Kingston’s Canvas React microSD Cards Tout 80MB/s Write Speeds, 32~256GB Densities

microSD cards don’t seem to get a ton of love, despite the fact that they’re better than ever. Not only can we easily get 256GB cards for our phones or cameras, the prices are pretty reasonable for that perk. You might pay an extra $50 or $100 to gain 64GB inside your next smartphone, but $100 is about what it costs to add 256GB via microSD using Kingston’s newest series: Canvas React.

It’s almost surprising, but despite having received a press release for this product only today, the product showed up on Amazon last week. Whereas the Canvas Select 256GB costs about $107, this new Canvas React demands a meager $3 premium, which is definitely worth it as the writing on it is red, not a silly white.

OK… there’s more to it than just the color. This latest React microSD card is spec’d at 80MB/s write, which is a serious jump ahead of the 45MB/s write on the Canvas Go!, and the laughable 10MB/s write on Canvas Select. The read speeds are improved, too, from 80MB/s with Select, and 90MB/s with Go!, to now 100MB/s with React. I assume Kingston successfully fought the urge to call this series “Canvas Xtreme!”.

Kingston says that while its Select series is suitable for Android phones and point-and-shoot cameras, the Canvas Go!’s faster write speed makes it ideal for drones, action cameras, and so on. The React, however, has no effective limits: if the product takes a microSD card, this is going to reduce whatever bottleneck might exist. We’re talking DSLRs with continuous shooting, 4K video capture, and so on and so forth.

So, if you’re looking for a new microSD card, look no further. Meanwhile, I’ll sit here and dwell on the fact that my phone doesn’t support a microSD card.