What is the Difference Between TF Card Memory and microSD Card Memory?

The memory card is small or flash drive generally used for storage purpose. It can also be called as an electronic storage device that stores digital information inside it. It is used in any kind of portable electronic gadgets such as laptops, tablets, computers, MP3 players, PDAs, video game consoles, electronic keyboards, synthesizers, mobile phones and digital cameras.

Talking of memory cards you might have come across TF memory cards and microSD memory cards and often felt confused about two of these cards whether they are identical or different. So let’s talk about both of these memory cards and how what is the actual difference between these two storage cards. Memory cards are also referred as

1. TransFlash
2. TF
3. T-Flash
4. MicroSD
5. MicroSDHC

Are TF Memory Card and microSD Memory Cards Same? Or any Difference?

TF Card Memory: TF card or fully named as TransFlash card is a named that the SanDisk company generally use for its micro secure digital cards and was considered to be the world’s smallest memory card. TransFlash was introduced in 2004. These are essentially same as SD card. There is no physical or technical difference between them.

microSD Card: microSD card which stands for Secure Digital card which is a flash drive that removable which is sometimes referred to as micro SD cards. They are normally used in smartphones but recently it’s also been used in few GPS devices that are handheld.

The SD card is the broad category here. The thing that really makes the difference is the form-factor. Micro SD cards are available in three different sizes

  1. Standard Size: It is the biggest among all. The dimensions are 32.0×24.0×1.4 mm (Thin SD) & 32.0×24.0×2.1 mm. Many devices have the slot that supports standard size SD card like laptops.
  2. Mini: Also referred as miniSD card. It has a dimension of 21.5×20.0×1.4 mm.
  3. Micro SD: Most modern devices have a microSD card slot. Your smartphone might have one too. It is the smallest form-factor with a dimension of 15.0×11.0×1.0 mm.

Main Difference in TFcard and microSD card

As we see why people think that TF card and microSD card are different because of their name. microSD card is the commonly used name whereas the TF card is what the SD card was called earlier.

Apart from this TransFlash and microSD cards have no other difference. As of from 2014 till now TransFlash and microSD memory cards are considered to be the same as later TransFlash was named as a microSD card by SanDisk Corporation. TF card in 2004 was accepted as the latest generation of memory cards.

The storage capacity of TF card and microSD card is also the same. They both support 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 6GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB except TF can support 64 GB as well which microSD card doesn’t. So, hopefully now the difference between Micro SD memory card and TF memory card is clear and no more confusion exists.

SDIO, SDHC, and SDXC

The original SD card had the maximum memory capacity of 2 GB. Then the SDHC cards came which can hold up to 32 GB data on the same size card. The most recent SDXC uses improved technology and can hold up to 2 TB of maximum data.

The thing to note here is that these SD cards are not backward compatible. That means that a newer version will not work with an older device. However, older cards can be used in newer devices easily.

TF Card Class

The TF or microSD card comes in many form factor as we saw earlier. Apart from it the SD card also has different classes. The SD cards have a speed rating that signifies the maximum rate at which it can read or write data.

SD cards have a number written on them in a circle. It might be 2, 4, 6, 8 etc. It means the maximum data speed in MBps.

Most higher end cards contain a UHS 1 or UHS 2 rating. It represents a higher BUS speed and higher read/write speed. Higher speed cards are necessary for higher

TF Card vs microSD Card FAQs

1. Which one is better ? TF card or SD Card?

As seen above there is no technical difference between the two. You can use a TF card in SD card slot and vice versa.

2. Is a TF card size is same as a micro SD card?

SD cards are available in various form factors. Both TF card and MicroSD card has the same dimensions. You can use both cards in the same slot. But keep in mind that the form factor has to be compatible.,

3. What are different “class” of TF card?

TF card or MicroSD cards have a different class rating from 1 to 10. It is written on the card in a circle. It represents the maximum data transfer speed that the specific card can support.

4. What is the Best TF card I can get from the market?

While buying a TF card keep in mind your requirements. If you are using a card for your mobile phone then it will work with almost all microSD cards. But to get fluent performance go with a higher class TF card. If you need to record 4K videos, then a UHS-II level card is needed to match the high data flow.

If you have any more questions about the difference between TF memory card and microSD cards, do let us know and we will try to figure them out for you.

Dharmesh is Co-Founder of TechnoFizi and a passionate blogger. He loves new Gadgets and Tools. He generally covers Tech Tricks, Gadget Reviews etc in his posts. Beside this, He also work as a SEO Analyst at TechnoFizi Solutions.

4 COMMENTS

  1. I have a tablet (MT6592) where the flash drive slot is larger than a microSD and smaller than a miniSD. Is this a TF card or is it something else? There appear to be 9 contact points in the slot that look like |-|-|-||||-|-|

  2. Your stated dimensions are wrong and makes this article pointless.

    The volume of TF card is 15 mm x 11 mm x 1mm and the volume of microSD card is 24 mm x 32mm x 2.1 mm

    The TF and microSD are both 15x11x1

    You used the dimensions of a standard SD card.

    How can they possibly both fit in the same slot if their dimensions were different.

  3. I use a chinese Chuwi HI 10 Plus tablet, and the manufacturer states “TF Card”…
    Now, chinese companies are famous for using outdated specs. Or, is it possible that really only a TF card will work. I do not want to buy an expensive 128GB sd card and then find out it will not work…
    (This is s simple tablet not for any fancvy games whichneed lots of power an speed)

  4. I have a 128gb micro SD card formated with FAT32 my Android tablet has an OTG usb slot and another which is marked as a TF slot.

    I can use the card in the OTG slot via a card reader but the card isn’t detected in the TF slot but my 1gb card is detected.

    I have read somewhere that true TF readers can only read cards upto 32gb capacity is this correct?

    Kind regards

    Graham

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