Well, now, ain't this confusing.
- Thread starter RetiredUSNChief
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Judging by the reviews, the top one looks to be an older version of the same card. Bottom one only has 2 very recent reviews.
Just a guess, though. In the past, I've seen where SanDisk has changed SKUs on newer products with the same specs.
Just a guess, though. In the past, I've seen where SanDisk has changed SKUs on newer products with the same specs.
OP
I can see that. But they're marked EXACTLY the same by SanDisk.
What I believe is that one is a newer version of the same thing, with the same specs.
Jeppo
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Higher prices always mean better quality and more prestige. 
Buy once, cry onceHigher prices always mean better quality and more prestige.
OP
No, it's not. They're both actual, different, model numbers for the same product.
I believe what's happening in such instances is that SanDisk (and other companies) simply have a newer product with the same performance characteristics. It's the "same thing", just newer. Therefore it gets a different part number.
What's actually new about it internally could be any number of things. Might be a streamlining of fabrication techniques, different architecture, or whatnot. But outside that tiny flake of plastic, it's 100% functionally identical.
You'll note the top one was originally considerably more expensive, which probably means it is an older model whose price has been marked down to that of the new one (it's before-sale price).
I don't know why they don't indicate this better...perhaps because a micro SD is a really tiny card to start with, having very limited space for such. But I've seen it on much bigger electronic components in the computer world, like a 1 TB SSD I bought a few years back.
In my engineering world, I also deal with parts which may be functionally identical, even visually identical. However, the rules governing what I work on require them to be marked accordingly, somehow. It may have the same part number, for instance, but a different revision number on it. Or the part number itself may be different in some way.
Regardless, if I see both of these on the shelf, I'll buy the cheaper one every time.
Granted that is pretty common, Google repeatedly wanted to change the prefix for that Part No. to a different one, with only Best Buy having it available as shown above, which is why I questioned it. I see more and more identical items with different part no's nowadays though, largely due to the COVID chip shortage. Lincoln Electric (the welding brand) has shifted nearly their entire R&D department to developing multiple replacement boards/spare parts for existing machines based on available chipsets. All spec'd identically, but different part no's based on chip supplier.
Are you daffed man? Go for the $39.99. That way you save $55. With the $37.99 you only save $2. 🤣
OP
Turns out that's what I had to do anyway...by the time I got off work, someone else had already bought the only $37.99 one they had left!
😆
Well you saved $55 dollars so stop complaining. 😂
That's what you get for wasting time telling us what you found instead of buying it in the first place. 😴 If you snooze you lose.
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Good. The newer ones were actually sourced from China with the embedded call home technology.
Actually, it's similar to when an ammo company outsources a product, but brands it as theirs. Like when CCI sub's in Federal bulk .22 in CCI packaging. Or when Winchester temporarily sub'd in IMI product and added an A to the product number.
Actually, it's similar to when an ammo company outsources a product, but brands it as theirs. Like when CCI sub's in Federal bulk .22 in CCI packaging. Or when Winchester temporarily sub'd in IMI product and added an A to the product number.
Les White
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I'll only buy Usb sticks or memory cards from brick and mortar stores. There's way too many fakes on Amazon and eBay and I want a place I can take it back to if there's a problem.