Top Tips for Choosing the Best Micro SD Card for Your Security Camera

Security cameras have become essential for every building to ensure security. However, it is not feasible for some residential units and small buildings to manage an NVR or DVR to save the footage offline. That’s where the SD card for the security camera comes in. With its use, we can give every camera its dedicated storage. Stick with us as we detail on everything you need to know about selecting the right SD card for a security camera.

Why Do You Need an SD Card for a Security Camera?

SD cards in security cameras have a lot of different applications and benefits. Below are some of the most important reasons why you need an SD card for your security camera.

Reliability and Independence

Using an SD card with a security camera gives you independence from network-based storage. It means that during an event of power outage, the security camera can keep recording and saving footage on its SD card.

Local Storage

Security cameras usually have network-based or cloud storage. It comes with obstacles like dependency on the internet or network for accessing footage files. With an SD card, you can quickly access the files as they are stored offline, hence giving you immediate access.

Cost-effective

NVRs and DVRs are usually used but they come at a hefty price. Going for SD cards on the other hand is a cost-effective solution since no recurring prices are making it even cheaper in the long run.

Flexibility

An amazing benefit of using SD cards is the flexibility that comes with them. These are easily swappable between cameras and other devices. Moreover, if you want to download the recordings from your camera SD card, it will give you a user-friendly experience.

Security

Unlike cloud storage, there is no chance of data breaches if nobody has physical access to your security camera SD card. This local way of storing your footage keeps you in control and significantly reduces the risk.

How to Choose an SD Card for a Security Camera?

If you are wondering what brand or what size SD card for a security camera then you must understand that its selection will require you to consider multiple factors as elaborated below:

Capacity

Select your SD card based on its capacity about the camera resolution. The capacity depends on how much higher resolution or multiple cameras would be used; to prevent overwriting of data very often, 128 GB - 512 GB is enough.

Speed

Choose cards with high writing speed, having UHS classes U1 or U3 to support the constant high data rate video shooting will not slow or corrupt.

Durability

Choose high-endurance SD cards for frequent data writes that are also built to have high resistance to the wear and tear of usage in security cameras like a high MTBF. A high mean time between failures means that the failure occurrences will be minimal.

Brand and Quality

Go for branded SD cards rather than the cheaper ones. Brands like SanDisk, Samsung, and Kingston offer the best quality in the market. These are cards known to provide good value for your money in every aspect.

What is the Best Micro SD Card for a Security Camera?

Different security cameras support different SD card sizes. For instance, 64, 128, and 256 GB. If you have a 4K 8MP security camera then a 256 GB card will be enough to save footage of around 145 hours.

Similarly, if you have a FHD 1080p camera then a 128 GB SD card can easily store 10-20 days of footage. Hence, the best Micro SD card will be the one that can store your required size footage according to your camera resolution.

Bonus: SD Card Security Camera Recommendation

Before you buy your security cameras, note that not all cameras support SD cards for local storage. So, we picked two of the best options to help you decide.

4K Continuous Recording Security Camera with SD Card

Most security cameras use SD cards to save footage. If you’re looking for a security camera with continuous recording capability and need an SD card for storage, you can’t miss the new Reolink Altas PT Ultra. This 4K battery-powered security camera features a 20,000 mAh battery, supporting 12 hours of recording per day for up to 8+ days.

It is compatible with MicroSD cards up to 128 GB, and you can also connect it to the Reolink Home Hub for extended storage of up to 2x 512 GB. More importantly, this camera uses the powerful ColorX technology. It offers full-color night vision without relying on any visible spotlights, ensuring uninterrupted surveillance around the clock.

Battery Powered WiFi Security Camera - Argus PT

The first one here is the Argus PT from Reolink which is a WiFi security camera working on dual band 2.4 and 5 GHz WiFi. This security camera gives 5MP 2k+ Super HD video quality and supports color night vision features with pan and tilt technology. It supports using up to 128 GB Micro SD cards for local storage.

WiFi 6 Security Camera - RLC-811WA

Next up is the WiFi 6 security camera that gives 4K 8MP footage quality. This camera also supports color night vision but alongside that, it supports 5X optical zoom as well as person, animal, and vehicle detection. It supports up to 256 GB Micro SD Card for storage which can store up to 145 hours of footage from this camera.

FAQs

1. How Long Does a 128 GB SD Card Last in a Security Camera?

How long a specific storage size lasts in a security camera depends on the camera's resolution. For example, a 128 GB SD card can save up to 72.8 hours of 4K 8MP security camera footage. Which is slightly over 3 days of footage for that camera.

2. Do MicroSD Cards Work in Cameras?

Yes, MicroSD cards work in cameras, but it depends on whether the camera supports the card or not. If your specific camera model supports an SD card, it will work flawlessly to store its footage locally.

3. What Happens When SD Card is Full on Security Camera?

Usually, security cameras are programmed to overwrite the oldest files on their SD card. It means whenever the SD card is full on a security camera, it will maintain continuous recording by deleting the oldest files and storing new ones.

Conclusion

When you choose an SD card for your security camera, you must go for factors like adequate capacity, speed, quality, durability, and lastly cost. When you select the right SD card, you can enjoy peace of mind regarding its reliability for securing your captured footage. Whether you are getting a security camera for a home or commercial building, getting the right SD card will make it convenient and bring peace of mind your way.