How to Identify if a Device Supports UHS-II or UHS-I Protocols?

It is extremely important to find out whether your device is compatible with UHS-II or UHS-I standards in order to achieve the highest data transfer rates. This is especially important for the photographers, videographers and anyone who deals with large data files. Here is the detailed guide on how you can tell whether your device supports UHS-II or UHS-I protocols.

First of all, you need to check the physical parameters of your SD cards for cameras to determine if they are compatible with UHS-II or UHS-I. This involves the checking of the pattern of the pins on the rear side of the card.

• UHS-I Cards:These cards have only a single row of pins on the back side. They support transfer rates up to 104 MB/sec.
• UHS-II Cards:These include the second row of pins that are necessary for attaining greater transfer rates of up to 312MB/s. The extra row utilize Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) technology to increase data rates.

• Manufacturers' Documentation:The best way of getting this information is by consulting the user manual or the official website of the manufacturer. Check for references to UHS 2 Some of the major brands that have adopted UHS-II include Nikon, Sony, Olympus, and Fuji among others.
• Compatibility Lists:Some devices have official compatibility lists on the manufacturer’s webpage or in their forums, particularly concerning higher-tier models that support UHS-II.

Looking at the ports and slots of the device can help you determine whether it supports UHS-II or UHS-I. This involves having a look at the orientation of the pins in the device’s SD card slot.

• Single Row of Pins:Your device is most probably UHS-I compatible if the slot for SD card is capable of accommodating only a row of pins.
• Dual Row of Pins:UHS-II devices normally have slots able to accept the second row of pins. This is often defined in higher end cameras and card readers.

One way to find out if your device supports UHS-II is to measure read/write speed of fastest SD card within the device using performance benchmarks.

• Benchmarking Software:Software like CrystalDiskMark or ATTO Disk Benchmark can be used to measure the read/write speed of the SD card in the device. When the speeds come close to 312 MB/s, it is a sign that the device supports the UHS-II interface.
• Practical Use:Record 4K video or shoot in burst mode; if the device can perform these tasks without any sign of lag, it will likely be compatible with the higher speeds of UHS-II.

Another way of determining whether your adapters and card readers are compatible with UHS-II or UHS-I standards is by checking their specifications.

• USB-C Adapters:Some USB-C adapters declare compatibility with UHS-II cards, which enable faster read and write rates. For instance, the Satechi Type-C UHS-II SD Card Adapter supports transfer rates of up to 312 MB/s.
• Built-In Readers:The integrated card readers of the latest laptops and PCs could also have UHS-II compatibility. For instance, while only the iMac Pro is natively compatible with UHS-II among all the Apple devices.

It is recommended always to cross-check the specifications given by the device manufacturer, observe the physical signs on the SD cards, and, if needed, use the correct adapters as well as card readers. The use of UHS-II cards is mandatory when dealing with 4k videos and huge photo files, which makes it crucial to pay attention to the compatibility of the cards with your devices.

Knowledge of whether your device supports UHS-II or UHS-I can enhance your work significantly if you work with large data files on a regular basis. With these steps, you will be confident about using the best SD card for photography for your device for recording 4K videos, burst photography and more.

By ensuring physical properties of your SD cards, comparing them with the devices’ specifications, scrutinizing ports and slots, making performance tests, and assessing adapters and card readers, you will be able to define whether your device is compatible with UHS-II or UHS-I. This knowledge allows you to maximize the use of memory cards for cameras, which in turn optimizes the management of data.