T-Flash cards A.K.A Micro SD cards and Secure Digital cards in other words (SD cards) are two types of memory cards that are frequently found in small appliances like mobile phones, game consoles, digital cameras, etc. They differ in a variety of other ways as well, such as size, use, price, etc.
When it comes to memory cards, several alternatives cater to a variety of devices. Two of the most common options are TF cards versus Micro SD cards. These cards are used by many devices as either their primary or secondary storage medium.
There are several instances where people question whether to use an SD card or a TF card. There is controversy on what a TF card is. A TF card and a microSD card are nearly the same. Are they equivalent? Which one of the two should I choose between a Tf and an SD card?
Don’t stress your mind out. This article will highlight the difference between the two. Read through to find out more.
What is tf card
The full name is a trans flash card, also called micro SD card, jointly established in 2004 by Motorola and SanDisk.
The SD Card product family includes the Trans-Flash Card. Additionally, the TF card may be used with just about any SD card reader and an SD adaptor. TF cards may be converted to SD cards via SD card adapters and then used as SD cards.
It is a very small flash memory card currently available and is compatible with various multimedia applications. Towards the end of 2004, the SD Organization officially changed the brand name of the TF card to Micro SD to include it in the family of SD devices as it adopted the SD structure.
What is an SD card
Its full name is Secure Digital Card and was jointly developed by Panasonic, Toshiba, and SanDisk Corporation in August 1999. It is a storage device based on semiconductor flash memory.
It is preferable because of its great features like;
- Its ability to transmit data very fast
- It is amazingly small and used on portable gadgets like multimedia players and digital cameras.
- It is pretty easy to swap
Since many individuals get confused with these two memory devices, me included, there are ways to distinguish them. The differences are minor, so you might want to look closely.
Check them out below:
1. Size and Appearance
The size of the TF card is about 15mm*11mm*1mm, which is about the size of your fingernail. It is about 1/4 of that of the SD card.
The size of the SD card is about 24mm*32mm*2.1mm.
An SD card is bigger than a TF card.
2. Design structure
The SD card has a mechanical write protection switch. The TF card does not have any switch design, but it can be turned into an SD card with the help of an adapter.
The metal contact points of the SD card are separated by plastic partitions, which can better protect them.
Inside the SD card is the main control + flash memory chip. The design structure of the TF card is the same but limited to the size of the TF card. Its heat dissipation is not very good. If you use it to read and write a large amount of data in a short time, you will find it hot.
3. Application scenario
TF cards are generally used in relatively small electronic devices, such as home monitors, smartphones, and switches. Thanks to their small portable size and gradual capacity, they are now utilized in music players and GPS gadgets.
SD cards, on the other hand, are used in some larger electronic products, such as cameras, PDAs, multimedia players, etc.
4. Speed
Find the data transfer rate of the tf card.
The speed of SD cards is faster, which is why many photographers choose SD cards instead of TF cards and adapters when doing high-speed continuous shooting or 4K video.
[Class2(2MB/sec), Class4(4MB/sec), Class6(6MB/sec), Class10(10MB/sec)], 600x: speed 90MB/sTip: The read and write speed of a flash memory card is related to the number of files stored in the card, so it is normal for a slight error to exist
5. Safety
Because the SD card is designed with a write protection switch (a push-pull switch on the side), it can avoid accidental loss of important data.
6. Convertibility
With the help of an adapter, a TF card can be converted into an SD card and used on SD card equipment, while an SD card can only be used on fixed equipment. It can be said that as long as it is a device that can use SD cards, TF cards can be used with the help of adapters.
7. Price
T-Flash cards account for more sales in the market. In the semiconductor industry, the more products shipped, the cost of raw materials can be lowered. Therefore, on the online shopping platform, we can see the same brand, the same size, and the same writing/reading speed. An SD card is slightly more expensive than a TF card.
8. Service life
We have introduced in the SSD article before that the life of flash memory devices is related to the number of erases and writes (PE). The TLC storage particles used in the past, the erase and write times are 500-1000 times, and now qlc particles are commonly used. The number of writes is about 300 times. So your flash memory card life depends on the storage particles you buy and, of course, your usage habits.
In addition, because of its small size, high data density, and high probability of failure, the TF card cannot be used as a long-term data storage device.
Between an SD card and a TF card, which one works best?
If you need a memory card for your digital camera or other upgraded gadgets, then you’d rather use a regular SD card.
Otherwise, if your smartphone needs more storage space, then you opt to go with a micro SD card. The slots on these mobile phones are only designed to accommodate this size.
The best part about this storage innovation is that users can easily connect them to other devices using an SD connector.
Factors to consider before picking a memory card
- Storage size
This is a crucial factor to consider that one should take into account. Note that the maximum capacity a T-flash card can hold is 128GB, while the micro sad accommodates up to 2TB. So if you need a lot of space, then automatically, a Micro SD card is the way to go.
- Decide why you need the memory card.
Once you decide on why you need the storage, the easier it’ll be. If you need the card to perform non-memory tasks like Bluetooth facilitation or GPS tracking, then you’ll need the Micro-SD card. The micro SD card is preferable since it supports the SDIO version and is suited for such jobs.
Otherwise, if you need the card to store some things, you know which card to go for.
- Compatibility
Surprisingly, both T-flash and SD cards are compatible; this is to say, they can fit in the same slot. Even though the SD card cannot convert into a TF card, The Tf can with the help of an adapter. So if the adapter is available, then you are advised to pick a Tf that realizes the functionality of the two.
FAQs
Q. Which one should I choose?
If you are not a photographer or have other professional needs, it is recommended to choose TF cards because they are cheap and can meet your needs.
Q. How do TF and SD cards compare to one another?
Between an SD and a TF card, there are no major differences. Both may be used interchangeably. When a TF card becomes available, for instance, you can utilize it. It upholds a comparable quality so that it will function without a hitch.
Q. Can the TF card slot be used by an SD card?
Yes, it can. The Tf was established before an SD card. As long as the SD card is micro, it can comfortably fit in the TF card slot.
Conclusion
A compact digital storage device card with the same capacity as a Micro SD card is called a TF card. They are identical in terms of both their physical and technological characteristics. They are compatible and have comparable storage capacities. Their origin, maximum storage capacity, non-memory performance, and write security switch, however, differ.
You may select one ideal for your fast and identify their distinctions/ features and demands.
