I rely on my GoPro Hero9 to capture breathtaking moments during my travels to remote destinations. Whether hiking through lush green valleys, kayaking down raging rivers or biking on bumpy mountain trails, my GoPro is my trusty sidekick that helps me preserve once-in-a-lifetime memories.

GoPro officially launched the Hero 9 Black back in 2020, and with even bigger upgrades alongside the ability to shoot in 5K resolution and take crisp, pro-quality 20MP photos, has put pressure on the demand for fast-speed, large memory cards.

Over the years, I’ve filled up countless microSD cards with mesmerizing 4K and 5K footage from my action camera. With the GoPro Hero9’s ability to shoot ultra high-quality video, you need a high capacity memory card that can keep up with large file sizes and fast burst mode shooting.

Available in the market are various brands and classes of microSD cards, but you first consider these questions before ordering any.

• What is the maximum GB Sd Card my GoPro Hero9 will accept
• Will it work with an SD card as big as possible, 1TB, 512GB, 400GB or 256GB.
• is that also depending on the brand of micro SD card?

but in this post… have listed out some 1TB, 512GB, 400GB or 256GB SD card that works well for your GoPro Hero9.

Worthy to note is that GoPro Hero 9 Black supports a minimum MicroSD card, rated Class 10, a UHS-I or better still a newer UHS-II MicroSD card to ensure even a higher (and safer) write/read speed.

The ancient maxim of ‘value for money” is vital today as your choice of memory card should be durable sand-resistant, waterproof, and shockproof. Note we recommend you only purchase these SD cards through official resellers such as amazon.

Though we have conflicting stands from Gopro article on their official website showing the recommended memory cards for Hero9 which includes 512GB and 400GB cards and their user manual which states that GoPro Hero 9 will work with a max card of 256GB.

GoPro Hero9 Memory Card Requirements

Before deciding on a memory card, it’s important to understand what specifications it needs to have to work properly in your Hero9:

• Card Type: microSD
• Speed Class: Minimum U3, Recommended V30
• Format: UHS-I
• Capacity: Up to 512GB supported, 256GB recommended

As you can see, the GoPro Hero9 works with microSD cards and requires at least a UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) rating or Video Speed Class 30 (V30) for capturing high bitrate footage without any drops in frame rate or quality.

I highly recommend using a card with V30 rating if you plan on shooting a lot of 4K 60fps or 5K 30fps video. The card also needs to comply with the UHS-I bus interface standard.

Finally, in terms of capacity, memory cards up to 512GB are technically compatible with Hero9 but GoPro only officially recommends using cards up to 256GB to minimize performance issues. Personally, I think 256GB hits the sweet spot for balancing price, reliability and storage space.

Why the 256GB Card Limit?

You might be wondering, if 512GB microSD cards work in the GoPro Hero9, why does GoPro only advise using up to 256GB cards?

Here are a few reasons:

• File corruption risk – Very large cards have increased risk of file corruption. If a 512GB card gets corrupted, you could lose a ton of irreplaceable footage and memories.
• Slow card clearing – It takes quite a bit longer to fully clear footage from a 512GB card compared to smaller capacities. This reduces how quickly you can format and reuse the card.
• Lack of testing – GoPro hasn’t tested capacities above 256GB as extensively so can’t guarantee reliability and performance at those larger sizes.
• Diminishing returns – A 256GB card can hold 8+ hours of 4K/5K video already. The extra space from a bigger 512GB card has diminishing returns for a GoPro camera.

While GoPro could increase the recommended limit as card technology matures, for now 256GB offers the best performance and reliability for Hero9 cameras.

Best UHS-I MicroSD Memory Cards for GoPro HERO9 Black:

If you’re searching for a Cheap MicroSD card for your GoPro HERO9 Black, the UHS-I MicroSD card is the best option. A UHS-I MicroSD card is fast enough for the GoPro HERO9 Black. After several tests, the new Lexar Professional 1066x UHS-I MicroSD card takes the lead.

