Drone memory cards
Write speed, V30 and V60 classes, usable capacity: how to choose a card that will not cut the recording mid-flight.
The most confusing failure
An unsuitable card does not fail at start-up. It fails in the middle of a recording, without warning, and usually on the shot you will not be able to take again.
The reason is simple: filming produces a continuous stream. As long as the card keeps up, all is well. The moment it falls behind, the aircraft stops recording and the file is truncated.
What counts: sustained write speed
A card often advertises a high read speed, in large type. That is not the deciding figure. What counts is the write speed it guarantees without interruption, given by the video speed class.
| Marking | Guaranteed write | For what use |
|---|---|---|
| V30 | 30 MB/s | Everyday 4K video |
| V60 | 60 MB/s | High bit rates, 4K at high frame rates |
| V90 | 90 MB/s | Rarely needed on a hobby drone |
⚠️ A U3 or Class 10 logo alone no longer settles it. Those older markings correspond to low thresholds, met by cards that still fall behind on a long stream.
Which capacity
| Capacity | What it represents |
|---|---|
| 64 GB | One outing, provided you sort afterwards |
| 128 GB | The common choice: several outings without transferring |
| 256 GB and above | Useful when travelling, with no computer to offload |
⛔ Two 128 GB cards are better than one 256 GB card. A card that is lost, broken or faulty takes everything on it. Splitting outings across two cards costs the same and halves the loss.
Format in the aircraft, not on the computer
A card formatted by a computer may work for a while, then produce errors. Formatting by the aircraft itself lays down the expected file system and the correct alignment.
To be done after each complete transfer, not once and for all.
What to watch for when buying
- Counterfeits exist, especially on large capacities sold well below market: the card claims 512 GB, holds 64, then overwrites what it has already written
- The temperature range: a winter flight pushes a card beyond what some entry-level cards accept
- The supplied adapter changes nothing about speed: the card decides
The case where you do not need one
Some models carry enough internal storage for everyday use. Buying a card for those aircraft is money spent for nothing, except for long outings or to transfer by reader rather than by cable.
That is the case of the DJI Lito X1 and its 42 GB on board, while the Lito 1 of the same series requires a card from the very first flight.
Where to find these accessories
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