Lexar ARMOR GOLD and SILVER UHS-II SDXC Memory Cards Introduced – With Stainless Steel Construction

February 3^rd, 2025

Lexar ARMOR GOLD and SILVER UHS-II SDXC Memory Cards Introduced – With Stainless Steel Construction

by Francesco AndreolaFebruary 3^rd, 2025

Lexar has just announced two new series of UHS-II SDXC™ memory cards, ARMOR GOLD and ARMOR SILVER. Offering up to 1TB of storage, these cards stand out from the competition due to their stainless steel construction, which should provide enhanced durability and peace of mind.

While CFexpress Type B has become the de-facto standard for high-end mirrorless and cinema cameras, SD cards remain a widely adopted solution for entry-level to prosumer devices.

Though SD cards are easily accessible and affordable, their plasticky design sometimes leads to rapid wear and tear, potentially putting your hard-earned images at risk. However, Lexar seems to have found an alternative. Let’s take a look!

Lexar 512GB ARMOR GOLD UHS-II SDXC card — Lexar 512GB ARMOR GOLD UHS-II SDXC™ card. Image credit: Lexar

Lexar ARMOR GOLD and SILVER UHS-II SDXC™ cards – features

Both the Lexar ARMOR GOLD and SILVER UHS-II SDXC™ cards are available in five different sizes: 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Their biggest selling point is the stainless steel design, which is said to make these cards about 37x stronger than traditional SD cards, according to Lexar’s own testing.

Lexar 1TB ARMOR GOLD UHS-II SDXC card — 1TB ARMOR GOLD UHS-II SDXC™ card. Image credit: Lexar

Unlike standard SD media, these reinforced cards lack the plastic write-protect switch on the side and have eliminated the plastic ribs on the back that are sometimes prone to breaking. Moreover, to prevent scratches over time, Lexar’s branding and technical specs are laser-engraved on the front surface rather than being printed on a label.

Comparison between traditional SD cards and Lexar ARMOR GOLD series. Image credit: Lexar

The cards boast an IP68 rating, meaning they are protected against dust, debris, and water. Additionally, the rugged steel design is claimed to offer anti-magnetic, anti-static, X-ray, and UV protection. It should also withstand heavy impact (up to 5 meters) and extreme temperatures (from -25° up to 85°C / -13°F to 185°F).

Lexar 1TB ARMOR SILVER UHS-II SDXC card — Lexar 1TB ARMOR SILVER UHS-II SDXC™ card. Image credit: Lexar

However, not all that glitters is gold. Indeed, the cards lag a bit behind the competition in terms of speed. According to Lexar, both series can reach a maximum read speed of up to 280MB/s, but the ARMOR GOLD cards are faster when it comes to writing data (up to 210MB/s, compared to 160MB/s of some of the fastest SILVER cards). Still, both ARMOR GOLD and SILVER cards have a V60 rating for Video Speed Class.

Price and availability

Currently, there’s very little information regarding the price and availability of the new Lexar ARMOR GOLD and SILVER SDXC™ cards. For reference, the Lexar 256GB and 128GB ARMOR GOLD UHS-II SDXC™ cards are listed on B&H for $114.99 and $54.99 respectively.

For more information, please visit Lexar’s website here.

Have you ever had a bad experience with traditional SD cards? Do you think this rugged design could add an extra layer of protection to your precious data? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!