It has a maximum read speed of 160MB/s and a maximum write speed of 120MB/s. Take a peek at the ones we endorse below:

• SanDisk Extreme PRO (UHS-1 U3/ V30) A2 400GB 
• SanDisk Extreme PLUS (UHS-1 U3 / V30) A2 400GB
• Lexar 663x UHS-1 High-Performance 512GB
• SanDisk Extreme V30 UHS-I
• Samsung EVO Select U3 UHS-I
• Lexar 1000x V60 UHS-II
• Delkin Select V30 UHS-I PNY Elite-X V30 UHS-I

Any of these makes for a good choice. There’s no particular benefit to choosing one over another—it comes down to price, availability, and personal preference, note that all are fast enough for the HERO9 Black

Other SD Cards That perform optimally on Gopro Hero9 are:-

• SanDisk Extreme Plus UHS-I 170 MB/s 90 MB/
• SanDisk Extreme UHS-I 160 MB/s 90 MB/s
• SanDisk High Endurance UHS-I 100 MB/s 40 MB/s
• Samsung EVO Plus UHS-I 100 MB/s 90 MB/s
• PNY Pro Elite UHS-I 95 MB/s 90 MB/s
• Kingston Canvas React UHS-I 100 MB/s 80 MB/s
• Delkin Devices Advantage UHS-I 100 MB/s 75 MB/s
• Transcend Ultimate UHS-I 95 MB/s 60 MB/s
• SanDisk Ultra UHS-I 100 MB/s

Best UHS-II MicroSD Memory Cards for GoPro HERO9 Black:

GoPro HERO9 Black only supports UHS-I memory cards, although the UHS-II memory cards which are considerably faster will work on it without experiencing any increase in speed. These cards allow faster data to your PCs more quickly. The following UHS-II MicroSD cards are recommended for the GoPro HERO9 Black:

• Delkin Devices Power UHS-II 300 MB/s 250 MB/s
• Lexar Professional 1800x UHS-II 270 MB/s 250 MB/s
• ADATA Premier One UHS-II 290 MB/s 270 MB/s
• Delkin Devices Prime UHS-II 300 MB/s 100 MB/s
• SanDisk Extreme PRO UHS-II 275 MB/s 100 MB/s
• Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 150 MB/s 90 MB/s

Comparing GoPro Hero9 Memory Card Sizes

To give you a better idea of the storage capacities of different memory card sizes with the GoPro Hero9, check out this handy comparison chart:

Card Size	Video Capacity	Record Time (hrs)
32GB	24 videos	1
64GB	48 videos	2
128GB	96 videos	4
256GB	192 videos	8

The above table assumes your GoPro Hero9 is recording 4K or 5K video at the common average bitrate around 100Mbps. As you scale up in card size, you can see the available recording time dramatically increases.

While a 32GB card may be sufficient for short adventures, the 4+ hours of footage you get with a 128GB or 256GB card is perfect for vacations, road trips and extended travel when you won’t be able to offload videos for days at a time.

What Memory Cards Does GoPro Recommend?

While there are cheaper no-name brands available, I strongly advise sticking with well-known, reliable memory card manufacturers:

• SanDisk Extreme – My #1 recommendation. Reliably captures 4K/5K footage without issues.
• Samsung EVO Select – Great bang-for-buck option. Handles GoPro video well.
• Lexar Professional – Top-tier performance and durability. Backed by excellent customer service.
• PNY Pro Elite – Surprisingly good card with impressive read/write speeds.

The last thing you want is to lose footage because you cheaped out on a dodgy, unreliable SD card! Spend a few extra dollars to get a quality memory card from a reputable brand recommended by GoPro.

Tips for Picking the Perfect GoPro Hero9 Memory Card

Ready to choose a new memory card for your Hero9 action camera? Here are my top 5 tips for selecting the right card:

• Choose capacity wisely – Get the largest card (up to 256GB) you can afford for maximum shooting flexibility.
• Get a V30 card – Ensure your card has a V30 rating to handle 4K60p and 5K30p video without issues.
• Stick to tier-1 brands – Buy SanDisk, Samsung, Lexar or PNY to prevent card failures.
• Keep a spare card – Bring a backup card in case one fails. Days of footage would be lost otherwise!
• Format in the camera – Always format your card in your GoPro first before recording to maximize compatibility.

