As AI and 4K rise in adoption on smart video cameras, these higher video resolutions are driving the demand for more data to be stored on-camera. Today’s security cameras often record video continuously in 1080p, but 4K-compliant cameras are projected to make up over 24 percent of all network cameras shipped by 2023. 1 That means more bits of data generated – up to 5.7x for 4K versus 1080p video – and represents a fast-growing desire for reliable storage onboard security cameras.2
Meet WD Purple™ SC QD101, Ultra Endurance for Security Cameras
Enter, the WD Purple SC QD101 microSD™ card. The QD101 is designed specifically for security system OEMs, integrators and installers for low bit-rate recording and backup storage on mainstream smart video and edge devices featuring a microSD card slot. It is ideal for mainstream recording and backup/failover on-camera storage – when a camera attached to an NVR loses connection – and designed for 24×7 video surveillance cameras.
Whether for security video cameras or edge devices, these microSD cards are intended to supplement the Western Digital WD Purple HDDs that are designed and optimized for security video NVRs.
Designed for 24/7 Smart Video Recording
In smart cities and enterprise settings, security cameras typically use long, continuous recording. These devices need onboard camera storage built for high reliability. The WD Purple SC QD101 microSD card was designed for ultra-endurance with 500 P/E cycles and up to 256 TBW (for 512GB version). This long-lasting, cost-effective storage solution fills a gap for low-end and broad mainstream surveillance camera applications previously only serviced by retail and commercial microSD cards. As industrial-grade storage, this microSD card is robust with humidity resistance and an operating temperature of -25°C to 85°C. As a trusted brand, WD Purple products are made to work reliably in extreme weather conditions and a variety of climates.
Customers are looking for high-endurance, high-capacity, robust, on-camera storage for a variety of public safety and AI analytics use cases. These new products deliver optimized storage technology to handle these exciting new and varied visual workloads at the edge.
Stefaan Vervaet, senior director of Smart Video, Devices Group, Western Digital
Card Health Monitoring for Preemptive Servicing
Another important feature of the WD Purple SC QD101 microSD card is its ability to actively monitor its health through a “Health Status Percentage”. In compatible cameras, this card health monitor provides installers and integrators with the ability to gauge the remaining endurance and preemptively service the card, if needed. It also opens up the possibility of additional revenue streams. By offering proactive maintenance service at regular intervals, installers and systems integrators can create service-level revenue opportunities with customers.
How the WD Purple SC QD101 microSD card Differs from Retail / Consumer microSD Cards
Some buyers are confused at the difference between retail, prosumer, and industrial-grade microSD cards. So, let’s take a moment to clarify the differences between these three types of storage devices.
Smart Video
These include our portfolio of WD Purple microSD cards, including the QD101. The target audience differs substantially from the retail and consumer microSD cards, and includes smart video OEMs, system integrators, and installers. The biggest benefits are ultra-endurance in remote locations, and active card health monitoring for preemptive maintenance.
Prosumer
These include our SanDisk® video monitoring microSD cards. These prosumer focused cards are used in dash cams, web cams, and homeowners or small-medium business owners who build their own smart video systems at home or work. They often have no card health monitoring.
Retail
These include our SanDisk line of SanDisk Extreme™, SanDisk Extreme™ Plus, and SanDisk Ultra™ microSD cards. They are focused on consumers who want to capture more of the photographs or action on camcorders, action cameras, and DSLRs. These cards typically do not have a specified endurance or card health monitoring.
Availability
The WD Purple SC QD101 microSD card is available in capacities of 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB through our commercial distribution to smart video OEMs, resellers, and system integrators. The wide range of capacities allow for different cameras, resolution, and recording implementations – as well as both motion-triggered and 24/7 recording. A three-year limited warranty comes standard with each device.
Learn More about our Smart Video Solutions
The WD Purple SC QD101 microSD card features Western Digital’s advanced 96-layer 3D NAND technology, and delivers a cost-effective combination of ultra-endurance, high-performance storage, and a wide capacity range of up to 512GB for the growing security video market, specifically mainstream surveillance cameras. Find out how else our WD Purple portfolio of storage devices are delivering reliable performance in mainstream security video systems that operate 24/7.
Sources:
- IHS Market, Video Surveillance Intelligence Service – July 2019
- Based on our Surveillance Storage Capacity Estimator tool. Amount of increase can vary based on compression ratios, video formats and other factors. See tool for full details.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain blog and other posts on this website may contain forward-looking statements, including statements relating to expectations for our product portfolio, the market for our products, product development efforts, and the capacities, capabilities and applications of our products. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including development challenges or delays, supply chain and logistics issues, changes in markets, demand, global economic conditions and other risks and uncertainties listed in Western Digital Corporation’s most recent quarterly and annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to which your attention is directed. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.