Which microSD card is best for my INSTA360 Ace Pro?
Our recommendation for your INSTA360 Ace Pro!
The recommendation for the best microSD card for your INSTA360 Ace Pro, and other INSTA360 cameras, is a Lexar® Professional 1066x microSDXC™ UHS-I Card SILVER Series with at least 128GB capacity. This to ensure a minimum 120MB/s write speed for continuous high-definition video capture up to 8K.
If you have an INSTA360 Ace Pro, X3 or One RS camera, choosing the right microSD card is critical to capturing high-quality video without interruption. If you want to shoot high-resolution video at 4K or even 8K, you need to buy the fastest card possible. This may sound simple, but it is actually more difficult than you might think. The most important thing you need to know is the maximum write speed of the card, but an indication like V30 or 1066x only gives you a rough idea of what you need to know. Here's a guide to help you make an informed decision to get the best memory card for your INSTA360 camera.
What can happen if you use the wrong card in your INSTA360 camera?
Ensure optimal performance and reliability from your INSTA360 Ace Pro camera by selecting the right storage solution. For consistent, high-quality results, it's crucial to use UHS-I Micro SD cards, specifically those with a V30 or higher speed class, formatted in exFAT. This is not just a recommendation but a necessity to prevent potential issues like interrupted shooting sessions or even damage to your valuable footage. Incompatible storage cards can lead to these frustrating problems, undermining the capabilities of your INSTA360 Ace Pro. By choosing the correct Micro SD cards, you safeguard your shooting experience and protect your footage from unexpected losses.
Using an incorrect or slow memory card in an INSTA360 Ace Pro, or any other model, can cause recording problems, such as the camera stopping recording or, in some cases, creating corrupted files. This issue was seen when attempting to record 4K video at fairgrounds with an INSTA360 X3 camera paired with a 64GB microSD UHS-I card. The insufficient speed of the card caused recording issues. A similar challenge arose in a project to create 360-degree videos for Google Maps using an INSTA360 One RS camera and a '100MB/s' memory card. Although playback on an iPhone initially suggested successful recording, it was later discovered that the data was not being saved, indicating that the card's speed was only suitable for reading, not writing
How do I choose the best memory card?
When selecting a memory card for your INSTA360 camera, it's important to consider the following questions: 'What exact model of INSTA360 camera do I have? Does it have built-in memory or does it use an external microSD card? What is the maximum capacity of the card that is compatible with this camera? In what resolution do I want to record: 8K, 4K, or just HD? And what is the minimum storage size I need for my recordings?' These questions will help you choose the most suitable memory card for your camera.
Larger capacities and faster cards do not always work in every camera.
For example, the INSTA360 Ace Pro, and other cameras, have a microSD UHS-I slot. This means that a superfast UHS-II microSD card, such as the Lexar Professional GOLD microSDXC UHS-II V60 256GB card, with a write speed of up to 180MB/s, will 'fit' in the camera, but will not deliver the expected performance.
Worse still, using a Type II card in a Type I slot tends to produce lower performance than a Type I card in the same UHS-I slot. This is because the slot cannot read the extra row of contacts on the card. It can also, in some cases, cause files to become corrupted when written to the card.
Fast microSD cards for your INSTA360 camera
For optimal performance with the INSTA360 Ace Pro, or any other INSTA360 camera that use microSD cards, a high-speed UHS-I V30 card is recommended, ideally with a maximum capacity of 1TB. Lexar's Professional 1066x microSDXC™ UHS-I Card SILVER Series offers a range of capacities, including 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
"Tech fact: Higher capacity memory cards generally offer higher write speeds!"
This is particularly important depending on the type of video you're shooting. The Lexar® Professional 1066x microSDXC™ UHS-I Card SILVER Series' write speed varies also significantly between different capacities:
- The 1TB card offers up to 160MB/s read speed and up to 130MB/s write speed.
- The 512GB, 256GB, and 128GB cards offer up to 160MB/s read speed and up to 120MB/s write speed.
- The 64GB card delivers up to 160MB/s read speed and up to 70MB/s write speed.
Best way to transfer INSTA360 files to the computer
After shooting lots of fantastic videos, you will want to get the most out of the files by using the free INSTA360 Studio software on your computer. You have two ways to transfer the files to your computer:
1. INSTA360 camera + usb cable
To transfer files from your INSTA360 camera to a computer, use the supplied USB charging cable. Once connected, select USB mode on the camera screen, and it will appear as a USB drive on your computer. You can then copy files directly or use the INSTA360 Studio software for selective transfers.
ATTENTION!
Always ensure that your camera's battery is fully charged to prevent data loss during file transfer.
2. Use an optional micro-sd card reader
For a more secure and battery-free option, use a high-speed card reader such as the Lexar® microSD™ Card USB 3.2 Reader (read/write speeds up to 170MB/s). On the other hand, the Lexar Multi-Card 2-in-1 USB 3.1 Card Reader offers transfer speeds up to 312MB/s for SD™ and microSD™ UHS-II cards and is backwards compatible with UHS-I up to 170MB/s.