Sandisk recently released a new version of the SanDisk Ultra microSD Card. So, how does the new generation (which has a model number starting with SDSQUA4) compare to the older generation (which has a model number starting with SDSQUAR)?
You can find out in this comparison guide.
Quick Summary
When compared to the older SanDisk Ultra microSD (SDSQUAR) Card, the newer SanDisk Ultra microSD (SDSQUA4) features faster read speeds due to new proprietary technology.
The new version is also the only one of the two to offer a 1TB capacity option.
SanDisk Ultra microSD (SDSQUAR) vs. SanDisk Ultra microSD (SDSQUA4) Comparison Chart
You can take a look at Seeking Tech’s comparison table between the two memory cards below.
| Old SanDisk Ultra microSD (SDSQUAR) | New SanDisk Ultra microSD (SDSQUA4) | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity Options | 16 GB: SDSQUAR-016G-GN6MA 32 GB: SDSQUAR-032G-GN6MA 64 GB: SDSQUAR-064G-GN6MA 128 GB: SDSQUAR-128G-GN6MA 200 GB: SDSQUAR-200G-GN6MA 256 GB: SDSQUAR-256G-GN6MA 400 GB: SDSQUAR-400G-GN6MA 512 GB: SDSQUAR-512G-GN6MA | 32 GB: SDSQUA4-032G-GN6MA 64 GB: SDSQUA4-064G-GN6MA 128 GB: SDSQUA4-128G-GN6MA 200 GB: SDSQUA4-200G-GN6MA 256 GB: SDSQUA4-256G-GN6MA 400 GB: SDSQUA4-400G-GN6MA 512 GB: SDSQUA4-512G-GN6MA 1 TB: SDSQUA4-1T00-GN6MA |
| Hardware Interface | 16 GB: microSDHC 32 GB: microSDHC 64 GB: microSDXC 128 GB: microSDXC 200 GB: microSDXC 256 GB: microSDXC 400 GB: microSDXC 512 GB: microSDXC | 32 GB: microSDHC 64 GB: microSDXC 128 GB: microSDXC 200 GB: microSDXC 256 GB: microSDXC 400 GB: microSDXC 512 GB: microSDXC 1 TB: microSDXC |
| Ultra High Speed Bus Interface | UHS-I | UHS-I |
| Class | 16 GB: 10 32 GB: 10 64 GB: 10 128 GB: 10 200 GB: 10 256 GB: 10 400 GB: 10 512 GB: 10 | 32 GB: 10 64 GB: 10 128 GB: 10 200 GB: 10 256 GB: 10 400 GB: 10 512 GB: 10 1 TB: 10 |
| UHS Speed Class | 16 GB: N/A 32 GB: U1 64 GB: U1 128 GB: U1 200 GB: U1 256 GB: U1 400 GB: U1 512 GB: U1 | 32 GB: U1 64 GB: U1 128 GB: U1 200 GB: U1 256 GB: U1 400 GB: U1 512 GB: U1 1 TB: U1 |
| Application Performance Class | 16 GB: A1 32 GB: A1 64 GB: A1 128 GB: A1 200 GB: A1 256 GB: A1 400 GB: A1 512 GB: A1 | 32 GB: A1 64 GB: A1 128 GB: A1 200 GB: A1 256 GB: A1 400 GB: A1 512 GB: A1 1 TB: A1 |
| Read Speed | 16 GB: Up to 98 MB per second 32 GB: Up to 98 MB per second 64 GB: Up to 100 MB per second 128 GB: Up to 100 MB per second 200 GB: Up to 100 MB per second 256 GB: Up to 100 MB per second 400 GB: Up to 100 MB per second 512 GB: Up to 100 MB per second | 32 GB: Up to 120 MB per second 64 GB: Up to 120 MB per second 128 GB: Up to 120 MB per second 200 GB: Up to 120 MB per second 256 GB: Up to 120 MB per second 400 GB: Up to 120 MB per second 512 GB: Up to 120 MB per second 1 TB: Up to 120 MB per second |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years |
| Pricing | Check price on Amazon.(#CommissionsEarned) | Check price on Amazon.(#CommissionsEarned) |
Capacity Options
When compared to the older model, the newer model comes with the bigger 1 TB size option. On the other hand, the older version has a smaller option available at 16 GB. Otherwise, the two have the same capacity options.
