Samsung 64 GB: $37.50 – plus $4.50 shipping
• Samsung 128 GB: $44.99

Transcend

Transcend is another major player in the SD card sphere. Though its typical cards aren’t as fast as the Samsung’s EVO Select units, they can be extremely affordable. The caveat is that you must spend more than $25 total to pick them up at the listed prices. Also, the 300x (slowest, lowest cost) versions of the 32 GB and 64 GB cards are currently unavailable.

Still, if you’re looking for an inexpensive 16 GB card, this is something to consider when making your next Amazon purchase.

• Transcend 16 GB: $7.16

For more on the best microSD cards around, including more information on common terms and what all those funny numbers mean, hit the link.