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Best SD Card GoPro Hero
  • Memory Cards

Best Memory Cards GoPro Hero 8

  • June 23, 2021
  • AGriffin

We tested all the most popular micro SD memory cards, both UHS-II and UHS-I in the GoPro Hero 8 Black to find the best and most reliable cards at the most practical price.

Table Of Contents

  • Best Memory Cards GoPro Hero 8
    •  
    • Top 5 Recommended SD Cards For The GoPro Hero 8
    • Camera Firmware Issues To Lookout For
  • SD Memory Card Speed Tests
    • Hero8 Accessories
  • Top Recommended Cards | Info About Each Card
  • GoPro Hero 8 SD Card Capacity & Sizes
    • GoPro Hero 8 Video Bitrate Time Chart
  • GoPro Hero 8 Black Issues

 

Best Memory Cards GoPro Hero 8

Before buying memory cards for the Hero 8 there are a few important details.

The camera uses a single UHS-I micro SD memory card slot. You don’t need to buy UHS-II card, but you should stick with the U3 speed class to avoid any problems.

The Hero8 has a memory card capacity of up to 256GB. It’s not recommended to use bigger cards in the Hero8.

If for whatever reason you encounter any strange issues with the performance of your GoPro, try swapping out the memory card. This could be anything from long power-on times, lost clips we’ve ever seen strange battery drains when the camera is powered off. All of this is caused by some incompatibility with memory cards. Some memory cards you should completely avoid, like the Nintendo Switch SD cards.

 

Top 5 Recommended SD Cards For The GoPro Hero 8

Micro SD Memory Card GoPro Hero 8 - Sandisk ExtremeThese are the top 5 sd cards for the GoPro Hero 8. We tested each card inside a smartphone to get the read and write speeds with likely similar hardware. 

Not only that, each of these cards was tested for long periods of time over the weeks and months to make sure that they work without any issues.

GoPro bundles the Sandisk Extreme card which has the best compatibility across all camera models. Start with the Sandisk Extreme cards as they are the best micro SD card for the GoPro Hero 8. However, there are plenty of other great cards that I have tested and have included on the list.

The GoPro Hero 8 can take memory cards up to 256GB, but 128GB cards work very well for normal usage.

Recommended SD Cards Write Speeds Read Speed Check Price
Sandisk Extreme A2 U3 128GB** 54MB/s 79MB/s Amazon
Samsung EVO Select U3 128GB 40MB/s 69MB/s Amazon
Netac Pro A1 U3 128GB 37MB/s 83MB/s Amazon
Lexar 667X A2 U3 128GB 38MB/s 86MB/s Amazon
Sandisk Extreme Plus A2 U3 128GB 75MB/s 80MB/s Amazon

 

Camera Firmware Issues To Lookout For

GoPro has a history of shaky reliability with various brands of memory cards. While most cards now work great in any of the new GoPro cameras, there are still a few you should avoid and we still like to recommend cards that will work in most GoPro camera models.

A couple of Interesting Notes: The only cards I’m not 100% sure about working in older cameras are the PNY Elite-X and the new Netac Pro. The standard Elite had problems in my Hero 5, but that was before the Elite-X.

Also, some cards just have a lag to them when you stop the camera, the Nintendo Switch card for example. The cards above all work great and have no lag.

I added the Netac Pro because the card was performing well in the new 8, it has a great rating at a very good price. It was actually the first card I put in my new GoPro to shoot with and I shot with it for a solid week.

Only buy the Lexar 1000x UHS-II if you want very fast transfer speeds from your card to your computer. But you will only get this with a UHS-II card reader.

 

SD Memory Card Speed Tests

There is still a not great way to benchmark memory cards in the new 8, so what we do is test different cards throughout the life of the camera. I’ve been doing this since Hero 5. 

The Hero8 only has a variable bitrate of about 60-78Mbps, any of the modern cards will work fine. Just make sure you don’t buy a card rated less than U3. I really recommend buying a U3 card so it’s a little future-proof and so that your card works well in other devices with higher bitrates. Like if you ever decide to try out a DJI Osmo Action or if GoPro ever upgrades their bitrate in later cameras.

