Counterfeit MicroSD Cards


This page aims to detail the issues surrounding counterfeit MicroSD cards, as well as MicroSD cards sold under the brand name of real companies that do not sell MicroSD cards (known as “brandjacking”).

It’s important to avoid buying counterfeit MicroSD cards as you may experience data loss & slow performance.

(Overview) Checklist to avoid fake MicroSD Cards #

  • ✓ Always buy from a well known trusted retailer (Some brands also operate their own online stores).
  • ✗ Avoid AliExpress, Temu, Shein and Wish for MicroSD cards.
  • ✓ Always go for name brand MicroSD cards.
  • ✗ Avoid brands you do not recognise.
  • ✓ Check that the MicroSD is a real model the brand sells.
  • ✗ If the price is too good to be true, it probably is.

Fake MicroSD Cards #

Fake MicroSD cards are becoming increasingly common on online marketplaces.

They will typically look similar to genuine MicroSD cards and will be fakes of popular name brands. They’re often paired with an attractive price and fake reviews (or simply reviews from users who do not realise they have purchased a fake MicroSD card).

Counterfeit MicroSD cards will often have low-quality markings on the label, the incorrect font or be misaligned. If they come in branded packaging, the packaging will often be a low-quality photocopy, have the incorrect font and/or have spelling mistakes.

Below is an example of a genuine Samsung MicroSD card compared to a counterfeit. The stars highlight the differences:

Comparison between a genuine Samsung MicroSD card and a fake Samsung MicroSD card.

Image from Everything But Stromboli

Fake capacities and performance #

Fake MicroSD cards will often use low-quality flash memory with a spoofed capacity. What will appear as a 512GB MicroSD card on your computer may actually be 64GB instead or maybe even less. Their performance is often quite poor too, not meeting their advertised read and write speeds.

You can test a suspected fake MicroSD card using a variety of tools. These tools will write a data pattern to the MicroSD card and then read it back to confirm that all the data is intact. A MicroSD card with a fake capacity will fail these tests.

  • Windows Users: H2TestW — Validrive (Validrive is much faster at testing MicroSD card capacities, but is not advised for testing for defective storage).
  • Mac Users: F3XSwift
  • Linux Users: F3

Looking at the MicroSD card’s properties will not reveal the fraud. Similarly, reformatting or repartitioning a fake MicroSD card will not “fix” its capacity. The card has specifically been manufactured to always show its fake capacity. It cannot write data past its real capacity and thus should not be trusted with important data. Even if you know its real capacity, you cannot guarantee that your data is safe.

This video outlines a lot of important information when it comes to counterfeit MicroSD cards and their capacities/performance. It was made back in 2023; however, the information it contains is still true today.

Fake brands that don’t exist #

Often called “no-name” or “generic” MicroSD cards, these are MicroSD cards sold under random brand names, sometimes made to sound similar to reputable brands (e.g., “SanDian”). These cards are typically the same as counterfeit cards, encompassing low-quality flash storage and/or a fake capacity and should also be avoided. It’s always important to only purchase brands you recognise.

Below are some examples:

fake SanDian MicroSD card fake MicroDrive MicroSD card fake Olevo MicroSD card

Brandjacking #

Brandjacking is a tactic used by counterfeiters to sell a product fraudulently using the brand of a real company when that brand does not sell the product in question. This tactic fools consumers into believing they are buying a name-brand product. This is very common on online marketplaces, such as AliExpress.

The below brands DO NOT sell MicroSD cards. Any MicroSD cards bearing these brand names are employing brandjacking and are counterfeit:

  • Lenovo
  • Xiaomi
  • Mi
  • Huawei (Huawei only sell their own proprietary “NM Card” Memory cards for certain smartphones).
  • Thinkplus
  • Sony (Sony only sell professional/industrial grade SD cards and have discontinued their MicroSD cards).

Examples of MicroSD cards using brandjacking:

fake Lenovo MicroSD card fake Xiaomi MicroSD card fake Sony MicroSD card

Where to buy genuine MicroSD cards? #

There are various ways to ensure you are getting a genuine product.

  • Always buy from a trusted & reputable big name retailer.
  • Avoid buying MicroSD cards from online shopping marketplaces such as AliExpress, Wish, Temu & Shein.
  • Some name brands like Sandisk, Samsung and Kingston have official online stores to buy genuine MicroSD cards directly from them. Other name brands will typically have a list of authorised sellers on their website.
  • If you are buying from Amazon, ensure the product listing states that it is both “Sold” and “Shipped” by Amazon. “Fulfilled by Amazon” but sold by a different seller does not guarantee you will get a genuine product.

Disclaimer #

The information contained in this post is based on discussions, pages and forums around the web. flashcarts.net, its members, moderators, and contributors do not claim to own any or all of these flashcarts; nor vouch they will never harm your system; nor guarantee any suggested price; nor warrant completeness of lists at any given point, nor speak on behalf-of any retailers, seller or vendor. In other words, use this for educational purposes and at your own risk.

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