Are all micro SD cards created equal? I'm looking to get a 64gb micro SD card for my phone (Samsung Note 3 running Lollipop). The prices online run anywhere from $6 to $120. I read on a photography blog that there are speed classes and they recommended high speed for high res video. I'm looking to put my music files on it. 

Is there any difference between a cheap card and a name brand? Do I need to worry about speed class for my smartphone? What about 128gb cards? 



Note: I'm not looking for a brand recommendation, just what differences there might be between micro SD cards.
All SD cards are created equal – but some are more equal than others.1 There's quality for one (as wbogacz stated: "You get what you pay for" – you cannot expect a high-quality long-life product for free). Another criterion are the "classes" – and not only for speed, but also for energy consumption. As higher classes are faster, your battery will last longer for they eat less juice.

With cheap no-name cards you might draw a lucky one, but no guarantees for that. With brand names you get warranty: less risk of short live, and replacements when broken.

My recommendations for use with Android devices:


do not go below class 6 (too slow and too battery-hungry)
use a known brand with good reputation
better pay a buck more than to be sorry later
if money is an issue, better stick with a smaller good card than a cheap big one




1: freely adapted after Orwell's Animal Farm