Storage Guide 2026: SSDs, microSD Cards and USB Drives Explained

Whether you're upgrading your PC, expanding storage on a phone or camera, or just need something to move files around, "storage" covers a lot of very different products. This guide breaks down SSDs, microSD cards and USB flash drives so you buy the right type for what you actually need.

SSDs: the biggest upgrade for an older PC

If your PC still boots from a traditional hard drive, swapping in a solid state drive (SSD) is usually the single biggest speed upgrade you can make, often more noticeable than adding extra RAM. SSDs have no moving parts, so they load your operating system, games and files dramatically faster.

SATA vs NVMe

SATA SSDs are the easy upgrade path for most older PCs and laptops, using the same connector as a traditional hard drive. NVMe SSDs plug directly into the motherboard and are significantly faster, but need a compatible M.2 slot, usually found on newer motherboards.

microSD cards: what the ratings actually mean

microSD cards are used in phones, tablets, drones, action cameras and Nintendo Switch consoles. The specs on the packaging matter more than the brand name:

• Capacity: how much you can store. 128GB to 256GB covers most phones and cameras comfortably.
• Speed class (U1, U3): the minimum sustained write speed, important for recording video without dropped frames.
• Application performance class (A1, A2): matters if you're running apps or a game console directly from the card, not just storing photos.
• Video speed class (V30, V60): relevant if you're shooting 4K video on a drone or action camera.

For everyday phone storage, a basic U1/A1 card is plenty. For 4K video on a drone or action camera, look for at least V30.

USB flash drives: still useful, just for different jobs

USB flash drives aren't as central as they used to be now that cloud storage is everywhere, but they're still the simplest way to move large files between computers, boot an operating system installer, or keep an offline backup that isn't tied to an account or subscription.

Quick buying checklist

• Check your device actually supports the storage type before buying (M.2 slot for NVMe, microSD slot size, USB-A vs USB-C)
• Match microSD speed class to what you're actually doing with it, not just the biggest number available
• Don't overpay for capacity you won't use, but leave some headroom for updates and larger files over time
• For anything holding data you can't afford to lose, keep a second backup somewhere else too

Our recommendation

If your PC doesn't already have an SSD, that's the upgrade to do first. For phones and cameras, match your microSD card's speed class to what you're recording rather than just chasing capacity, and keep a USB flash drive around for the jobs cloud storage doesn't cover well, like offline backups or booting an installer.

Ready to upgrade your storage? Browse our storage and memory range to find the right fit.