SDXC vs SDHC: What’s the Difference?

Anyone that has worked with digital media in the past has likely heard of an SD card but at the same time may be unaware of the subtle difference between SDXC vs SDHC cards. Understanding the differences between the two can help you select the best option for your chosen application – whether it be digital photography or video.

 

What Is An SD Card?

To better understand SDXC (Secure Digital Extended Capacity) and SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards, it’s best to start with the predecessor to the two: the SD card.

SD stands for Secure Digital and was developed by the SD Association – a joint effort between SanDisk, Panasonic and Toshiba – in 1999 to be a better-performing, non-volatile memory card format. This means that SD cards did not require a power supply in order to retain data, unlike the previously popular MMC (MultiMedia Cards) format.

SD cards can store files, pictures, videos, music, and many other forms of data. These days you’ll find them in everything from cameras and phones to gaming consoles, usually to expand the memory of those devices, but also due to their portable and cost-effective nature.

SDXC and SDHC cards evolved from the original SD card over many years to meet the growing demands of data storage, eventually making the original SD cards obsolete.

 

The Main Differences Between SDXC vs SDHC