The speed of each card was acquired with the Samsung Galaxy S10, so as to roughly see how each memory card performs in a micro SD device.

Card NameClassS10 WriteS10 Read
Sandisk Extreme Pro U3 128GBUHS-II73MB/s83MB/s
Sandisk High Endurance V30 128GBUHS-I41MB/s84MB/s
Sandisk Extreme Pro U3 64GBUHS-I75MB/s78MB/s
Sandisk Extreme Pro U3 A2 128GBUHS-I54MB/s79MB/s
Sandisk Extreme Plus U3 64GBUHS-I75MB/s80MB/s
Sandisk Extreme U3 A2 128GBUHS-I55MB/s78MB/s
Sandisk Extreme U3 64GBUHS-I55MB/s81MB/s
Sandisk Ultra U1 A1 128 GBUHS-I32MB/s72MB/s
Sandisk Ultra U3 64GBUHS-I30MB/s79MB/s
Sandisk Nintendo 128GBUHS-I49MB/s49MB/s
Samsung Pro+ U3 64GBUHS-I73MB/s75MB/s
Samsung Pro U3 64GBUHS-I67MB/s74MB/s
Samsung Pro Select U3 64GBUHS-I72MB/s75MB/s
Samsung EVO Plus U3 64GBUHS-I42MB/s83MB/s
Samsung EVO+ U1 64GBUHS-I20MB/s74MB/s
Samsung EVO Select U3 64GBUHS-I40MB/s69MB/s
Samsung EVO Select U1 64GBUHS-I23MB/s77MB/s
Samsung EVO U3 64GBUHS-I40MB/s70MB/s
Samsung EVO U1 64GBUHS-I22MB/s42MB/s
Kingston V30 A1 128GBUHS-I40MB/s74MB/s
Kingston V30 128GBUHS-I40MB/s74MB/s
ProGrade V60 64GBUHS-II67MB/s79MB/s
Lexar 1800x 64GBUHS-II37MB/s83MB/s
Lexar 1000x U3 64GBUHS-II38MB/s79MB/s
Lexar 633x A2 V30 128GBUHS-I38MB/s86MB/s
Lexar 633x U1 64GBUHS-I24MB/s75MB/s
Lexar 300x U1 64GBUHS-I24MB/s42MB/s
Delkin V60 64GBUHS-II71MB/s77MB/s
Delkin V30 128GBUHS-I43MB/s77MB/s
Delkin U3 64GBUHS-I70MB/s74MB/s
Sony V30 128GBUHS-I39MB/s75MB/s
Transcend A1 V30 128GBUHS-I40MB/s79MB/s
Transcend Ultimate 633x U3 64GBUHS-I42MB/s75MB/s
Transcend 400x U1 64GBUHS-I24MB/s76MB/s
Transcend 300x U1 64GBUHS-I24MB/s76MB/s
Transcend High Endurance C10 64GBUHS-I21MB/s22MB/s
PNY Elite-X A1 V30 128GBUHS-I45MB/s78MB/s
PNY PRO Elite U3 128GBUHS-I70MB/s74MB/s
PNY Elite U1 128GBUHS-I28MB/s76MB/s
Amplim A1 V30 667X 128GB GoldUHS-I38MB/s80MB/s
Amplim A1 V30 667X 128GB PurpleUHS-I40MB/s81MB/s
Amplim A1 V30 667X 128GB GreenUHS-I41MB/s81MB/s
Netac Pro A1 U3 128GBUHS-I37MB/s83MB/s
Netac Pro U3 64GBUHS-I35MB/s69MB/s
Pariot U1 64GBUHS-I20MB/s55MB/s

*Speed scores are taken from Disk Speed Test using the Samsung Galaxy S10+ SD Card Benchmarks.

