I’ve been tricked my whole life: How do I know if a SanDisk SD card is genuine?

You have probably used an SD card to store a document, photo or video. The high demand for these cards results in a variety of device options in the market with varying prices and storage sizes.

One of the best-selling SD cards is SanDisk, which is also the most counterfeited – and you may have bought a fake one without even knowing the real one. Using such a counterfeit product could end badly for you as you risk losing your important photos or files in case of failure.

We’ve put together these tips to help you avoid falling for scams and find out if a SanDisk SD card is genuine. Check out:

Buy only in authorized stores

The first and best way to guarantee that a product is genuine is to always buy directly from the manufacturer or only from stores authorized by the brand. You can search the authorized distributor/dealer network on the SanDisk website.

Examine the card carefully

It can be quite difficult to distinguish a fake SD from the original just by looking closely, but the physical aspects must be taken into account.

In general, printing is of lower quality for product logos and labels. Some cards may even have typos, logos or other information that act as a warning.

Colors can also give a fake SanDisk SD card. The original has a light texture on the label, while the fake does not.

Another important point to consider is the situations in which the cards arrive. The plastic on the original cover has an off-white matte finish while the fake is transparent. They also open in different directions.

Run tests on your SD card

Counterfeit cards may even be physically identical to the originals, but when we begin our read, write and storage speed tests, they reveal their origin and authenticity.

There are some tests on the computer or mobile phone that can help confirm whether the card is fake or genuine. The H2testw program performs a “scan” on your card and if it manages to do the job uninterrupted and error free, its card is genuine or at least working properly, reducing the chances of data loss.

Now you know how to tell if a SanDisk SD card is fake or real. Be sure to pay attention to details that may indicate the authenticity of the card.