Best SD Cards for DJI Mini 2 SE

The Mini 2 SE is one of the newest and most affordable DJI drones. 

While this is a budget drone, it’s fantastic for learning and general use, including recording videos and taking photos.

These videos and photographs have to be stored somewhere.

For this reason, we will look into the best SD cards for the DJI Mini 2 SE.

Why do we need SD cards for the DJI Mini 2 SE? #

Any video or photo taken on the Mini 2 SE must be stored on a memory card.

Unfortunately, the Mini 2 SE lacks internal storage. This is to keep the price of the drone low.

Therefore, having an SD card is mandatory to film or photograph with this drone.

There are many SD cards on the market, and knowing which to buy is essential because not all SD cards will work with the Mini 2 SE.

A poor or cheap SD card may result in the footage stuttering, freezing, delaying, and having issues that will result in inadequate videos or images.

**» MORE: **Best DJI Mini 2 SD Cards (& Most-Common Problems)

What type of SD cards do you need for the DJI Mini 2 SE? #

The type of SD card the Mini 2 SE uses is a MicroSD card.

The modern MicroSD card type is MicroSDXC, which will support higher transfer speed and storage.

If the transfer speed for a card is lower than the bitrate of the video recorded, the card will not keep up, and the image stutters, lags, freezes, etc.

Note: The writing speed of a memory card is not the same as the reading speed, and this can drastically fluctuate. Always look for the “V” in the SD card (minimum writing speed, which is in megabytes per second, mb/s) to be higher than the maximum bitrate of the DJI Mini 2 SE (which is calculated in megabits per second, mbps). 8Mbps equals 1Mb/s.

That’s why the Mini 2 SE max bitrate is 40mbps, which equals 5mb/s, and a V30 SD card supports minimum writing speeds of 30mb/s.

If your video recordings stutter and lag, this is the first thing to troubleshoot.

The max video bitrate, at 40mbps, is far inferior and slower compared to many other DJI drones.

Both the 16 and 256 GB memories support a single card for the Mini 2 SE.

This doesn’t mean other cards are incompatible. DJI tested the Mini 2 SE and other drones extensively with many SD cards to ensure peak performance when recording and photographing. Our recommended cards passed all their tests.

» MORE:** **Is DJI Mini 2 SE Right for You? (Here’s Why It Is)

Best DJI Mini 2 SE SD cards #

SanDisk Extreme 128GB V30 A2 microSDXC #

This is our top recommended SD card for the Mini 2 SE because:

• The price of the SD card is relatively low per gigabyte (about 10 cents per GB).
• The SD card supports high transfer speeds of up to 190 mb/s.
• The capacity of the card is more than enough for a photographer and even for filming if you don’t plan to film many hours in a row.
• This is one of the most highly rated and purchased SD cards, with over 52k reviews on Amazon.
• This SD card will work well not only with the Mini 2 SE but with most DJI drones.

SanDisk is known as the leader in high-quality SD cards for many devices, from drones to action cameras, phones, dashcams, and so on, for personal and professional use.

**» MORE: **DJI Mini 3/Mini 3 Pro: Where to Put the SD Card (Explained)

SanDisk Extreme 256GB V30 A2 microSDXC #

Our Pick

The SanDisk Extreme 256GB shares the same advantages of being a top-quality card for drones and multiple devices.

This SD card is only one of the 256 GB the Mini 2 SE supports, according to DJI.

Therefore, if you need more space for hours of filming in 2.7k, this is the right choice for your drone.

The price per gigabyte, in this case, is about 9 cents.

Lexar Professional 667x 128GB microSDXC  #

With a similar price to the SanDisk SD cards, the Lexar 667x is a professional-level 128 GB card.

This card allows you to record in 4k UHD without issues.

Remember that with the Mini 2 SE, you can only record in 2.7k at 30 frames per second.

What I love about this card is it offers lifetime limited product support. Therefore, if you have an issue with this Lexar card (and hopefully you won’t), pop a question to their support team.

Netac Micro SD Card 64GB 2 Packs #

If you’re looking for the cheapest SD cards for your drone, BUT reliable, with Netac, you can get 2x 64 GB MicroSDXC cards to use with your Mini 2 SE.

The writing speed of this SD card is more than enough to cover the bitrate of the highest resolution in a Mini 2 SE and take photographs without any stress.

SAMSUNG EVO Plus 128GB Micro SDXC #

The Samsung EVO Plus is a fantastic alternative to the SanDisk Extreme if you want a cheaper, reliable SD card.

Samsung is well known for creating high-quality memory devices such as SSD hard disks and memory cards.

I have had a Samsung EVO Plus SSD for over five years, and it’s never failed me. 

My personal experience with Samsung memory storage devices is beyond excellent. Nothing negative to report.

The SD card has a transfer speed of up to 130mb/s, which should cover the requirements of the Mini 2 SE.

**» MORE: **All About SD Cards for DJI Mavic Mini and Mini 2 Drones

Understanding SD cards #

When we look at an SD card, we may notice different symbols. Let’s take a look at these symbols and their meaning, shall we?

• U3 Class: Minimum UHS transfer speeds of 30mb/s. Usually, the transfer speed is much higher but can fluctuate because of temperature, capacity, and device capabilities.
• V30 Class: Minimum video transfer speeds of 30mb/s (what we’re looking for). As with the U3 class, the video transfer speed will be much higher, but this is the minimum amount.
• A2 (Application Performance Class 2): This makes the physical part of the SD card a much higher performance than the A1.
• C-symbol (C2, C4, C6, C8, or C10): This is the minimum sequential writing speed between 2mb/s for C2 to 10mb/s for C10. 