 

SD Card Related Camera Specs

Sensor Size: 12 MP 4:3 1/2.3 inch CMOS
SD Card Slot: Single Slot Micro UHS-I
Maximum SD Card Size / Memory Card Capacity: Up To 256GB
Minimum SD Card Specs: UHS-I, Class 10 or U1
Video Bitrate: 60-78Mbps
Continuous Burst: 30 Photos / 1 Second
Video Resolution: 3840 x 2160p 24/25/30/50/60 fps 
Shots To Fill Buffer: 30

 

Hero8 Accessories

The GoPro Hero 8 has all-new accessories because of the change in body style. I’ve compiled a massive list of all the coolest stuff.

Must-Have Accessories For GoPro Hero 8

 

Top Recommended Cards | Info About Each Card

A quick list with a little more detail about why these are the best sd cards for the GoPro Hero 8.

Of all these cards, the Sandisk Extreme and Extreme Plus cards always work the best.

While the Pro cards are great for the Hero 7 Black, they had issues in the past with older cameras. If you’re shooting with a Hero 7 White or Silver, avoid the Sandisk Pro cards for now.

 

Sandisk Extreme UHS-I V30 A2

Sandisk Extreme Best SD card GoPro Hero 8This is the best memory card you can buy for the GoPro Hero 8. It works in all GoPros and Sandisk Extreme cards have always been the cards bundled with the cameras and sold by GoPro themselves.

If for whatever reason you can’t get this card then there are a few other great options below.

 

Samsung EVO Select U3

Samsung EVO Select microSD GoPro Hero8

Samsung has always been a top performer in micro SD memory cards. Second, to the Sandisk Extreme cards, this is probably your best option.

Even in older cameras, the Samsung cards have always performed very well and they are priced very competitively.

 

Netac Pro A1 U3

Netac A1 Micro SD Card GoPro Hero8

The new Netac Pro has been performing surprisingly well and is priced very competitively. It was the first card I tried with the new 8. I shot with it for a solid week and experienced no issues it’s also getting great reviews on Amazon, so I feel confident in recommending it as an alternative to the Sandisk Extreme.

 

Lexar 667X A2 Micro SD Card GoPro Hero 8Lexar 667X A2 U3 

Lexar was sold off to a new company out of China a few years ago. Their cards still perform well but we’re not seeing the same positive ratings as they did with Micron owned them. However, these new microSD cards look like they are performing well and the price is very competitive so they are still a great option.

 

Sandisk Extreme Pro or Plus V30 A2

Sandisk Extreme Pro | Fastest Micro SD Memory Card Hero 8

The Sandisk Extreme Pro or Plus micro sd cards are often a little more expensive than the Extreme cards and they aren’t worth it if you’re just using them for your GoPro. However, a lot of people like to use their cards in multiple devices so this will give you great performance in other cameras or drones.

If you own older GoPros like the 7 Silver or the 6, stay away from the Pro. The Plus will still work in those.

 

PNY Elite-X A1 U3

PNY Elite-X Micro SD Memory CardA few years ago I was seeing a lot of issues with PNY cards with different cameras and I stopped recommending them. Lately, they’ve been performing very well and have been getting good ratings. Their PNY Elite gave me problems in the GoPro Hero 6 but this new Elite-X has been flawless in the new 8. I would maybe stay away from this card if you have older GoPro cameras you still use. But I haven’t had issues in the Hero 7 Black or the Hero 8 Black.

 

GoPro Hero 8 SD Card Capacity & Sizes

If you’re wondering what sd card size to get for your GoPro, I’ve put together a short guide to help you decide.

The maximum SD card size for the GoPro Hero 8 is 256GB. Using cards larger than this could cause issues.

Personally, I recommend you just go for a 128GB card, but if you’re on the fence or maybe want an even bigger card, here are a few tips.

You’re going to burn through two batteries before you’ll burn through a 64GB memory card in a GoPro when recording at the max bitrate. I don’t usually carry more than two batteries to keep the camera recording long enough to last through 64GB of data.

