1. Meet the Exceria M303 64GB and the EXCERIA PRO M501 64GB microSDXC
Today we ran some benchmarks with two flash-based storage solutions developed by Toshiba, designed to offer you storage space for your digital / video camera, but also for your smartphone - the Exceria M303 64GB microSDXC and the more high-end EXCERIA PRO M501 64GB. They are actually two flash storage solutions aimed 4K shooters, offering different performance levels, as you see below:
| Model |
Capacity |
Interface / Speed Class |
Max. Write Speed |
Max. Read Speed |
Application Performance Class |
5 Years Warranty |
| EXCERIA M303 |
64 GB / 128 GB / 256 GB |
UHS / Speed Class 3, U3 (V30) |
65 MB/s |
98 MB/s |
A1 |
Yes |
| EXCERIA PRO M501 |
16 GB / 32 GB / 64 GB |
UHS-II / Class 10, U3 |
250 MB/s (16 GB), 150 MB/s (32 GB, 64 GB) |
270 MB/s |
No |
Yes |
Starting with the Exceria M303 microSDXC line up, in addition to UHS Speed Class 3, it is equivalent to Video Speed C lass 30. The series comes in capacities up to 256 GB - perfect for 4K video recording in fast and tought situations as well as for capacity expansion for your smartphone. The EXCERIA M303 is also compatible with the latest SD Association's A1 Application Performance specification Version 5.1, with the expanding needs of utilizing microSD memory card, usually used as external storage device, as internal storage for mobile device such as smartphone. The "A1 classification" specifies at least 1,500 random read IOPS (Input-Output access Per Second), 500 random write IOPS and sustained sequential performance of 10MB/s.
The line up supports maximum read/write speeds of 98MB/s and 65MB/s respectively. In addition, rated with Video Speed Class 30 (V30), the M303 provides a minimum data transfer rate of 30 MB/s with a recommended UHS device under the conditions regulated by SD association.
The series is made for hard conditions: waterproof, shockproof, X-Ray proof and temperature proof. The SD adapter included with the M303 Package gives you a wide variety of use options.
The M303 is utilising Toshiba Memory Corporationâ??s 3D Flash memory technology (BiCS FLASH). Operating at a temperature range of -25Ë?C to +85Ë?C, the M303 is shockproof, X-ray proof, and waterproof. The M303 cards come with a five-year warranty.
| Toshiba EXCERIA M303 microSDXC |
| Capacity |
64 GB / 128 GB / 256 GB |
| Interface |
microSDXC, UHS-I |
| UHS Speed Class |
UHS Speed Class 3,
Video Speed Class 30 (V30),
SD Speed Class 10 |
| Max read speed (MB/s) |
98 MB/s |
| Max write speed (MB/s) |
65 MB/s |
Application Performance
Class |
A1 |
| Dimensions |
15.0mm (L) x 11.0mm (W) x
1.0mm (H) |
| Weight |
Approx. 0.3g |
| Operating Temperature |
-25°C to +85°C |
| Storage Temperature |
-40°C to +85°C |
| Warranty |
5 years |
Below the see the plastic packaging of the M303 64GB 64GB microSDXC, with the ADP-HS02 adapter included:
The second Toshiba product we are presenting here is the EXCERIA PRO M501 64GB microSDXC. This card is significantly faster that the Exceria M303, allowing you to shoot in 4K or Full HD with your DSLR camera,
mobile phone or sports camera. The series offers up to 64 GB
and is built specifically for video recording and rapid
photography capture.
Thanks to the included SD card adaptor, it can
be used in a wide variety of devices.
The microSD card series supports UHS speed class U3. It offers read speeds of up to 270 MB/s and write speeds of up to 250 MB/s (16GB) and 150 MB/s (32GB, 64GB).
As in the case of the EXERIA EXCERIA M303 SD Card, the Exceria Pro M501 microSD is x-ray proof, water proof and shock proof.
Here are the specifications:
| Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB |
| Capacity |
16 GB / 32 GB / 64 GB |
| Storage memory |
Toshiba NAND Flash |
| Interface |
SDHC/SDXC, UHS-II |
| UHS Speed Class |
Speed Class 3 (U3) |
| Max read speed (MB/s) |
270 MB/s |
| Max write speed (MB/s) |
250 MB/s (16GB),
150 MB/s (32GB, 64GB) |
| Dimensions |
15 mm (L) x 11 mm (W) x 1.0
mm (H) |
| Weight |
Approx. 0.4 g |
| Adaptor |
SD card adaptor |
| Warranty |
5 years |
| Software & Services |
LC Tech recovery software |
Below the see the packaging of the Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB. Besides the MicroSDXC card and the adapter, the package also includes a small leaflet with a code which activates the LC Technology Data Recovery Software.
2. Benchmarks - Exceria M303 64GB
In the CrystalDisk Mark benchmarks you see below, the Toshiba Exceria M303 64GB topped the 94-95 MB/s in sequential read, and around 72 MB/s for the corresponding write test. Accessing smaller files was adequate for a microSDXC, and normally not as fast as you typically experience from your SSD.
