Written by
Amanda Wong
Summary: This is a complete introduction to SDHC cards, a type of SD card. It elaborates on the SDHC card's multiple aspects, including size, capacity, compatibility, file system, cost, etc. After reading, you can decide whether an SDHC card suits your case.
If you attempt to choose an SD card and wonder whether the SDHC is suitable, you can read this post for a detailed introduction to SDHC cards, it tells the differences between the SDHC card and a standard SD card, compares SDHC with SDXC, to help you have an in-depth understanding.
What are SDHC cards?
An SDHC card (Secure Digital High Capacity) is a type of memory card based on the Secure Digital (SD) card standard, designed to provide larger storage capacities and faster data transfer rates than standard SD cards. They come in the standard SD card size, but microSDHC versions are also available for devices requiring smaller cards.
SDHC cards have a storage capacity range of 4GB to 32GB, making them suitable for storing larger files like high-resolution photos, videos, and documents. SDHC cards typically use the FAT32 file system, which is optimized for managing larger volumes of data but limits the maximum size of a single file to 4GB.
They are compatible with devices that explicitly support the SDHC standard or newer. These devices are often marked with an SDHC logo. Older devices that only support standard SD cards (up to 2GB) are not compatible with SDHC cards.
SDHC cards are commonly used in digital cameras, video recorders, smartphones (older models), GPS devices, and gaming consoles. They are categorized by speed classes from 2MB/s to 10MB/s, indicating their minimum sustained write speed. Higher classes are better suited for tasks like recording high-definition video or transferring large files. Common speed classes include:
SDHC cards vs. SD cards vs. SDXC cards
This part makes a comparison between the SDHC cards, the standard SD cards, and the SDXC cards from multiple dimensions, let's take a look at the differences.
Capacity: SDHC ranges from 4GB to 32GB, designed to meet the growing demand for higher storage for digital devices. Standard SD cards are up to 2GB, an older standard, limited in capacity compared to modern SD cards. SDXC ranges from 64GB to 2TB, it is ideal for applications requiring very high storage, such as 4K video recording.
File system: SDHC uses the FAT32 file system, which supports larger files than FAT16 but has a file size limit of 4GB. The standard SD card uses FAT16 or FAT12, which limits individual file sizes to 2GB or less. SDXC uses the exFAT file system, allowing much larger individual files (beyond 4GB).
Compatibility: SDHC is backward compatible with standard SD card slots if the device supports SDHC. Stands SD card does not support higher-capacity standards. SDXC requires SDXC-compatible devices due to the use of exFAT and higher storage technology and is not backward compatible with older SD or SDHC devices.
Speed Classes: SDHC commonly supports Class 2, 4, 6, and 10 speed ratings. UHS (Ultra High Speed) support depends on the card's specifications. Standard SD cards are typically slower, with limited speed class options. SDXC supports higher-speed ratings, including UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III, enabling faster data transfer rates.
Use Cases: SDHC is suitable for everyday devices like point-and-shoot cameras, smartphones, and mid-range camcorders. SD cards are best for legacy devices with basic storage needs. SDXC is preferred for advanced applications like professional photography, 4K/8K video recording, and large-scale data storage.
Price and Availability: SDHC is affordable and widely available for mid-range storage requirements. SD cards are typically lower priced due to their limited capacity and outdated standards. SDXC is more expensive but offers higher capacities and speeds.
Should you choose an SDHC card?
Whether you should choose an SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) card depends on your specific needs and the device you intend to use it with.
Not all devices support SDHC cards. Some older devices may only support standard SD cards (up to 2GB capacity). If your device supports SDHC, it will be indicated in the manual or on the device itself. SDHC cards use the same physical dimensions as standard SD cards but require SDHC-compatible hardware.
SDHC cards offer 4GB to 32GB of storage. If you need more storage, you may need to look at SDXC cards (32GB to 2TB) or micro SDXC. Match the storage capacity to your needs. For example: 4GB to 8GB is suitable for storing documents, a limited number of photos, or small video files, and 16GB to 32GB is ideal for larger photo libraries, HD videos, and moderate app storage.
SDHC cards are typically affordable and widely available, making them a cost-effective option for many users. Higher capacity and faster SDHC cards (Class 10 or UHS) may cost more.
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