I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve wet out for a flight with my DJI Mavic Mini and missed out on some great footage due to a full SD card. This put me on a quest to find the best SD card for Mavic mini drones, so I would never get caught in a situation like this again!
I’ve flown drones for years and love to go out into nature and explore the sky and ground. During my adventures, I’ve captured some truly incredible footage and conquered some challenging terrains. As a result, I know some of the best features to look for in a drone and the importance of having a sound SD card.
I can confidently say that the SanDisk Extreme microSD Card is the best option for flyers using the DJI Mavic Mini. It has an ideal storage capacity and is sturdy enough to stay safe in the roughest environments. This article will provide a helpful guide on choosing the right SD card and offer tips on what to watch out for before making a purchase.
It has excellent reading speeds of up to 160M/Bs and write speeds of up to 90 M/Bs. Its fast speed ensures that all heavy footage quickly flies over onto your monitor for some processing.
In addition, the SD card has accelerated transferring speeds for switching media between devices. This comes in handy if you run out of space and need to make some room.
Right off the bat, let’s start by discussing the overall best SD card for Mavic mini flyers. I chose this SD card as the best overall for its durability and transferring speed. It is compatible with DJI camera drones, so you should have no problem placing it in your Mavic mini.
With its 128GB of storage, it’s unlikely you’ll be running out of memory anytime soon. Nonetheless, the card offers 4K Ultra HD and Full HD video recording and playback to guarantee optimal video quality.
Another reason why this is the best SD card for Mavic mini drones is because of its protection against extreme conditions. The card is temperature-proof, waterproof, shockproof, and x-ray-proof.
That way, you won’t need to be concerned about things like rain or having it tossed around in your bag when hiking. If you are still unsure, the card comes with a lifetime limited warranty to provide some extra peace of mind.
It still provides an adequate read speed of up to 80MB/s to ensure that any footage taken retains its quality.
For added comfort, the card comes with a 5-year limited manufacturer warranty if it breaks due to unpreventable issues.
The card has a 128GB storage capacity, which should be more than enough to store any photos or videos taken while exploring.
The next card on my list of the best SD cards for Mavic mini drones is the Silicon Power MicroSD card. If a big concern is your budget, this drone might rank high on your list as it only costs around $10. The card is compatible with many devices, including smartphones, tablets, cameras, and drones.
The card boasts waterproof, shock-proof, temperature-proof, and x-ray-proof protection, but it’s still better to store it carefully and avoid getting it wet or damaged.
Several reviews of this card have noted that it went black shortly after its use and failed to save its data; nonetheless, this might be the risk of investing in a much cheaper product.
I would still recommend this as one of the best SD cards for Mavic mini drones, and it comes and an affordable price for the amount of storage you get in return. So, if budget is your biggest concern, you can undoubtedly give the Silicon Power card a try.
The 128GB SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card is an excellent balance between price and performance. A respectable 128GB storage space makes it compatible with the most drones
For photographers and videographers, you’ll want to look for an SD card with the highest speed and capable of recording any footage taken without losing its quality. The SanDisk Extreme Pro is in UHS speed class 3 and UHS video speed class 30 for 4K UHD.
This means it will be more than capable of efficiently reading and processing any data thrown its way. In addition, the car has an impressive reading speed of 170 MB/s, which is double the Silicon Power Sd card we just discussed. The card also delivers 4K Ultra HD and full HD video recording and playback to guarantee the high-quality footage any photographers and videographers will desire.
Like the others, the SanDisk Extreme Pro has 128GB of storage, which is a sufficient amount for several days of recording, depending on how many videos and photos tend to take. This card is built for endurance and can handle even the most demanding adventures. It comes with temperature-proof, waterproof, shockproof, and X-ray-proof protection.
That said, I’d still advise being cautious and avoiding any unnecessary risks that could damage your card and any footage it holds. With over 7,000, mainly positive reviews, you can be confident that it’s up to the task and will be a great addition to your drone’s kit. It’s more expensive than some of the other cards on this list, but it is worth the investment if you are after speed.
The card has up to 98MB/s reading speed and lets you move up to 1,000 photos in a minute. It has A1-rated performance and high-speed loading times, so you’ll be able to see your videos ad photos sooner.
A unique benefit to this card is its access to a personal SanDisk Memory Zone app for easy photo management.
Not everyone needs 100GB+ storage space and would prefer something with less space and outstanding performance. The best SD card for Mavic mini drones doesn’t need much storage to be a great addition to your kit. Instead, you could opt for a card like the SanDisk 16GB Ultra MicroSD card. This card is an ideal choice for Android smartphones, cameras, tablets, and of course, drones.