You can check out the lists of capacities, as well as the model number for each, below:
Older SanDisk Ultra microSD Cards:
- 16 GB: SDSQUAR-016G-GN6MA
- 32 GB: SDSQUAR-032G-GN6MA
- 64 GB: SDSQUAR-064G-GN6MA
- 128 GB: SDSQUAR-128G-GN6MA
- 200 GB: SDSQUAR-200G-GN6MA
- 256 GB: SDSQUAR-256G-GN6MA
- 400 GB: SDSQUAR-400G-GN6MA
- 512 GB: SDSQUAR-512G-GN6MA
Newer SanDisk Ultra microSD Cards:
- 32 GB: SDSQUA4-032G-GN6MA
- 64 GB: SDSQUA4-064G-GN6MA
- 128 GB: SDSQUA4-128G-GN6MA
- 200 GB: SDSQUA4-200G-GN6MA
- 256 GB: SDSQUA4-256G-GN6MA
- 400 GB: SDSQUA4-400G-GN6MA
- 512 GB: SDSQUA4-512G-GN6MA
- 1 TB: SDSQUA4-1T00-GN6MA
Hardware Interface
The 16 GB and 32 GB versions of the old SDSQUAR SanDisk Ultra microSD Card, as well as the 32 GB version of the new SDSQUA4 SanDisk Ultra microSD Card, use microSDHC as the hardware interface. The rest of the cards use microSDXC.
You can take a look at the full breakdown below:
Old SanDisk Ultra microSD (SDSQUAR):
- 16 GB: microSDHC
- 32 GB: microSDHC
- 64 GB: microSDXC
- 128 GB: microSDXC
- 200 GB: microSDXC
- 256 GB: microSDXC
- 400 GB: microSDXC
- 512 GB: microSDXC
New SanDisk Ultra microSD (SDSQUAR):
- 32 GB: microSDHC
- 64 GB: microSDXC
- 128 GB: microSDXC
- 200 GB: microSDXC
- 256 GB: microSDXC
- 400 GB: microSDXC
- 512 GB: microSDXC
- 1 TB: microSDXC
Ultra High Speed Bus Interface
All of the capacities for both cards in this versus guide use the UHS-I interface, which provides bus speeds of up to up to 104 MB per second.
Class
Both micro SD cards from SanDisk also have the same speed class of 10. This means that the flash memory is capable of at least 10 MB per second when it comes to sequential writing speed.
UHS Speed Class
U1 is another classification for a memory card that can achieve a minimum sequential write speed of 10 MB per second. Aside from the 16 GB version of the older SanDisk Ultra, all the other size options have been rated for the U1 UHS Speed Classification.
Application Performance Class
Application Performance Classification is a set of speed requirements that need to be met in order run applications smoothly on a microSD card. All of the capacities for both the new and old SanDisk Ultra microSDs have been rated at A1, which mean the cards are capable of a minimum sustained write speed of 10 MB per second, minimum random read speed of at least 1500 IOPS and a minimum random write speed of at least 500 IOPS.
Read Speed
With the new Ultra microSDXC cards, SanDisk used proprietary technology to add more read speed to go beyond the aforementioned UHS-I’s limit of 104 MB per second to reach 120 MB per second.
You can take a look at the read speed specifications for each capacity option below:
SDSQUAR SanDisk Ultra microSD:
- 16 GB: Up to 98 MB per second
- 32 GB: Up to 98 MB per second
- 64 GB: Up to 100 MB per second
- 128 GB: Up to 100 MB per second
- 200 GB: Up to 100 MB per second
- 256 GB: Up to 100 MB per second
- 400 GB: Up to 100 MB per second
- 512 GB: Up to 100 MB per second
SDSQUAR New SanDisk Ultra microSD:
- 32 GB: Up to 120 MB per second
- 64 GB: Up to 120 MB per second
- 128 GB: Up to 120 MB per second
- 200 GB: Up to 120 MB per second
- 256 GB: Up to 120 MB per second
- 400 GB: Up to 120 MB per second
- 512 GB: Up to 120 MB per second
- 1 TB: Up to 120 MB per second
Warranty
The older SanDisk Ultra microSD (SDSQUAR) and newer SanDisk Ultra (SDSQUA4) each come with a 10-year warranty.
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