PNY and SanDisk are famous brands in the storage device industry. They’re both highly reliable and produce lightning-fast memory cards. But how do they stand against each other?
Since this comparison helped me decide what memory card I want, I’m sharing it with you! This is my official PNY vs SanDisk comparison. We hope after reading it, you’ll know more about the brands.
PNY vs Sandisk
These two brands, PNY vs SanDisk, have set two different standards in the storage device industry. Memory cards from both brands are diverse, highly reliable, and fast. And that begs the question, which is better?
While doing research, we compared a few essential factors when making such a comparison. And although we will go into more detail about how each brand performs, here’s a short rundown of our conclusion.
PNY
PNY’s memory cards are known for their fast read and write speeds and extreme temperature tolerance. These cards come in many varieties ranging from personal-use cards to professional-level SD cards.
Pros
- Highly durable
- Can withstand high and low temperatures
- It can stand a lot of physical stress and strain
- Fast read and write speeds
- Ideal for all applications
Cons
- Pricier microSD cards
- Stricter warranty policy
Sandisk
SanDisk is a name that many have heard of. Its memory cards are all highly performative and durable. SanDisk makes memory cards for all applications, including personal and professional use. Its cards are fast, and all are waterproof and temperature-proof.
Pros
- Highly performative
- Withstands the test of time
- Can survive light splashes of water
- Made for both personal and professional use
- Cheaper microSD cards
Cons
- Costlier SD cards
Also Read: Samsung vs Sandisk SSD
PNY Memory Cards
Speed Class & Performance
The first thing to consider about any microSD card is the speed class. Each microSD card is rated at a certain speed, which is the speed that it reads and writes. For example, PNY microSD cards, specifically the PNY PRO Elite microSD Cards, are in the speed class 10/U3.
A 10 MB/sec minimum characterizes this speed class write speed. For example, the UHS Class 3 has a minimum UHS write speed of 30 MB/sec and is best for 4K videos.
PNY is quite reliable compared to other microSD cards in that it has a relatively low write failure rate. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s completely free from flaws. PNY has its fair share of write failures and is still not as reliable as SanDisk.
Operating temperatures for PNY memory cards are pretty diverse. But most can operate in temperatures as low as –25 degrees Celsius and as high as 85 degrees Celsius.
Furthermore, most PNY memory cards can stay in temperatures as low as –40 degrees Celsius and as high as 85 degrees Celsius.
Storage Capacity
Storage capacity dictates how much data can be stored in the microSD card. PNY provides a wide range of storage capacities for all types of uses.
PNY’s Elite Performance line of microSD cards can be found in 32-GB SDHC variants. You can also buy the PNY Elite Performance in 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB SDXC variants.
Build Quality & Hardware
What does the overall build quality of PNY vs SanDisk cards have to do with how well they perform? How much stress and burden the card can bear is key to a good memory card experience.
Think of it, you have all of your data backed up in an SD card. And one day, it just snaps. As a result, all of your data is gone and corrupted. Plus, the card can no longer fit snug inside the SD card slot.
When it comes to build quality, PNY memory cards have excellent durability. They are shock-proof, so dropping them won’t damage any part of the cards.
Additionally, all PNY memory cards are waterproof. So, they can survive a bit of rain or some light splashes. Now, it should go without saying that you can’t plop them into a pool full of water. But it will survive minor splashes.
PNY memory cards are also temperature-proof (to a certain extent). This means that they can survive average and extreme temperatures in your computer and equipment. Just remember to check the specs before any extreme applications.
Durability
Durability completely changes the way that your memory card performs. If your memory card cannot stand the test of time, your data will become corrupted over time.
Luckily, PNY makes its memory cards from plastic. Plastic does not degrade quickly and will stand the test of time. It also doesn’t collect dust, keeping the information etched onto the chip safe.
Furthermore, PNY’s memory cards can survive extreme temperatures too. So, PNY microSD cards can survive winter or summer temperatures.
Warranty
PNY values its customers and offers a warranty on all its products. However, PNY’s warranty only covers a narrow range of conditions.
PNY provides warranty benefits only for products that are sold by authorized retailers. PNY’s warranty policy is only applicable to the original owner of the memory card and is not transferable.
PNY’s warranty policy states that the company will replace or repair any defective parts of the product free of charge. And even then, it states that the product must have been used in its proper working conditions and temperatures.
The company is not responsible for any damages done to the product that the memory cards are used in. So, if the memory card damages your camera in any way, PNY will not take responsibility for that.
PNY does not take responsibility for military-level use of its products. Additionally, PNY is not responsible for any data loss that may occur for any reason through its memory cards.
Price
Price is what drives many customers towards one product or another. And PNY hits the sweet spot here, at least with SD cards.
PNY’s SD cards are at least 10%-20% cheaper than other brands, including SanDisk. This is only for the 256 GB PNY Elite Performance SD card. But it generally applies to other comparable SD cards as well.
As for microSD cards, PNY lags. Its microSD cards are at least 20%-30% costlier than comparable brands. This is terrible news for people who use PNY memory cards in digital cameras and phones. But for people who use SD cards on laptops and PCs, PNY is the best choice.
Recommended PNY Memory Cards
PNY Pro Elite
The PNY Pro Elite is PNY’s flagship microSD card for all applications. It’s available in 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB variants. Much like every other PNY microSD card, this one is highly durable. It can withstand a lot of pressure as well as extreme temperatures. Furthermore, it’s waterproof, so splashes won’t affect your data.
On the performance side, the PNY Pro Elite has a sequential read speed of 100 MBps. And it has a sequential write speed of 90 MBps. Additionally, it has a speed class rating of Class 10, V30, and U3. This makes it ideal for storing 4K videos in good quality.
