What is the difference between a TF (MicroSD) card and an SD card?
A TF card (also called MicroSD) is the small 15 × 11 × 1 mm card; an SD card is the larger 32 × 24 mm format. They use the same underlying flash and controller logic, but the physical size and pin layout differ, so a TF card needs an adapter to fit an SD slot. For most embedded and portable devices the TF card is the one specified, because it is smaller and cheaper to seat. We supply TF cards in the MicroSD form factor from 4GB to 256GB; if your product takes a full-size SD slot, a TF card with the correct adapter is the usual way to bridge the two.
Size and fit
TF / MicroSD: 15 × 11 mm, used in phones, dashcams, cameras, IoT boards.
SD: 32 × 24 mm, used where a larger card is mechanically easier to handle or the slot is full-size.
A TF card drops into an SD adapter electrically; the adapter only changes the physical connector.
TF / MicroSD vs SD at a glance
The two formats share flash and controller technology. The differences that matter are physical size, capacity class and how the card is seated.
| TF / MicroSD | SD | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 15 x 11 x 1 mm | 32 x 24 x 2.1 mm |
| Capacity classes | MicroSD / MicroSDHC / MicroSDXC | SD / SDHC / SDXC |
| Typical devices | Phones, dashcams, IoT boards, action cameras | Cameras, card readers, older devices |
| In an SD slot | Needs a passive adapter | Fits directly |
| Best for | Embedded and portable devices | Devices with a full-size SD slot |
Which to specify
Match the card to the slot your device has. If you control the device, the TF card is the smaller, lower-cost choice for the same capacity and speed class.
Sources
Figures quoted on this page are from the published reporting listed above. Where a number is an estimate rather than a published figure, it is described as approximate.
Frequently asked questions
Is a TF card slower than an SD card?
Not because of the format. Speed is set by the card class and the silicon, not by MicroSD versus SD. The same grade performs the same in either size.
Can I use a TF card in an SD slot?
Only with a passive adapter. The adapter maps the smaller card’s contacts to the SD pinout; it adds no electronics and changes no performance.
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