Follow this advice and your GoPro Hero9 will have reliable high-performance memory card storage for all your adventures!

Other Memory Card Classes for Gopro Hero 9 to note

The V-class is a new Speed Rating category for SD cards that are meant to perform at the Speed suitable for 4K / 5K video recording.

• Cards with a minimum sequential write speed of 60MB/sec are classified as V60.
• V30 is assigned to cards that have a minimum sequential write speed of 30MB/sec. These are designed to Support 1080fps Full HD Recording

The U3 Cards Supports 4K video capturing at a sustained rate of 30MB/s. The U3 class is similar to the more recent V30 class.

• With a minimum sequential write speed of 10 MB/sec, U1 is designed to accommodate real-time broadcasts and HD video (720p and 1080p). This is similar to the newer V10 class.

Class 10 is meant to handle 1080p recording with a minimum Sequential write speed of 10 MB/sec (although not at all framerates).

Classes 2, 4, and 6 are the most common Card available to buy for your GoPro Hero9, they are designed with a serial write speed of 2 MB/sec.

With a minimum serial write speed of 4 MB/s and 6 MB/s, respectively, Classes 4 and 6 are designed to support 720p and 1080p video (although not all framerates).

Finally, you might have noticed the speed ratings A1 starting to appear on some of the newer cards. That’s a different type of speed rating geared toward apps. Devices that run apps, like smartphones and gaming devices, don’t send a long stream of continuous data but rather lots of small chunks of data.

Finally, you may have noticed that some of the newest cards are starting to have the A1 speed ratings. That’s a separate kind of app-specific speed rating. App-running devices, such as smartphones and game consoles, do not send a continuous stream of data, but rather a large number of little bits.

As a result, they require cards with high random write rates. And that’s where the A ratings come in: they’re used to identify micro SD cards that are appropriate for use on mobile devices. This class Rating should not affect your choice of an SD card for your GoPro.

To Summarize…

• The GoPro Hero9 technically supports microSD cards up to 512GB but cards up to 256GB are officially recommended for best performance.
• 256GB memory cards provide ample capacity for hours of breathtaking 5K and 4K footage.
• Stick to tier-1 brands like SanDisk, Samsung, Lexar and PNY for reliability.
• Ensure your memory card meets the U3 and V30 speed class rating requirements.
• Always format cards in the camera first before recording.

Invest in a quality 256GB microSD card from a top brand for your GoPro Hero9 and you’ll be ready to capture incredible perspectives from your escapades without worrying about missing a moment!

Now get out there, be bold and shoot those groundbreaking images and videos that you’ll treasure forever! Wishing you safe, fun-filled and unforgettable adventures with your GoPro Hero9!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about GoPro Hero9 compatible memory cards:

Q: What is the maximum microSD card size supported by the GoPro Hero9?

A: The GoPro Hero9 technically supports microSD cards up to 512GB. However, GoPro only officially recommends using cards up to 256GB for best performance and reliability.

Q: Why doesn’t GoPro recommend memory cards larger than 256GB?

A: Larger capacity cards have increased risks of file corruption, slow clearing times if errors occur, and lack extensive compatibility testing. The extra storage space also has diminishing returns for GoPro users.

Q: Which memory card brands does GoPro recommend?

A: GoPro suggests using reliable brands like SanDisk, Samsung, Lexar or PNY when buying memory cards for optimal results. Avoid cheap generic cards.

Q: What memory cards speed rating does the Hero9 require?

A: At minimum, U3 speed class rating (30MB/s). For full 4K60fps and 5K30fps support, a V30 video speed class rating is recommended.

Q: How many hours of 5K video can a 256GB card hold?

A: Approximately 8 hours of 5K30fps or 4K60fps video can be stored on a 256GB microSD card in the Hero9. Exact duration depends on other camera settings too.

Q: Should I use a UHS-I or UHS-II card?

A: The GoPro Hero9 has a UHS-I bus interface so UHS-II cards provide no extra benefit. Save money by using UHS-I.

I hope these answers help clarify any questions you may have about memory cards for the GoPro Hero9 action camera! Let me know if you need any other advice.