That's the top read speed, while the writing speed can attain 40 MB/s

Mar 7, 2014 15:21 GMT  ·  By

If memory cards were to be designed in such a way that they would only meet the minimum requirements of technical specifications released by groups like the SD Card Association, the newest Kingmax memory cards would be stuck at 30 MB/s. That's not the case, fortunately.

The SD Association (SDA) is the worldwide organization of storage developers tasked with maintaining memory card specifications.

That means that the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus for both SDHC and SDXC cards is the responsibility of this organization.

The 30 MB/s transfer speed comes in when talking about the UHS-I Speed Class 3 standard, since it needs memory cards to be able to write data at that level at least.

Otherwise it would be impossible to take high-speed 4K picture shots, or record 4K2K video. At least not without loss of quality or blur, or errors.

Fortunately, the Kingmax Pro Extreme (that's the name of the latest SDHC/SDXC cards from Kingmax) meet the minimum specification, and then some.

Sure, the writing speed is of 40 MB/s (which is still 33% better than the 30 MB/s dictated by the spec), but the read speed can go as high as 90 MB/s. Files are written in the exFAT (SDXC) or FAT32 (SDHC) format.

All in all, it should be easy enough to take pictures and videos in the best quality available to use today (4K, UHD as it were, ultra high definition).

It should be even easier to play back those files after they have been recorded and saved, since the read speed is better than double the write rate.

Anyway, the Kingmax Pro Extreme SDXC/SDHC series support CPRM (Content Protection for Recordable Media), ECC (error correcting code), and wear leveling technologies.

Finally, the operating temperature can range from -25℃ to 85℃, give or take, and the voltage is of 3.3V.

Just be careful, because the SDXC cards are not compatible with SDHC devices/readers, though the reverse is true. Make sure to check what cards your camera (or whatever else you own) supports before you commit yourself to a purchase.

Kingmax should have the Pro Extreme SDHC/SDXC series of cards up for sale soon enough, but the company failed to provide an ETA (estimated time of arrival) or price in its official press release.

We do know the capacities though: 128 GB and 256 GB. Technically, there are 32 GB and 64 GB cards as well, but they are already available so they aren't, technically, the subject of this newest product release.