The overall performance of the M303 64GB reached the levels of the Toshiba M401 Exceria Pro 64GB model we had tested in the past.
CrystalDiskMark Read |
| |
Toshiba Exceria M303 64GB |
Toshiba M301-EA 64GB |
Toshiba M401 Exceria Pro 64GB |
| Seq |
94.24 MB/s |
46.51 MB/s |
92.47 MB/s |
| 512K |
83.14 MB/s |
34.72 MB/s |
32.97 MB/s |
| Seq Q32T1 |
93.32 MB/s |
46.93 MB/s |
96.18 MB/s |
| 4K |
5.790 MB/s |
7.299 MB/s |
7.082 MB/s |
4K Q32T1 |
10.32 MB/s |
7.720 MB/s |
8.142 MB/s |
CrystalDiskMark Write |
| |
Toshiba Exceria M303 64GB |
Toshiba M301-EA 64GB |
Toshiba M401 Exceria Pro 64GB |
| Seq |
71.92 MB/s |
14.87 MB/s |
78.67 MB/s |
| 512K |
45.29 MB/s |
0.907 MB/s |
27.59 MB/s |
| Seq Q32T1 |
71.55 MB/s |
12.61 MB/s |
80.30 MB/s |
| 4K |
2.190 MB/s |
0.947 MB/s |
1.518 MB/s |
4K Q32T1 |
2.691 MB/s |
1.027 MB/s |
1.597 MB/s |
In the ATTO Disk Benchmark, the M303 64GB confirmed the previous results, as you see below:
3. Benchmarks - EXCERIA PRO M501 64GB
The Exceria M501 64GB MicroSDXC hit the 210 MB/s and 142 MB/s in the sequential readd and write tests, respectively. The read speed is slower than the 270 MB/s promised by Toshiba, while write was as fast as we expected.
Below you see the performance of the M501 64GB compared to what we measuerd with the Lexar 1800x 64GB UHS-II and the ExceriaPro N101 64GB cards. Generally, the new M501 64GB was a bit slower in the read tests, espacially in the random read tasks.
CrystalDiskMark Read |
| |
Toshiba ExceriaPro M501 64GB |
Lexar 1800x 64GB UHS-II |
Toshiba ExceriaPro N101 64GB |
| Seq |
209.2 MB/s |
205 MB/s |
213.2 MB/s |
| 512K |
163.2 MB/s |
173.6 MB/s |
196.4 MB/s |
| Seq Q32T1 |
192.8 MB/s |
190.6 MB/s |
194.2 MB/s |
| 4K |
7.527 MB/s |
13.62 MB/s |
12.28 MB/s |
4K Q32T1 |
10.74 MB/s |
16.05 MB/s |
16.76 MB/s |
The M501 was slower than the rest cards in the sequential write and read tasks:
CrystalDiskMark Write |
| |
Toshiba ExceriaPro M501 64GB |
Lexar 1800x 64GB UHS-II |
Toshiba ExceriaPro N101 64GB |
| Seq |
142.6 MB/s |
199.9 MB/s |
214 MB/s |
| 512K |
96.42 MB/s |
2.935 MB/s |
30.03 MB/s |
| Seq Q32T1 |
138.5 MB/s |
191.8 MB/s |
186.9 MB/s |
| 4K |
1.754 MB/s |
1.440 MB/s |
1.131 MB/s |
4K Q32T1 |
1.940 MB/s |
2.647 MB/s |
1.205 MB/s |
The ATTO Disc benchmark confirmed the similar reading performacne of the card in the test, and the lag of the M501 in the write tests:
4. Summary
Summing up, both the Toshiba Exceria M303 64GB and the Exceria M501 64GB microSDXC cards performed adequately in our benchmarks, and delivered the read and write speeds they were supposed to. Both cards are shipped with convenient adapters and provide piece of mind being waterproof, X-ry proof and shock proof, plus they 're backed by a 5-year warranty.
With the Exceria M303 64GB you can easily expect reads and writes at over 94 MB/s and 72 MB/s, respectively. Generally its performace was in tandem with what we had experienced when we tested the Toshiba M401 Exceria Pro 64GB, so you get an equally good product at an even better price - it will cost you not more than $30.
The Exceria Pro M501 64GB also turned in a good all-around performance on both CRyslal Disk Mark and Atto Disk Benchmars. It reacheed its maximum write speed of around 146 MB/s by the 64KB block size, while read speeds continued to improve throughout the test, topping out at 212 MB/s. This is roughly the same read speed as the N101 but slower write speed. Compared to the other SD cards such as the Lexar 1800x 64GB UHS-II and the N101 we mentioned previously, the Exceria Pro M501 64GB was competitive in the read part but slower when writing. That's not always bad, considering that the Exceria Pro M501 64GB costs just $46. So for its price point, the M501 provides a good value.