Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB review

Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB: One-minute review

Considering that this MicroSD card is quite literally the size of your thumbnail, the 1.5TB of storage it contains is unbelievable. However, while such an amount of storage might have seemed excessive a year or two ago, with the prevalence of game save data and screen capture, as well as the latest digital cameras and other media devices becoming increasingly storage-hungry, this increase in capacity is welcome.

As the card is small, there's really little to it outwardly, except that in the blister pack comes the small MicroSD card and a standard SD card adapter. This means that it is compatible not only with mobile phones but also with cameras, drones, consoles, and computers.

The size means that there isn't much room for design aside from the basic branding, speed ratings, and capacity. As this card adheres to all MicroSD card standards, the size and design are set to ensure compatibility.

In the tests, the card was used in both DJI drones and GoPro Hero12 Black action cameras, which had easy compatibility for each and were able to keep up with the 4K video data capture demands that these devices required. We've tested many of the best MicroSD cards, and there were a few older action cameras where the card was inserted but not recognized, so it's worth checking the capacity limit for the device; however, all recent releases worked without issue.

In use, the card kept up with recording 4K video on the GoPro Hero12 Black without issue, and the V30 class rating was more than sufficient for the task.

In the speed tests, it's possible to see where this card's performance lies; compared to the latest high-speed cards, the V30 rating is a little slower than the latest V60 or V90 cards. But then, you have all that capacity, and most devices that take MicroSD cards don't process the amount of data that the faster cards can currently cope with.

The Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB is also exceptionally well priced when compared to the competition, so unless you require really high-speed transfer rates, this card will more than meet the demands. At an outstanding price, there really is little not to like about this one.

Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB: Pricing and availability

• How much does it cost? $154
• When is it available? Now
• Where can you get it? It is available for sale in the US, UK and Australia

The Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB microSDXC UHS-I Card is available in different capacities, including 1.5TB, 1TB, 512GB, 256GB, and 128 GB. The 1.5TB version looked at in this review is ideal for Action cameras, drones, gaming devices, smartphones, and tablets and is available for purchase at Amazon. 

The card is widely available, but the price may vary. It can be purchased from retailers such as Amazon.

• Value: 4/5

Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB: Benchmark

The Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB microSD card performed well in the benchmark tests, nearing its maximum read speed of 100MB/s and exceeding the expected write speed of 50MB/s. In all tests, it consistently achieved read and write speeds around 90MB/s and 85MB/s, respectively, demonstrating a decent ability to handle large files both in capture and playback when it comes to video. 

Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB: Specs

Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB: Build and Handling

The Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB microSDXC UHS-I Card conforms to the small-form-factor MicroSD format, which is favoured by mobile devices, action cameras, tablets, game consoles, and drones. Measuring 71.5 x 43.5 x 8mm and weighing just 1 gram, its build and handling adhere to standard conventions.

The exterior is plastic, featuring the Integral logo, Video speed class, and older speed class ratings of U3 and Class 10, which signify its capability to meet the demands of most devices. For mobile device users, the card's compliance with the A2 standard assures that the data access speed is sufficient for most applications.

Although designed for versatile use and compatible with various devices, the card's subdued colour and minimal text suggest a primary design focus for mobile device usage rather than for action cameras, drones, or consoles. This is less about speed and more because, in these latter devices, the card is frequently moved from the device to a computer, and brightly coloured cards are preferred to aid in locating them if dropped.

A noteworthy design element is the UHS-I interface, identifiable by the single row of connectors. While most devices support UHS-I rather than UHS-II, this distinction is important for ensuring compatibility.

• Design: 4/5

Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB: Performance

The packaging and literature for this card highlight its design for use with tablets, phones, action cameras, drones, and gaming, which just about covers all bases. However, upon examining the design, capacity, and speed, this card excels as a mass storage solution for mobile devices.

The primary reason for this suitability is the need for colour; as any action camera or drone user will know, a brightly coloured MicroSD card is essential, as anything less is prone to be dropped and lost.

The small Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB card fits without issue into various devices, including drones, cameras, and phones. It is easily recognized and formatted on all modern devices. In use, there are no issues, and the card's write speed keeps up with the demands of cameras and devices as required.

When reviewing images and footage, the card's access speed matched its write speed, enabling smooth video-on-demand playback.

In benchmarking tests, the Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB microSD card performed better than expected. Integral highlights a read speed of up to 100MB/s and a write speed of 50MB/s on the card's packaging and product page. Speeds reached up to 97.88 MB/s for reading and 89.31 MB/s for writing in CrystalDiskMark results, nearly hitting the upper limit and exceeding the quoted write speed. This level of speed ensured that high-definition video from the DJI Mavic 3 Pro and GoPro Hero12 Black was recorded and played back smoothly, proving the card's suitability for action cameras and drones and its ideal use as a storage solution for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

The card's performance in AJA, ATTO, and AS SSD benchmarks, with read and write speeds around the 90 MB/s and 85 MB/s marks, respectively, further highlighted its reliability in handling large files. This makes it particularly effective for managing a broad array of media files, from 4K videos to high-resolution photographs and extensive music collections for those not streaming.

• Performance: 3.5/5 

Should I buy the Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB?

1.5TB of storage on such a small card is hard to believe, yet the Integral handles that storage with ease and provides decent performance and plenty of storage capacity. 

While this card has decent transfer speeds, it is limited by the V30 class, which it far exceeds in the tests; however, it's worth bearing in mind that over sustained and continual use, the performance and the speeds seen in this test will not be guaranteed. So if you need fast, quick access, then this card is outstanding, and while it will cope with transfer speeds that push the card's abilities, if you need that performance, you should be looking at a V60 or V90 card.

If you're looking to store and access large data files, the Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB is a well-balanced option offering fast access and transfer speeds, which will ultimately reduce your time spent waiting for files to open or transfer. Whether it's for professional use, where quick access to large project files is crucial, or for personal use, where seamless media playback and transfer are required, this card meets the demands of most users.

1.5TB of storage on such a small card is hard to believe, yet the Integral Ultima Pro handles that storage with ease, providing decent performance and ample storage capacity.

While this card has decent transfer speeds, it is limited by the V30 class, which it far exceeds in tests. However, the performance and speeds seen in these tests may not be guaranteed over sustained use. So, if you need fast, quick access, this card is outstanding, but if you require consistently high performance, you should consider a V60 or V90 card.

If you're looking to store and access large data files, the Integral Ultima Pro 1.5TB is a well-balanced option offering fast access and transfer speeds. This will ultimately reduce the time you spend waiting for files to open or transfer. Whether it's for professional use, where quick access to large project files is crucial, or for personal use, where seamless media playback and transfer are required, this card meets the demands of most users.

How I tested the Lexar Play microSDXC 1TB

For this test the card was used in several different devices all of which support the exFAT. Before starting this test the card was reformated to give the greatest compatibility for the real world tests and also for testing through the benchmarking software.

The softare used included the latest versions of CrystalDiskMark, Atto, AS SSD and AJA benchmarks, noting the best scores achieved in each. They are all free and can be downloaded by anyone. After the standard benchmarks I then use the card in a variety of tech, including a GoPro Hero12 Black, Insta360 Ace Pro and DJI Mavic 3 to ensure compatibility and performance over a sustained period. I then transfer a folder of files, roughly 10GB in size, to get a rough idea of real life performance. 

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