**» MORE: **Best SD Cards for DJI Air 3

How to choose the right SD card for your DJI Mini 2 SE #

Are you a photographer or taking videos with the DJI Mini 2 SE?

• As an aerial photographer, you may not need much space, so a 64 GB SD card is enough, but it’s best to go with 128 GB if you plan to keep images stored.
• If you record videos, don’t pick a card less than 128 GB, as you will have issues with storage space, especially if you’re going to keep your files there.

Are you going to travel with your drone internationally?

• Pick an SD card that is resistant to X-rays. 
• When you get through the customs and put your drone on the belt for scanning, X-rays are used to check for content. The X-rays could harm SD cards and other storage devices if not appropriately shielded.

Do you travel with your Mini 2 SE but without your laptop?

• Ensure your SD card will have more than enough space to store all the videos and photos you take on your trip.
• I recommend multiple medium-sized memory cards rather than one large SD card to split your recordings and photos in case something happens with your drone or card.
• Beware of the current weather and store your DJI Mini 2 SE SD cards safely in a dry place.

**» MORE: **Best DJI Mini 3 SD Cards

Do I need to format the SD card before first use? #

Usually, SD cards don’t need to be formatted for first use. 

They are already formatted from the factory, either FAT32 or exFAT, depending on card capacity.

Very low memory cards may come with FAT16 format, but this may not be compatible with the Mini 2 SE.

I personally recommend formatting the SD card for the first time either by connecting it to your computer or directly in the drone.

If you connect the SD card to the computer, you can choose between formatting on FAT32 or exFAT formats.

• For MicroSD cards 32 GB and under, FAT32 is the recommended format for the Mini 2 SE.
• For MicroSD cards above 32 GB, you must use exFAT format, which the Mini 2 SE fully supports.

**» MORE: **DJI Mini 3 Pro SD Cards: How to Insert, Eject, and Format (Video)

How to format a MicroSD card in the DJI Mini 2 SE (Step-by-step) #

Step 1: Insert the SD card into the drone.

**Step 2: **Connect your mobile phone (with the DJI Fly App installed) to your Mini 2 SE controller using the provided data cable.

**Step 3: **Remove the gimbal protection and unfold the arms.

**Step 4: **Turn on the Mini 2 SE and DJI RC-N1 controller. Be careful not to start your drone motors.

**Step 5: **Initiate the DJI Fly App and go into the live screen mode.

On the main live view screen, tap “MENU” to enter the menu of your drone.

**Step 6: **Go to the “Camera” and scroll down to the storage location.

**Step 7: **Under “Storage Location,” you can see the SD card’s total memory and how much has been used.

Note: The DJI Mini 2 SE doesn’t have internal storage – all drones using the DJI Fly App use the same process of formatting SD cards.

**Step 8: **Press “Format,” select “SD Card,” and tap “Format” to format your DJI drone SD card.

You will be notified after the SD card has been formatted completely.

Note: If you format your SD card using this method, you don’t need to select the format option FAT32 or exFAT. These will be automatically assigned.

I recommend you check out the following article if you want to format your SD card using other methods.

**» MORE: **How to Format SD Cards in DJI Drones (Quick Steps with Photos)

Do you need a memory card for your DJI Mini 2 SE remote controller? #

The Mini 2 SE is only compatible with the DJI RC-N1 remote controller, which is the one you have to connect your mobile phone with.

You will not need to purchase any additional SD cards for this RC because it doesn’t support an SD card. 

This works only with DJI RC or RC Pro, which are not compatible with the Mini 2 SE.

**» MORE: **DJI Mini 2 SE Controller (All You Need to Know)

Tips for managing DJI Mini 2 SE SD cards #

A memory card is a very delicate electronic, and you can easily damage, lose, or corrupt it.

That’s why I will recommend a few safety tips to manage the SD card properly.

• Keep your memory card stored in the Mini 2 SE or in a safe place to avoid losing it. You can use a specific MicroSD card holder to store all your SD cards in a secure location.
• Do not place your SD card near any magnetic source (e.g., speaker). The magnetic field can magnetize and corrupt your SD card, causing you to lose your files in the process.
• You should have multiple smaller-sized SD cards if you plan numerous shots and swap after each drone flight for safe storage of your files. 
• Alternatively, if you have a laptop or iPad, you can always back up your DJI Mini 2 SE SD card on it.

****» MORE: ****DJI Mini 2 SE vs. DJI Mini 3 (Here’s My Choice)

My SD card is not recognized by the DJI Mini 2 SE. What to do? #

There are multiple reasons why the drone doesn’t recognize the SD card you purchased for your Mini 2 SE.

Before troubleshooting it, can I ask: Has your SD card been working and suddenly stopped reading, or is it not recognized new?

If you purchased your SD card new:

Is your memory card on the DJI list for the drone? If not, this may be the issue.

Either way, if not recognized by the Mini 2 SE, please insert it in the computer to see if it’s recognized. 

• If the memory card is recognized by the computer but not by your Mini 2 SE, this means your SD card is not compatible with the drone.
• If the memory card is not recognized by either Mini 2 SE or the computer, the card could be corrupted. You should return it and request a new one.

If your SD card was working with the Mini 2 SE but stopped working:

Connect it to the computer and see if your computer recognizes it. 

If it does, try formatting your SD card. Beware that if you had any data, you could lose all of it. 

If you want to recover the data from the corrupted SD card, you will have to appeal to either a recovery software or professional services.

After formatting the SD card, see if it’s recognized again by the Mini 2 SE. Because this worked in the past, there is no reason it shouldn’t now.

However, if your SD card stops working and is not recognized by your computer at all, there’s a possibility it’s permanently damaged.

**» MORE: **How to Fix My Drone Memory Card Problem? (Solved!)