PNY X-Pro 90
The PNY X-PRO 90 is the ideal choice of SD card for professional photographers and any other extreme applications. This SD card has a speed class of Class 10, with a video class of V90. In simpler terms, it’s ideal for 8K and 4K Ultra HD videos.
This SD card has a sequential read speed of 300 MBps and a sequential write speed of 280 MBps. It’s designed for intensive applications such as burst photography and videography.
And just like every other PNY X-PRO high-performance SD card, it’s made to withstand the elements. Due to the plastic build, it can stand high pressure and force and does not break easily.
Sandisk Memory Cards
Speed Class & Performance
When choosing the right memory card, performance is the first thing that comes to mind. The performance of the SanDisk memory cards is gauged by looking at the speed class.
SanDisk has a diverse range of memory cards with varying speed classes. Take the SanDisk Extreme, for example. The SanDisk Extreme has a UHS-1 class, which means it has a write speed of 10 MB/second.
Additionally, it has a video speed class of V30, meaning it writes videos at the rate of 30 MB/second. This makes it ideal for HD videos and burst photos, as well as for 4K videos.
SanDisk’s memory cards are for all types of climates. That even includes its pocket-sized microSD cards. All SanDisk SD, SDHC, microSD, and microSDHC cards can stand temperatures from –25 degrees Celsius to 85 degrees Celsius.
Storage Capacity
Storage capacity is what most people are concerned about. So how much data can your SanDisk memory card store? Here’s a rundown of how much data you can store on your SanDisk memory card.
With Sandisk, you can find storage capacities of up to 2 GB on SDHC and 2 GB to 32 GB in SD. SanDisk is also available in 32 GB to 2 TB SDUC and 2TB to 128 TB SDXC variants.
As you can see, SanDisk offers a broader range of storage capacities and more storage than other brands. There aren’t many microSD card makers that offer a 1-TB memory card.
Build Quality & Hardware
Build quality determines how long you will enjoy the benefits of owning a SanDisk memory card. A memory card with a shoddy build will not hold up against the test of time.
That’s why all of Sandisk’s memory cards are rated for all types of climates and conditions. They can stand extreme temperatures, from extreme cold to extreme heat. So, you can easily use them in any system, and they won’t be damaged.
But that’s not what intrigues me. No, it’s the fact that this memory card is near impossible to break. It can handle up to 500 Gs of stress.
For reference, 1 G is the force gravity pulls you towards the Earth. This essentially means that this card is industrial-grade and can be used in almost any application.
Durability
You want your memory card to be durable. If it’s not, you can lose all of your data. Water is the biggest enemy of any electronic component.
That’s why SanDisk’s SD and microSD cards are all waterproof. They can handle a few splashes here and there. So, ambient moisture and a few accidents with water won’t hurt the SD card.
I’ve personally found that the SanDisk memory cards have a lower failure rate than other brands. This is evident because they use strong plastic resistant to many of nature’s elements.
Warranty
SanDisk’s warranty policy covers a wide range of situations. However, it’s only applicable to original products from SanDisk. SanDisk may repair the defective product.
Or they may replace it with an alternative. Additionally, if that is not possible, SanDisk will refund you the current market price of the product.
What SanDisk’s warranty policy doesn’t cover is normal wear and tear. Additionally, it doesn’t cover applications where the memory card is constantly written daily. An example of this is an in-car recording dashboard camera or a surveillance camera.
The warranty does not include any data losses that may occur at any time due to any reason. SanDisk also states that its products may not be used in places where failure can be fatal to life. This includes life support equipment.
Price
This is what everyone had been looking forward to. SanDisk sure is an excellent brand with reliable SD and microSD cards. But is it worth the price?
And the answer is yes, at least for its microSD cards. SanDisk’s microSD cards are 20%-30% cheaper than competing brands, including PNY.
This is an excellent feature to have on a microSD card, which should be smaller and cost less.
However, SanDisk lags behind when it comes to SD cards. Their SD cards are 10%-20% costlier than those of other brands. But SanDisk adds value to every penny that you pay. So, you don’t have to worry about wasting money.
Recommended Sandisk Memory Cards
Sandisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-1
The SanDisk Extreme PRO is made for people who want to use the SD card in intense conditions. It has a sequential read speed of up to 90 MBps and a write speed of up to 170 MBps.
It has a speed class rating of U3 and a video speed class rating of V30. In a nutshell, it can play high-quality 4K videos and is great for burst photos.
You can buy the SanDisk Extreme PRO in 32 GB to 1 TB storage capacities. What’s best about this memory card is that it has an A2 rating. This means that it will load your apps faster and work quicker when dealing with your phone or tablet.
Related Read: Sandisk Extreme vs Extreme Pro: Which SD card do you need?
Sandisk Ultra
The SanDisk Ultra is the best choice for people who want a good quality product at a low price. It can be found in many storage capacities, including 400 GB.
The SanDisk Ultra gives you a sequential read speed of up to 160 Mbps and a write speed of about 90 MBps. This is ideal for high-performance applications.
What complements this is the U1 rating, which means it is for HD videos and burst photos. It’s also highly durable and withstands up to 500 Gs of force.
Additionally, it is entirely waterproof and can survive light splashes here and there. This is why the SanDisk Ultra can even be used in extreme temperatures, where other microSD cards would fail.
Related Read: Sandisk Ultra vs Extreme: Which SD card is right for you?
Conclusion
When it comes to memory cards, two major brands pop up: PNY vs SanDisk. With two brands that are both high performance and trustworthy, it’s challenging to determine which is better.
That’s why we wrestled the question to the ground and compared the two brands. In hindsight, both are equally reliable and offer some great features. Additionally, both are highly recommended for personal and professional use.
I hope now you can understand how the two brands differ in their SD and microSD cards. And I hope you can now select a brand on your own.
