SanDisk's microSD card hits 16GB

If recent blog posts about the increase in capacity of CompactFlash cards and small-size hard drives make you wonder what's in store for your mobile phones, then I have some good news.

(Credit: ScanDisk)

On Monday, SanDisk announced its new microSD high-capacity (microSDHC) card that offers up to 16GB in storage space. While 16GB doesn't sound like a huge deal compared with other media that offer hundreds of gigabytes, this is actually very significant for two reasons. First, microSD cards are by far the smallest in size among consumer storage devices--about the size of your little finger's nail. Second, it's also the most popular media for smartphones and PDAs, and it is becoming more popular thanks to its tiny size.

The introduction of the new size lets cell phone and PDA owners really use their devices for storage-intensive purposes, including music and video playback, high-definition digital camera functions, gaming, and GPS applications. The new card also works with other devices that have a microSDHC reader, such as digital cameras, GPS receivers, or MP3 players.

Together with the new microSDHC, SanDisk also introduced its new 16GB Memory Stick Micro (M2) mobile memory, which is the micro version of Sony's Memory Stick card.

SanDisk's new 16GB microSDHC and M2 cards will be available in October and cost about $100 and $130, respectively. They will also be available in 4GB and 8GB versions. The new microSDHC might not be compatible with all devices that support the legacy microSD cards (that caps at 2GB). Make sure to check your devices' compatibility or update them to newer and supporting firmware before purchasing.

[retroboy77]

Whenever I see news like this I get excited about the old tech. So you say they came out with a 16gb microSD card and I get excited about the 8gb. Let's be honest, can any of us really afford or even get ahold of 16gb cards?

[Starfires]

For SDHC, they are pretty cheap at 16gb, and it just makes life more convenient to have it there. No reason why this can't be the same. It also means other phones can catch up with the iPhone's storage.

[Interpolnyc]

and 2+2=5.... wow, i mean, im pretty young and this is still mind blowing. to think that oh, about 10 years ago, the best we could do was about 1 gig on a memory stick and now were putting 16 gigs on something the size of our finger nail.

and 50 years ago, computer were basically just tubes and vacuums that took up entire rooms and has about as much power as a calculator now.

whats going to come out on december the 21st, 2012?

[michigandude24]

I know what you mean. I'm only 15 and I can remember about 5 years ago my mom got her first digital camera and the high end card was 16 mb. Or when ram was sold in 8 and 16 mb sticks. I laugh at the thought now.

[yanchineseguy]

Umm.. I'm confused. "SanDisk's new 16GB microSDHC and M2 cards will be available in October. They will come in 4GB and 8GB versions and are estimated to cost $100 and $130, respectively." 16GB cards will come in 4GB and 8GB version?

[ajnauron]

lol

[thelemurking]

I was kind of confused by that as well, but took it in as the M2 cards will also be available in 4 and 8gb as well as 16gb.

I picked up two 8gb c4 cards off Amazon for $30 each which gives me plenty of storage on my phone. I got one filled with music, the other movies and pics.

[mountain_racer]

4gb and 8gb versions are available NOW in both standard/regular and "Ultra" (higher speed versions), 16gb will be available in October (sometime.) Does this release include the "Ultra" version? Can we get a little more precise coverage of this please?

[mountain_racer]

4gb and 8gb versions are available NOW in both standard/regular and "Ultra" (higher speed versions), 16gb will be available in October (sometime.) Does this release include the "Ultra" version? Can we get a little more precise coverage of this please?

[Jez_Gafys]

I'm confused. I bought one of these last week (26th September) I'm in the UK. Im sure they have been out a few weeks now. Unless you don't have them in the states??

http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=173933

[hottric]

Manufacturers often test stuff out in the U.K. and in Asian countries to let you guys work out the bugs before they get to the U.S.

[basitj]

Yeah, I'm so excited. I got my 16 GB SD-HC card too. See my blog at http://basitj.blogspot.com/2008/10/goodies.html

[7434be]

I mostly use micro sd gb 2 4 0r 8 ,I may move up to 16gb
http://hubpages.com/hub/Micro-SD-GB-4-2-8?done