If you’re lucky enough to have a camera that supports XQD memory cards, here are our top XQD cards in 2019 that give you the most speed for the price.
Less than a year ago, they were still relatively expensive, despite the fact that the format was announced in 2010, with XQD version 2.0 announced in 2012.
Today, this is no longer the case. For example, the Lexar XQD 64GB costs only $30 more than the Lexar 64GB CF memory card, but reaches 2x+ faster write and read speeds. It’s nearly impossible to wait for the buffer to empty with these cards, so if you’re into action, sports or wildlife photography and often shoot in bursts, you’ll love them.
Coincidentally, the Lexar XQD 2933x 64GB is also our most recommended XQD card.
Best XQD Memory Cards of 2019
Lexar Professional 2933x XQD
Looking for the best there is? The Lexar Professional 2933x XQD card is the fastest and best deal for the money. It’s got a writing speed up to 400MB/s and reading speed up to 440MB/s, and a 64GB version will cost you less than $90.
The card can store images faster than your camera can take them. If you’ve got a Nikon D5 or a D500 with the 200 RAW file buffer, it’s perfect. Check out Lexar’s videos at the bottom of this post to see how many shots you can take and how quickly the buffer empties. In short, it never stops.
It’s available in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB versions, and you can get each with a reader (extra $20).
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
Sony G-Series XQD
The Sony XQD 64GB G-Series is more or less the only other option besides the Lexar above. It also comes with a dedicated XQD memory card reader.
Why did we include it here? Mostly so you can see why the Lexar above is such a great deal. The Sony costs more and has both reading (400MB/s) and writing speeds slower (350MB/s). It’s also available in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB versions.
You can buy it at Amazon or see more reviews here.
With only two companies making XQD cards for now, Lexar and Sony, there’s not a lot to choose from. Luckily the models available are more than perfect, and it’s probably going to take a little while before any other company hops in.
In 2012, Sandisk, perhaps the most famous memory card maker, announced that they won’t be releasing any XQD cards. This is quite interesting as they were one of the 3 companies that helped create the format. Perhaps they’re waiting for more cameras to support XQD, but it’s nothing to worry about.
If you’re interested about the XQD format, what companies use it and why certain companies went with CFast 2.0 instead of XQD, check out the links below:
Last Updated on September 14, 2021 by Nick Voorhees
First and foremost, I’m a husband and father. Then professionally I’m photographer, designer, blogger, and Esty store owner. My homebase is near the stunning Wasatch mountains in Utah but I love traveling with my family as part of our homeschooling journey. I also love teaching and helping out others. My faith is one of the biggest aspects of my life and brings be a consistent joy that I haven’t found in anything else. My main blog is BestPhotographyGear.com and I strive to make photography simple for anyone looking to learn or find gear for their individual needs. By nature, I like to study, research, and analyze things and I use that help provide the best advice and reviews I can.