Samsung has overhauled its microSD range, replacing the EVO Plus, PRO Plus and PRO Ultimate names with a simpler two-tier structure: the everyday T7 and the performance-focused T9. The T9 is the one that matters for action camera users, and Samsung says as much — it is explicitly pitched at performance-driven devices such as drones and action cameras.

That makes it directly relevant to anyone shooting the GoPro MISSION 1 PRO, which is about as demanding as consumer action cameras get. With 8K60 video, 4K at 240fps and a 240Mbps high-bitrate mode that GoPro itself references against Netflix capture requirements, the card in the slot stops being an afterthought and becomes part of whether a take succeeds or fails.

What the numbers actually mean for recording

Samsung quotes read speeds of up to 200MB/s for the T9, against 170MB/s for the T7, and adds 6-proof protection for reliability. The T9 comes in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB, while the T7 stretches to 1TB.

Here we need to be straight about a gap. Read speed governs how quickly you offload footage to a computer, and 200MB/s is genuinely useful there — it is the difference between a coffee break and a long wait after a shoot. But what determines whether a camera can record a high-bitrate mode without stuttering is sustained write speed, and Samsung’s announcement quotes neither a sustained write figure nor a V-class rating. That is the number we would want before recommending any card for 8K60 or 240Mbps capture, and it is the first thing we will test.

For context, 240Mbps works out at roughly 30MB/s of sustained write, which is well within the capability of a modern V30-rated card. The headroom is likely there. But “likely” is not the same as verified, and cards that read quickly do not always write consistently.

Capacity is the other decision

The MISSION 1 PRO’s 8K Open Gate mode captures the full 4:3 sensor so you can cut horizontal, vertical and square versions from one take — brilliant for multi-platform delivery, and brutal on storage. At high bitrates a 512GB card is a sensible working minimum for a full day, and the T9 tops out there. If you want 1TB you are looking at the slower T7, which is a genuine trade-off worth thinking through.

Shooting the older GoPro HERO13 Black, the calculation is easier: with a 1/1.9-inch sensor and 5.3K Open Gate, its files are considerably smaller, and a 256GB card covers most days comfortably.

Our T9 512GB review sample has arrived and a full test is coming, including the sustained-write figures Samsung has not published.

Samsung T9 and T7 microSD: Specifications

T9 microSD: read speeds up to 200MB/s; 6-proof protection; capacities 128GB, 256GB and 512GB; aimed at gaming enthusiasts and professional creators, and at performance-driven devices including drones and action cameras.
T7 microSD: read speeds up to 170MB/s; capacities 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB; aimed at everyday storage across smartphones, laptops, tablets and handheld consoles.

Samsung T9 and T7 microSD: Price and availability

Both ranges have been available since 14 April 2026. UK pricing for the T9 is £60.89 (128GB), £96.59 (256GB) and £193.29 (512GB). The T7 is £52.39 (128GB), £81.99 (256GB), £164.19 (512GB) and £303.29 (1TB). Availability may vary by market.