So why not just get a 64GB card?

Sometimes you will forget to clear off my card from the day before going out again, so having the extra space allows for at least another few hours of recording.

Should you get two 64GB or one 128GB card? 

The memory cards are small, they are easy to lose. The fewer micro SD cards floating around the better. By having a 128GB card, you’ll likely never need to take your card out of your camera unless you use it in another device like a Mavic 2 Pro or want to offload your footage from the card quicker with an external reader.

 

GoPro Hero 8 Video Bitrate Time Chart

Here is a rough calculation of record times in minutes based on the bitrate for the GoPro Hero8 Black.

The GoPro Hero8 bitrate is typically between 60-78Mbps depending on the video setting and the complexity of the scene.

Format Frame Rate Bitrate 32GB 64GB 128GB
4k 60 78 Mbps 55 109 219
4k 30 / 24 67 Mbps 64 127 255
2.7k 120 78 Mbps 55 109 219
2.7k 60 67 Mbps 64 127 255
2.7k 30 / 24 45 Mbps 95 190 379
1080 240 78 Mbps 55 109 219
1080 120 67 Mbps 64 127 255
1080 60 / 30 / 24 45 Mbps 95 190 379

 

GoPro Hero 8 Black Issues

There are a few issues or SD card errors that you might experience with the GoPro cameras.

Camera Shuts Off: These GoPro cameras are very small and they need a lot of open airflows to stay cool. If you find that your camera stops recording or just turns off, it might be overheating. Try placing your camera in the open air or in a cooler location to fix this issue.

I struggled to get a 30 minute record time with my Hero7 last year when the camera was just sitting, but it always worked fine on my bike. I was thinking there was something wrong with it so I put it in the refrigerator and all my recording issues went away.

 

Startup issues, or recording issues: if you experience strange boot issues or inconsistent record issues, this sometimes can be caused by the memory card. Last year we were having these types of issues when using the GoPro in the Karma Grip. The only way we got a reliable performance out of it was to drop down to a 64GB card. The larger cards still worked fine with standard use.

 

Lag After Recording: If you notice there is a long delay after you stop recording video, this is not a problem with the camera but a problem with the card. Some cards do this.

 

Long Delay After Shooting Burst: If you experience a very long delay after doing a 10 shot burst, this is because the GoPro has a very slower buffer. It actually feels worst in the Hero 8 then it is in the Hero 7 because the new 8 allows you to shoot burst in RAW+JPG. If you need to be able to burst faster switch to just Standard instead of RAW which produces only JPG files.

When just shooting burst JPG, the 8 is appearing faster than the 7.

 

Strange Power On And Off Problems: There is another issue that happens sometimes with GoPro cameras, and I especially saw this with the new GoPro Hero 9, where a new camera will behave funny, with issues almost like there is a problem with the battery, then as time goes on these issues subside. I think this maybe has to do with some sort of internal battery not having power. Fujifilm and many other cameras will often reset the user settings if the internal battery loses its charge, and often when you first buy the camera, it takes a day or two before your settings will be saved after a long power down. So for the first day or two, if you have any weird power issues, just let the camera run for a while, keep it on, just use it as much as possible to let that internal battery get charged, if that is in fact what’s happening.

 

 

Best SD Card GoPro Hero 8 | Conclusions

While it seems like there is a lot to worry about with memory cards in the GoPro, most of the problems come from using off-brands, or specialty cards like the Sandisk Nintendo Switch cards and high endurance cards.

GoPro cameras have been configured to run very well with Sandisk cards and Samsung micro SD cards. The Sandisk Extreme cards really are the way to go, but I have found Extreme Pro, Ultra, and Plus cards all work great as well.

If you are still having strange issues with camera lockups or sluggish performance, it’s almost certainly your memory card and the firsts thing you should always try is to swap out memory cards to something different than what you were using.

**This website contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you click them to make a purchase.
AGriffin

Professional editor, blogger and photographer from Los Angeles California.

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  • Memory Card Speed Tests
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