The SanDisk Memory Zone app offers an easy solution for organizing your files and safely storing photos and videos. As a bonus, the card comes with a 10-year limited manufacturer warranty in the unlikely case that your SD card is defective. Nonetheless, the SanDisk 16GB Ultra deserves its spot on the list of the best SD card for Mavic mini flyers.
Buying Guide
What to look for in the best SD card for Mavic mini drones?
An SD card is an important investment for your drone and should be made strategically. You don’t want to spend a substantial amount on a drone to capture some incredible footage only to purchase a defective or poor-quality SD card.
Card Capacity
The max size for a drone is 128GB, so make sure to choose an SD card that is equivalent to or less than this number. When deciding on the best SD card for Mavic mini drones, think about what you’re looking for in an aircraft.
Are you an avid traveler looking to take lots of photos and videos? Or do you simply want a fun drone to cruise the neighborhood and explore your environment from a new perspective? If you sound more like the first person, you might want an SD card with higher storage, like the SanDisk Extreme, and if you are the second, then a card like the SanDisk Ultra would be perfect. Nonetheless, you are the best judge of your needs!
Read and write speed
This will determine the speed and quality that your SD card will be able to process data. If you’re a professional photographer taking high-quality images of wildlife or sporting events, you’ll want a faster read and write speed to keep up with
Extreme conditions resistance
For some flyers, your SD inevitably goes through some rough use as you hike through mountains or head off on a high-speed boat ride; whatever the activity is, you want to have an SD card that is well protected. I’d recommend looking for an SD card that offers the following protections:
- Waterproof: Protect your SD card from rain, mist, or other water-based accidents.
- Heat Proof: Protect your SD card from hot climates or surfaces!
- Shock Proof: Protect your SD card from physical damage or being squished in your bag.
- X-Ray Proof: Protect your SD card from airport X-ray machines when traveling.
With that in mind, an SD card that offers these protective features doesn’t mean it’s incapable of being damaged or destroyed. You will still want to take as many precautionary measures as possible to keep it from harm’s way.
How to protect SD cards?
An SD is a home to your memories and all the footage you might have taken while traveling or on an adventure. Therefore, it should be treated kindly and protected at all costs. Here are a few recommendations to help avoid any unfortunate accidents.
Purchase a dedicated storage case
An easy additional protective measure you can take is to invest in a storage case dedicated to holding your SD card(s). These can be found at a local photography or technology store, as well as from an online marketplace like Amazon. I’d also suggest opting for a case that has shock-proof and waterproof technology for an additional layer of protection.
Backup Regularly
The easiest way to lose your footage is by leaving it on the SD card and not backing it up onto a device after a day of shooting. A computer or external hard drive are excellent places to store your photos and videos. It only takes a few minutes to upload the content of your SD card to another device, and it ensures you have a copy of your footage stored away safely.
FAQs
What is the maximum card capacity for the Mavic mini?
The maximum card capacity for the Mavic mini is 128GB. This should be more than enough storage for anyone looking to get lots of footage on their next adventure. I recommend the SanDisk Extreme microSD card as the optimal choice for Mavic mini drones.
Does the Mavic Mini come with an SD card?
The DJI Mavic Mini does not come with an SD card or have internal storage. You will need to invest in an SD card if you want to be able to store any photos or videos that are taken using the drone.
What will happen if the incorrect SD card is installed?
In many cases, an incorrect SD card will not fit into your drone, and you will need to purchase a new one. If the SD card does fit inside, but it’s still the wrong one, you will likely see an error message signaling that the card is not compatible with your drone. A quick google search or visit to your drone’s company website should let you know which SD cards are compatible with your aircraft.
Video quality will drop with the wrong SD card.
Yes, if you use an SD card that has a read or write speed that’s too slow, it will negatively impact the quality of your photos and videos. The SD card will not be able to process data quickly enough, and it can result in unclear and under-processed footage.
To Summarize,
After thoroughly comparing the many cards on this list, the best SD card for Mavic mini flyers is the SanDisk Extreme microSD. It has an optimal read speed of 160 M/Bs and a write speed of 90 M/Bs, making it capable of handling 4K video and producing clear, high-quality images.
It offers a range of additional protective features, including waterproof, shock-proof, temperature-proof, and X-ray proof to guarantee its safety when traveling or exploring outside. Additionally, it offers the maximum storage capacity for a drone of 128GB. It should meet any photographer or videographer’s needs for storage capacity and speed. It is, without a doubt, the overall best choice for anyone that enjoys taking lots of photos and videos of their adventures.
It has excellent reading speeds of up to 160M/Bs and write speeds of up to 90 M/Bs. Its fast speed ensures that all heavy footage quickly flies over onto your monitor for some processing.
In addition, the SD card has accelerated transferring speeds for switching media between devices. This comes in handy if you run out of space and need to make some room.
