Adata Introduces SD Express 8.0 – A High-Speed Memory Card with 1.6 GB/s Read Speed

Adata has unveiled its new SD Express 8.0 memory card, delivering read speeds up to 1.6 GB/s and write speeds up to 1.2 GB/s. This performance is 12 times faster than UHS-I, 4 times faster than UHS-II, and even outpaces some NVMe SSDs. Currently, the Premier Extreme SD 8.0 Express is only available in a 512 GB version.

While the SD Express standard was introduced back in 2018 (SD 7.0), the first commercial products only launched in 2025. Like SSDs, these cards use PCI Express and the NVMe protocol, allowing for high-speed data transfer in a compact size. Basic SD Express cards already reach up to 985 MB/s (PCIe 3.1 x1), and newer models based on PCIe 4.0 x2 push this to 4 GB/s, in line with the SD 8.0 specification.

Durability, Compatibility, and Limitations

The SD Express 8.0 cards come with built-in LDPC ECC error correction, and are designed to handle tough environments. They offer water resistance, shock resistance, and can operate in extreme temperatures, making them suitable for demanding professional use.

However, there are still limitations. Despite the high overall speeds, video write speed is limited to 30 MB/s (U3/V30 class). These cards also require compatible devices, and most modern smartphones no longer include SD card slots, which restricts adoption. Additionally, price remains a barrier, with SD Express cards costing about $0.25 per GB, compared to just $0.05–$0.06 per GB for SSDs.

Currently, the cards are expected to see limited use in Nintendo Switch 2 and professional video equipment. Still, as technology advances and prices drop, broader adoption could follow.