Sony Unveils CFexpress Type A 4.0 Cards and Reader
Sony has introduced new CFexpress Type A memory cards and a companion card reader as part of an update to its TOUGH series and broader media accessory lineup. These releases include two high-capacity cards with CFexpress 4.0 support—1920GB and 960GB models—under the CEA-G series, as well as the MRW-G3 card reader designed to accommodate the increased data throughput.
The CEA-G1920T and CEA-G960T cards are equipped with CFexpress 4.0 technology, offering peak read speeds of up to 1800 MB/s and write speeds up to 1700 MB/s: both models meet the VPG400 certification, ensuring a sustained minimum write performance of 400 MB/s. The update to CFexpress 4.0 is hardware-dependent, meaning existing cards are not upgradeable to the new specification through firmware, and users must purchase new hardware to benefit from the performance improvements.
These cards maintain backward compatibility with existing CFexpress Type A camera bodies, including Sony’s Alpha and Cinema Line models, allowing for immediate use without firmware updates. However, full speed benefits—particularly during capture—require corresponding updates on the camera side. Sony’s decision to adopt the CFexpress 4.0 specification comes after competitors such as ProGrade, Nextorage, OWC and Angelbird had already introduced similar cards in the larger Type B format. Some brands, including OWC, released Type A CFexpress 4.0 cards as early as April 2024.
Structurally, the CEA-G cards conform to Sony’s TOUGH specification, offering approximately five times the drop resistance and ten times the bend strength compared to standard CFexpress Type A cards. The construction also meets IP57 certification, meaning the cards are resistant to dust and water ingress. Additional protections include resistance to extreme temperatures, X-rays, electrostatic discharge and ultraviolet radiation.
To accommodate the bandwidth of CFexpress 4.0, Sony has released the MRW-G3 card reader. It features a CFexpress Type A slot, a 40 Gbps USB-C interface (USB4) and a heat-dissipating enclosure to maintain performance during sustained large file transfers. The reader is compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS and Android devices, enabling cross-platform use for offloading and editing.
The CFexpress 4.0-compatible G series cards are priced at approximately $929 USD for the 1920GB model and $584.99 for the 960GB version. The CEA-M960T and CEA-M1920T from the M series are listed at $749 and $1400, respectively. The MRW-G3 reader is available at $149.99. All three products are expected to ship by August.
