What SD Card Is Needed for Dashboard Camera?

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Selecting an SD card for your dashboard camera can be difficult because there are so many different types on the market. 

Therefore, if you are looking for a guide on what SD card is needed for dashboard camera, I will provide you with the things to consider when purchasing an SD card. So, without wasting much time, let’s get started.

What SD Card Is Needed for Dashboard Camera

What SD Card Is Needed for Dashboard Camera?

To briefly answer the question, if you utilize your dash cam to record as you drive, a 32GB card is an excellent deal. For most drivers, this equates to three or four hours of 1080p recording, which is more than sufficient.

You should be aware of some basic factors, as SD cards will be used to save videos and photographs. So, let’s take a look at the factors.

Read more: What Size SD Card for Dash Cam?

NAND memory

The NAND memory is the second thing to take into account. A NAND memory is nothing more than a data storage technique that runs without electricity. The most popular varieties are TLC NAND and MLC NAND, which are used in SD cards.

The more voltage levels an SD has, the less reliable it is since each voltage level increases the potential for error. 

MLC only has four voltage levels compared to TLC’s eight, so MLC is more durable and reliable. So, choose MLC memory instead so that your card will survive longer.

Speed

The second critical aspect to consider is speed. As you are aware, both a video file’s bitrate and resolution are increasing. Therefore, you will want faster SD cards. There are four separate speed classes: 2, 4, 6, and 10.

While Class 2 is the slowest and only appropriate for standard-definition video recording, Class 10 is the fastest and highly recommended for HD recording. I recommend that you utilize Class 10 for speed and reliability.

Storage

The storage capacity is the third factor to consider when choosing an SD card. SD cards have a storage capacity of 4GB to 400GB, although the actual size of the SD card may differ from what is stated on the SD card.

The storage will be determined mainly through criteria such as when it records, whether it records when parked and whether it overwrites prior recordings. 

Therefore, your selected storage size will depend on how your dashboard camera works. Nonetheless, I recommend having at least 32GB to 64GB of storage.

Type of SD card

There are four different SD card standards: SD, SDHC, SDXC, and SDUC. Each has its FAT format: SD uses FAT12 and FAT16, SDHC uses FAT32, and SDXC and SDUC use the exFAT file system. This timeline indicates which SD card came after another. For example, SDUC is the most recent, and SD is the oldest.

Furthermore, the hardware device, such as a dashboard camera, on which you wish to use these SD cards is backward written, which means you can use older cards, like SD cards, on devices that accept newer cards, namely SDUC. 

However, you cannot use newer cards in devices that only support older cards. The right SD card type will now depend on which ones your dashboard camera supports.

Warranty

All SD cards made for dash cams typically have long warranties. Therefore, you should always check the warranty since the SD card may degrade over time.

Additionally, the warranty will be useful because you may be able to contact them and perhaps receive a free replacement when the SD card inevitably wears out.

Also read: Do You Need Cloud Storage For Dash Cam?

How Many Video Files Can a 32GB SD Card Store

Are you worried that 32GB won’t be enough to record on your dashcam? Those who use dash cams to record while driving benefit immensely from getting a card with 32GB of storage space.

When filming at 720p HD or full 1080p HD at 30 frames per second, a 32GB card may store up to four hours of dash cam footage. 

If you record at 1440p Quad HD resolution, you can get about two hours of footage. The SD card will have enough space to record any incidences before it loops and overwrites earlier recordings.

Conclusion

I hope you found my article useful. So, what SD card is needed for dashboard camera? To conclude, probably the best one would be 32BG. 

Moreover, I have only covered the crucial points to consider when selecting an SD card. Additional factors may also be considered, including counterfeit issues, application performance class, and prices.