SD Association Introduces APP Performance Class and SD Memory Card Symbol

Mobile phones and mobile computing users can choose the right SD memory card to run applications on mobile devices at optimal performance levels with the innovation from the SD Association.

SD Specification 5.1 establishes the Application Performance Class to meet technical and market requirements to both run and store applications on SD memory cards while still providing storage of pictures, videos, music, documents and other data. Cards offering App Performance will be identifiable with a App Performance Class symbol.

The mobile device market is application-intensive and requires removable memory to ensure minimum random and sequential performance speeds to meet execution time requirements to run apps. The SDA has a long history of innovation to meet market demands, introducing innovations each year. SD is trusted by consumers for its reliable, backwards compatible and interoperable storage, making SD memory cards a market with billions of SD memory cards and devices

“With its consumer-friendly symbol, App Performance Class eliminates buyers’ frustration with identifying app-running compatibility on their Android devices and microSD memory cards,” said Brian Kumagai, president, SDA. “Matching the App Performance Class symbol with your mobile device requirements simplifies the process and continues the SD tradition of matching your memory card to your device.“

Google released Android Marshmallow in Fall 2015, adding SD memory card support as ‘Adoptable Storage Devices,’ which tests for minimum execution time requirements. The benchmark test requires users to own or buy a SD memory card before testing it and some SD memory cards in the market may not pass the test because they were developed for optimal image and video capture, not application-running. The App Performance Class symbol provides product manufacturers with a way to communicate app-running requirements before users buy an SD memory card.

While mobile device manufacturers raised the need for such a performance class, both device and application developers may refer users to specific App Performance Class SD memory cards to meet their minimum levels of combined random and sequential performance.

Upon release, SD 5.1 introduces the first and most basic App Performance level, App Performance Class 1, or A1. SD memory cards displaying the A1 symbol will meet, or exceed, the following levels under specified conditions: