Samsung EVO+ 256GB microSDXC Memory Card Review

TweakTown's Rating: 90%

The Bottom Line

Samsung's EVO+ microSDXC memory card lineup now with a 256GB option covers both the budget minded consumer and the enthusiast that wants the very best.

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It seems every day there is an advancement in NAND technology pushing capacity limits even farther. This is quite evident in the recent launches of high-capacity microSD storage solutions from vendors like Lexar and now Samsung.

The Samsung EVO+ lineup is at the higher-end of portable storage solutions. We have seen a few cards come through from this portfolio and have always been pleased with the performance. The 256GB solution ushers in a new era of even higher capacity maintaining that same 95 MB/s read and 90 MB/s write performance level and its UHS-I U3 certifications. Of course, this solution is being pushed to those who enjoy shooting 4K video or extreme resolution photos and is supplied with an SD adapter to ease any transition between form factors.

MSRP of the 256GB Samsung EVO+ comes in at $199.99 with a ten-year warranty.

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Packaging is the typical hard card plastic retainer we get with SD and flash drives. Samsung has added a bit of marketing for performance and features to the front while capacity is in large print at the bottom.

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On the backside, we have a bit more detail about the drive including warranty in the middle.

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Packaging includes an SD adapter seen to the left in the image above. To the right, we have the EVO+ microSD with its orange on white color scheme.

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Just a few marking adorn the backside of the card.

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The Samsung EVO+ 256GB microSDXC memory card arrived in the exFAT filesystem with a usable capacity of 238GB.

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Getting on with things, performance was right there with many UHS-I solutions. I reached a touch above the advertised specifications at 98 MB/s read and 88 MB/s write.

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Price/Performance was quite good for the EVO+. This 256GB solution landed at 96% just behind a few Lexar solutions and the Pro+ reviewed a few months back. After doing some calculations, if this drive were to hit $149.99, it would actually take over the top spot in this chart.

Like many innovations that come from Samsung, they too, along with several other vendors, have been pushing capacity to new heights for microSD. With the introduction of this card, I believe they now hold the honor for highest capacity microSD at 256GB, just passing the 200GB solution from Lexar and I think there may be a solution in the works from SanDisk as well. Build quality is as always top notch with Samsung, and the EVO+ is no different; I had no issues with the several devices I tested with this card.

The performance was on par with what marketing had specified at 95 MB/s read and 88 MB/s write, and looking at our Price/Performance chart, this solution at $199.99 came in at 96%.

In closing, with this solution aimed at creative professionals and enthusiasts for those wanting a boost in capacity either for shooting video, or taking high-resolution photos, the EVO+ is certainly a viable option for you to consider.

Tyler's Test System Specifications

• Motherboard: ASUS Z170 Premium - Buy from Amazon
• CPU: Intel Core i5 6500 - Buy from Amazon
• Cooler: Noctua NH-U12S - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Memory: Klevv CRAS 16GB (4x4) DDR4 3000 - Read our review
• Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• OS Storage: Intel 730 480GB SSD - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Secondary Storage: Intel 750 400GB U.2 SSD - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Case: Thermaltake P5 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower Grand 1200 - Buy from Amazon
• OS: Microsoft Windows 10 - Buy from Amazon