Best Memory Card For GoPro Hero 6

This is an overview of the memory cards that we recommend in this article.  We advise that you read the rest of the article to understand why these memory cards are being recommended.

At first glance, there isn't an apparent improvement of the Hero 6 from the Hero 5.

It's not until you dive into deeper into the specs do you see the improvements. And while the improvements aren't as significant as the Hero 4 to Hero 5 - they're still significant.

These improvements include:

• Increase in framerates at all resolutions
• Increase in resolution (4:3 ratio @ 4000x3000 vs 16:9 @ 3840x2160)
• Increase in bitrate (additional 18 Mb/s at specific resolutions and frame-rates)
• Increased performance of Image Stabilization

Let's discuss some of these improvements in more detail and how they affect the purchase of your memory card.

As we've included in our previous GoPro articles, we're including bitrates for the Hero 6.

Reference the table below for the bitrates of common resolutions and frame rates. Let's discuss the reason bitrates are so important when purchasing a memory card.

Regardless of what you're recording with - the bitrate (the rate at which your device records data to the card), is incredibly important.

The rate of your card needs to match or exceed the rate of your device. If your card is too slow - you'll run into corrupted files or the complete inability to record to it at all.

Does this make sense? If your card is too slow to capture the data flowing from your device - there will be obvious complications.

Many people don't realize there is a difference between the two acronyms. But, there's a significant difference. This directly impacts your memory card purchase decision.

So, the meaning of each acronym is:

• Mb is a Megabit
• MB is a Megabyte

It takes 8 megabits (Mb) to equate a single megabyte(MB). So, in theory, a Mb is 8 times smaller than a MB.

When looking at bitrates of the GoPro Hero 6 - its fastest bitrate is 78 Mb/s. That's 78 megabits.

Every card on this list far exceeds this requirement.

Going forward, make sure to check your device's bitrate and pay close attention to which acronym they use. It's very easy to mistake Mb/s for MB/s (it's very common).

The GoPro Hero 6 only accepts the Micro SD form factor. These are the tiny SD cards (not the larger ones).

Of these Micro SD cards, the GoPro Hero 6 supports:

• UHS-I
• US and V30 ratings
• Up to 512GB

This is a subjective topic. It ultimately comes down to what you're using your GoPro for and how long you're going to be recording.

We recommend 128GB. This equates to just about 3 hours of recording at 4k. This time increases as you lower the resolution/framerate.

We feel this is the sweet spot between too small and too large.

A serious risk that you run when using large cards (256GB+) is having all of that footage on the same card. If that card, for whatever reason, corrupts - all of that data is lost. When you fill-up a 256GB card, you're looking at about 6 hours of footage. This doubles at 512GB.

You can also make your determination on how often you're able to offload your footage from your memory card. Are you able to offload often? Maybe a 64GB would be a better option. Are you not able to offload very often? Don't exceed 128GB - just purchase more 128GB cards (or 64GB cards if you decide to).

While we can't alleviate file corruption or cards going bad - we can mitigate the 'damage' by spreading the data across multiple cards.

Now let's get started with the meat and potatoes of this article. You've come here for the answer - we will give it to you along with a couple of other options!

Let's get started.

We have 3 micro SD card brands that we recommend (4 regular SD card brands).

These brands include:

• Sandisk
• Lexar
• Samsung
• Prograde (regular SD cards)

All 4 brands have great reputations and equal reliability. I currently use all 4 brands in one way or another (Lexar in my drones, SanDisk in my cameras, Samsung as hard drives and backup SD cards, Prograde for the fastest cards).

I have never had a single one of them corrupt (but have had PNY and Transcend corrupt over the years).

SanDisk is regarded as the leading manufacturer in the memory card/SD card market.

It makes sense - considering their reliability ratings and pricepoint appeal to the masses.

As you see (below), their 128GB 95 MB/s memory card comes in at less than $30.

It passes all of the video recording checkboxes too:

• U3 and V30 certified
• Class 10 rated

I use this card (multiple) in all of my action cameras. I haven't had a single issue out of them. No corrupt files or inconsistent transfer speeds. It just works - over and over again. They're also tested and supported by GoPro themselves.

All SanDisk cards are:

• Shock Proof
• Heat Resistant
• Waterproof (30 minutes @ 3 meters)
• X-ray Proof

Again, you get this capacity and reliability at less than $30. A total steal.

Lexar is the second manufacturer that's tested and supported by GoPro themselves. I use Lexar exclusively in my drones. I haven't had an issue with reliability or recording even during the winter at higher altitudes (200ft+)

It passes all of the recording requirements we mentioned before:

• U3 and V30 certified
• Class 10 rating

While also boasting a whopping 160 MB/s transfer rate and 95 MB/s write speeds. This greatly exceeds the requirements of the GoPro Hero 6.

Did I mention it comes in about 15% less expensive than the SanDisk version? Yeah. On average it's less than $25.

But, you could have had a bad experience with SanDisk - it happens. There is luck involved. This would be the perfect opportunity to purchase one of these instead.

The choice is yours really. They're both great brands and cards. You won't go wrong with either.

I threw Samsung into the mix as a great third option.

Their EVO line of storage (hard drives, NVME's, SSD's, external drives) - are phenomenal and incredibly reliable.

I've been using Samsung drives ever since I purchased their EVO drives in late 2012 to early 2013.

They haven't failed me yet.

Samsung EVO memory cards pass the video requirements as well:

• U3 and V30 certified
• Class 10 rated
• 100 MB/s speeds

I currently use them as backup. This isn't that they're worse than the ones mentioned above - it's just personal choice. I have Sandisk in my cameras and Lexar in my drones. I haven't had a need to change.

Be aware, this card is about 30% more expensive than others mentioned in this list (a little less than $40). But seeing as this card has the most reviews out of any SD card on Amazon (145,000+ reviews) - with a 4.5 overall rating... that has to say something about their reputation and reliability.

If you currently have a SD card reader - that's great. If you have a regular sd card reader (with a micro SD reader), and use an adapter for your micro cards - stop doing this right now.

The adapter is the piece that your micro card slides into and adapts it to standard SD card readers (and devices).

Most adapters are cheap and break very easily. The sides also split from each other just as easily.

There are two problems with this. For one, you become reliant on the adapter and when it does break - you don't have another or a micro sd reader to offload your footage.

The other issue (major) is the adapter/card getting stuck in your device.

Seeing as the adapter isn't rigid (very flimsy) - it has a tendency to bend and twist. The smallest of bends and twists will lead to these areas getting stuck inside of your device. This leads to you having to get it professionally removed or leaving the card in there (indefinitely) and offloading it through your device.

This can create many problems and is completely avoided if you purchase a memory card reader that supports micro SD cards in their nonadapted form.

You'll get faster and more reliable transfer speeds too.

That wasn't too bad, was it?

You'll now leave this article knowing a few things you didn't when you arrived. We went over memory card capacities, bitrates, and memory card speeds... all of which will help you make your purchase.

And if followed like you read here today - it can help you with any electronic that writes to an SD card in the future!

I really hope you learned everything you needed today. If there was anything I missed, please feel free to reach out and I'll get back with you as soon as I can.

Checkout out related articles in regards to video:

• Shutter Speed Settings For Video
• Aperture
• Shutter Speed
• ISO

Until next time, be safe out there and continue learning and creating!