Sony Tough G V90 UHS-II Memory Card Review

The Sony G Tough card is the flagship, top-performing UHS-II SD memory card. It has a V90 rating, which means a minimum write speed of 90MB/s or 720Mbps.

For 4k or 8k recording, this card will work with any camera that supports a video bitrate of 720 Mbps or less.

Sony has a history of making tougher-built cards, and these memory cards are 18 times stronger than traditional SD cards. However, to ensure maximum durability, they’ve removed the write-protection switch.

Sony Tough UHS-II SD Memory Cards

The Sony Tough UHS-II SD memory card has a build and great read and write speeds.
Tested Write Speed: 258 MB/s
Tested Read Speed: 296 MB/s
Rated Sustain: 90 MB/s – 720Mbps

Warranty: Limited 5-Year Manufacturer Warranty

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Sony G Tough Memory Card Benchmarks

Using the Prograde CFeB+UHS-II Reader and AJA System Test, the Sony Tough G v90 UHS-II cards achieved write speeds of 258 MB/s and read speeds of 296 MB/s, which are marginally slower than some of our other cards with USB-C speeds, such as the SanDisk Extreme Pro V90 card. However, it’s within the margin of error we get from using different readers, different card brands, and different testing software. For example, I can usually pull slightly faster results with CrystalDiskMark. However, I’ve switched to AJA for this site for consistency and can test various video codecs.

When testing the Sony G Tough cards with in-camera buffer tests, they’re usually among the top performers, alongside the SanDisk Extreme Pro. To see how this card performs in-camera or to compare it to other cards, see our SD memory card comparisons.

When testing sustained Disk Write Captures, the card’s performance consistently bounces around 260MB/s. I did not see a performance drop after multiple 16GB tests to heat the card.

Compatibility

The Sony G Tough SD Card is rated v90 and is compatible with UHS-I and UHS-II cameras. However, when used in UHS-I cameras, it will only run at UHS-I speeds.

SD UHS-I / UHS-II devices

SDHC – 32GB cards are limited to 4GB file sizes and use a 32-bit system.

SDXC – 64GB cards or greater, uses a 32-bit file system, and no file size limit.

Speed Class: v90

Reliability

The ‘Tough’ in its name is not just a marketing gimmick; it’s a testament to the card’s durability. The Sony G Tough is designed to be bend-proof, drop-proof, water-resistant, and dustproof. Its robust construction ensures your data remains safe even in the most challenging shooting environments.

Operating Temperature: -13 to 185°F / -25 to 85°C

Durability: Waterproof, dust, X-ray, magnet, and anti-static proofing.

Warranty: Limited 5-Year Warranty

Final Verdict

The Sony G Tough V90 UHS-II SD card is a formidable player in the memory card market. Its excellent blend of durability, speed, and capacity makes it a top choice for photographers and videographers who demand the best from their equipment. If you’re looking for a card that won’t disappoint you, the Sony G Tough should be at the top of your list.