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I want to extended the storage of my Android phone be switching it to a MicroSD memory, as Android Marshmallow allows.

What is the minimum speed I need to use to avoid impacting performance? I am considering a SanDisk Ultra, but I wonder whether an Extreme will be better?

Are there any other aspects I need to check on the card to ensure compatibility?

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  • lollipop shouldn't be tagged unless the point is that it doesn't work with that version.
    – William
    Commented Mar 3, 2017 at 21:50
  • I read somewhere that Lollipop can use external SD as main storage but requires some non standard hacks.
    – vfclists
    Commented Mar 3, 2017 at 22:17
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    It is called adoptable storage and it starts with 6.0 android.stackexchange.com/questions/137855/…
    – William
    Commented Mar 3, 2017 at 22:25
  • If you discover where Lollipop can do that, please share. I would love to try it out
    – Gabriel Fair
    Commented Mar 3, 2017 at 22:26
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    First lollipop don't have adoptable storage feature, but sd card can be used for storing app on version lower than 6.0 but you'll need root and app called link2sd
    – Једноруки Крстивоје
    Commented Mar 3, 2017 at 22:48

2 Answers 2

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tl:dr;

Go in for SDXC UHS class 1 or A1 cards if you are looking to run apps from Ext SD

SD card speeds have two aspects that would impact your proposed use as adoptable-storage ( though your question wrongly assumed that adoptable-storage is available on Lollipop, while it is introduced only from Marshmallow )

  • Sequential speeds - which are applicable when one chunk of memory is being written or read, say like a large video or a heavy presentation file

  • Random IO speeds - which pertains as the name suggests which are random in nature, as is the case with accessing app or app data , as in the case of adoptable-storage

Till recently compatibility for your purpose was being viewed only with sequential speeds. Motorola recommends UHS class 1 :

enter image description here

  • Last year SD card association has come up with a new standard that specifically addresses random IO for application access and is called A1 App Performance

The SD Card Association to Classify IOPS Performance of Memory Cards via Logo

....In today's climate, usage patterns of SD cards by different people vary greatly. Some need to record and store UHD content, other need to run applications, which is why the former benefit from great sequential performance, whereas the latter need guaranteed sequential and random read/write performance

AFAIK, SD cards with this rating are not yet marketed

As additional information here is where the A1 cards stack up when you compare sequential and video speeds

enter image description here

enter image description here enter image description here

Finally, coming to your question UHS 1 speeds (SDXC) are recommended ( since you haven't linked the cards under proposal, I am unable to specifically say which is better) or if you can wait for a while purchase A1 class which is better suited for adoptable-storage, in case you plan to upgrade

Also see this question for compatibility chart Should SD card be formatted before putting into new phone?

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For using SD cars as internal storage bare minimum would be Class 10 SD card, but still that is 4-5 times slower (if I remeber corectly) than internal storage at least in my case I presume that on better and flagship phones would be even greater difference. I used some r/w benchmark app from store to test. Also there is UHS 1 and UHS 3 micro SD cards that are way faster than class 10 but I don't know how much they cost, and maybe your phone doesn't even support UHS SD cards, those SD cards would be better than class 10 as adopted.

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