Understanding V30, V60, and V90 SD Cards: What You Need to Know About SD Card Speeds and UHS Ratings

If you’ve ever shopped for an SD card for your camera, drone, or other digital device, you’ve probably noticed a lot of numbers and letters on the packaging. Terms like “V30,” “UHS-I,” and “UHS-II” can be confusing if you don’t know what they mean. But these terms are important — they tell you how fast the SD card can read and write data, and whether it’s the right fit for your device and how you plan to use it. In this blog post, we’ll break down the differences between V30, V60, and V90 SD cards, and explain what UHS-I and UHS-II mean. We’ll keep it clear, detailed, and easy to understand — even if you’re not a tech expert.

What Is an SD Card? An SD card (Secure Digital card) is a small, portable memory card used to store digital data. Devices like cameras, video recorders, drones, and even some laptops and tablets use SD cards to save files such as photos, videos, and documents.

Not all SD cards are the same. They come in different sizes (like SD, miniSD, and microSD), and more importantly, they come in different speed classes — which tells you how fast they can move data.

Why SD Card Speed Matters - The speed of an SD card is very important depending on what you’re doing. If you’re just taking photos or storing documents, almost any SD card will work. But if you’re recording high-resolution video, especially in 4K or 8K, you need a card that can handle fast data writing. If your card is too slow, your camera might stop recording, skip frames, or show errors.

There are two main things to look at when it comes to SD card speed:

• Read speed: How fast the card can open or transfer files to a device (important when uploading to a computer).

• Write speed: How fast the card can save new data (important when recording video or taking burst photos).

Understanding Speed Classes: V30, V60, and V90 - The “V” numbers you see on SD cards stand for Video Speed Class. This system tells you the minimum sustained write speed (in megabytes per second) the card can maintain while recording video.

V30 (Video Speed Class 30)

• Minimum write speed: 30 MB/s

• Best for: 4K video at standard frame rates, Full HD (1080p) high-frame-rate video, burst photography

V30 cards are very common and affordable. They’re a great choice for most consumer-level cameras and drones that shoot in 4K. If you’re filming vacations, YouTube videos, or doing casual photography, a V30 card is usually more than enough.

V60 (Video Speed Class 60)

• Minimum write speed: 60 MB/s

• Best for: 4K video at high frame rates, some 6K video, higher-end cameras

V60 cards are faster and more expensive than V30. They’re used by more serious videographers who need to record 4K at 60fps (frames per second) or shoot in higher bitrates. V60 is also good for time-lapse photography or continuous shooting in RAW format.

V90 (Video Speed Class 90)

• Minimum write speed: 90 MB/s

• Best for: 8K video, high-frame-rate 4K video, professional-grade cameras

V90 cards are the top tier in the Video Speed Class system. They’re designed for professional work — like shooting 8K video or ultra high-bitrate 4K footage. They’re expensive, and you usually only need one if you’re working on a professional production or using a very high-end camera.

How to Choose Between V30, V60, and V90

Here’s a quick way to choose:

• Use V30 if you’re recording regular 4K videos, YouTube content, vlogs, or everyday photography.

• Use V60 if you’re recording 4K at higher frame rates (like 60fps or higher), or if your camera has higher data rates.

• Use V90 if you’re doing 8K video, 4K at high bitrates, or professional video production where stability and quality are critical.

Always check your camera’s manual to see what kind of SD card is recommended. If your camera doesn’t support V60 or V90 speeds, buying a faster card won’t give you any benefit.

What About UHS-I and UHS-II? Now let’s talk about another label you’ve probably seen on SD cards: UHS-I and UHS-II.

What Does UHS Mean? - UHS stands for Ultra High Speed, and it refers to the speed interface of the card — the physical connection and how fast data can move between the card and the device.

There are three main UHS types:

• UHS-I: Maximum bus speed of 104 MB/s

• UHS-II: Maximum bus speed of 312 MB/s

• UHS-III: Maximum bus speed of 624 MB/s (rare and not widely used)

The “bus speed” is the maximum speed that the card can theoretically transfer data under ideal conditions. But the actual speed depends on the device you’re using and the specific card.

How Can You Tell If It’s UHS-I or UHS-II? Look at the back of the SD card. A UHS-I card has one row of pins. A UHS-II card has two rows of pins — one above the other. The extra row of pins in UHS-II allows for much faster data transfer.

UHS-I vs. UHS-II: What’s the Difference?

Real-World Performance - A V90 UHS-II card will generally perform much better than a V90 UHS-I card. That’s because even though they both support the same minimum write speed, the UHS-II card can handle much faster read and write speeds during bursts or large file transfers.

This is especially helpful when:

• Recording uncompressed RAW video

• Taking long photo bursts with high-resolution images

• Transferring large files to your computer quickly

What About U1 and U3?

You might also see symbols like U1 or U3 on SD cards. These are older speed class ratings called UHS Speed Class. They refer to the minimum sustained write speed like this:

• U1 = 10 MB/s

• U3 = 30 MB/s

U3 is basically the same minimum write speed as V30, but it’s less precise for modern video recording needs. That’s why the “V” system was introduced — it gives more detailed speed categories. So, if you see both U3 and V30 on a card, focus on the “V” rating for video performance.

How to Match the Right SD Card to Your Device

Here’s a checklist to help you find the right card:

1. Check your device’s SD card requirements - Read your camera or device manual to find recommended speed class and interface.

2. Match the video resolution and frame rate

• 1080p video: V10 or V30 is fine

• 4K at 30fps: V30 is safe

• 4K at 60fps: V60 or V90

• 8K or RAW video: V90 and UHS-II is best

3. Consider file size and burst shooting - If you’re taking a lot of photos quickly, or using high-resolution RAW files, go with faster cards (V60 or V90 with UHS-II).

4. Don’t overspend if you don’t need to - A high-speed V90 UHS-II card is great, but if your camera can’t take advantage of it, it’s wasted money.

Final Tips and Reminders

• Not all devices support UHS-II. If your camera only has a UHS-I slot, it will still work with a UHS-II card — but only at UHS-I speeds.

• Buy from trusted brands like SanDisk, Lexar, Sony, or ProGrade. Cheap cards can have misleading specs and may be unreliable.

• Watch out for fake cards online. Always buy from a reputable seller to avoid counterfeit cards.

• Look at both read and write speeds. Some cards advertise very high read speeds (like 300 MB/s) — but if the write speed is low, it won’t be good for video recording.

• Format your card regularly (after backing up your files) to keep it performing well and avoid file corruption.

Choosing the right SD card isn’t just about size or price — it’s about getting the right speed for your needs. Understanding the differences between V30, V60, and V90, and knowing what UHS-I and UHS-II mean, can help you avoid headaches later. If you’re a beginner or casual user, V30 UHS-I is usually enough. For more serious video work, V60 or V90 with UHS-II can give you the speed and stability you need. Just make sure your device can actually use those faster speeds. Once you understand how these labels work, you’ll feel more confident buying SD cards and won’t waste money on features you don’t need — or miss out on performance that you do.