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Is the Lexar Professional Silver SDXC Memory Card the Right Choice for You?

The Lexar Professional Silver SDXC memory card is a notable entry in Lexar's lineup, positioned between the entry-level Blue series and the higher-performing Silver Plus and Silver Pro cards. This review delves into its specifications, performance, and overall value.

Key Features:

Capacity Options: Available in 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB variants.

  • Performance:

    • Read Speed: Up to 205MB/s (for 128GB and larger capacities).

    • Write Speed: Up to 140MB/s (for 128GB and larger); 90MB/s for the 64GB variant.

  • Video Speed Class: Rated V30, ensuring a minimum sustained write speed of 30MB/s, suitable for 4K video recording.

  • Durability:

    • Wear-proof and temperature-proof (-25℃ to 85℃).

    • X-ray-proof, vibration-resistant, magnetic-proof, and shock-proof.

  • Real-World Performance: Handles high-bit-rate 4K video recording without glitches or dropped frames.

  • Benchmark Results: Achieved read speeds of 167.09MB/s and write speeds of 156.52MB/s in testing.

  • Continuous Burst Performance: Successfully wrote 31 uncompressed RAW images at 84.31MB/s.

  • Compatibility: Works with a wide range of devices, including cameras, drones, and laptops.

These features make the Lexar Professional Silver SDXC memory card a reliable choice for photographers and videographers seeking a balance of performance and durability.

Overview of the Lexar Professional Silver SDXC Card

The Silver SDXC card is available in various capacities, including 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. All but the 64GB variant boast impressive performance metrics with a claimed read speed of 205MB/s and a write speed of 140MB/s. The 64GB card, however, has a lower maximum write speed of 90MB/s. All capacities are rated at V30, ensuring a minimum sustained write speed of 30MB/s, which is suitable for 4K video recording at 60fps.

Durability Features

Lexar emphasizes the durability of the Silver series, claiming that these cards are wear-proof, temperature-proof (operating between -25℃ and 85℃), x-ray-proof, vibration-resistant, magnetic-proof, and shock-proof. These features make it a reliable choice for photographers and videographers who need a robust storage solution.

Performance Testing

To assess the card's performance, benchmarking was conducted using Crystal Disk Mark on a high-speed laptop connected through a UHS-II SD card reader. The results showed maximum read speeds of 167.09MB/s and write speeds of 156.52MB/s, which, while impressive, fell short of the advertised read speed.In practical file transfer tests, the card demonstrated consistent speeds, although it was notably slower than the Silver Plus in several scenarios. For example, during a continuous burst of 31 uncompressed RAW images, the card achieved a write speed of 84.31MB/s, matching the Silver Plus but still below the claimed maximum.

Real-World Application

Despite the slight discrepancies in performance, the Silver card successfully handled high-bit-rate 4K video recording without any glitches or dropped frames. Its read and write speeds during data transfers to and from a computer were adequate for most users’ needs.

Conclusion

Overall, the Lexar Professional Silver SDXC memory card offers a solid balance of performance and durability, making it a suitable option for casual photographers and videographers. However, considering its performance is only marginally slower than the Silver Plus model, potential buyers might find it more beneficial to invest a little extra for the Silver Plus, which offers better performance for a similar price.In summary, while the Lexar Professional Silver SDXC card is a competent choice, its close performance to the Silver Plus raises questions about its unique value proposition in the market.