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Sony MSXM-256S 256MB Memory Stick PRO Duo Card

★★★★★3.9 (25 reviews)

Sony's 256MB Memory Stick PRO Duo delivers 80Mbps read speeds and broad backwards compatibility for legacy Sony cameras and portable audio players.

$49.99*
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*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated:Jun 04, 2026.Price and availability are subject to change.

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Overview

The Sony MSXM-256S (also branded MSX-M256A) is a 256MB Memory Stick PRO Duo card — a first-party Sony storage solution for the Memory Stick PRO Duo ecosystem. It achieves up to 80Mbps read speed with a minimum 15Mbps write speed on 4-pin parallel interface-equipped devices, which was a competitive specification within its format generation. The 4-pin parallel interface is what separates PRO Duo from older Memory Stick variants, enabling the faster sustained transfer speeds needed for continuous image capture and real-time video recording on compatible Sony hardware. Total formatted capacity is approximately 220MB out of the 256MB raw figure.

This card exists in 2024 as a legacy component, not a modern storage upgrade. Its value is narrow and specific: keeping older Sony digital cameras, PSP gaming handhelds, and Walkman audio players functional when they depend on Memory Stick PRO Duo media. Within that scope, Sony's first-party manufacturing consistency is an advantage over third-party cards, which can show wider tolerances in write speed and reliability. The included adapter for standard Memory Stick PRO slots is a practical addition. The operating temperature range — -13°F to 185°F — is one genuinely useful specification for field camera applications. Outside the Sony legacy ecosystem, this card has no practical application.

Key Features

Offering 256MB of total storage capacity in an ultra-compact design

Faster read and write speeds up to 80Mbps.

Offers the ability to record high-resolution moving images in real time.

The MSX-M256A is Sony's most compatible Memory Stick media ever.

Sold by THE EA

Specifications

Model
MSXM-256S / MSX-M256A
Format
Memory Stick PRO Duo
Total Capacity
256MB
Usable Capacity
~220MB
Read Speed
Up to 80Mbps
Min. Write Speed
15Mbps (4-pin parallel interface)
Operating Temperature
-13°F to 185°F
Includes
Adapter for standard Memory Stick PRO slots

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • 80Mbps read speed is fast for the Memory Stick PRO Duo format, enabling responsive file transfers on compatible devices.
  • Broad backwards compatibility with Memory Stick PRO Duo-enabled hardware means it works across a wide range of legacy Sony devices without format conflicts.
  • Included adapter extends usability to standard Memory Stick PRO slots, adding device compatibility without needing a second card.
  • Wide operating temperature range (-13°F to 185°F) means it handles environmental extremes reliably — relevant for field camera use.
  • Sony's own first-party media typically offers better quality consistency and reliability than third-party Memory Stick alternatives.

👎 Cons

  • 256MB capacity is extremely limited by any modern standard — insufficient for today's image sizes or video files even at modest resolutions.
  • Memory Stick PRO Duo is a legacy, proprietary Sony format with no compatibility outside the Sony ecosystem — unusable in SD card slots or current devices.
  • The format is discontinued; this card is only relevant for maintaining older hardware, not for building a modern storage workflow.
  • 80Mbps read speed, while good for its format era, is far below current storage benchmarks — not suitable for any modern performance-sensitive application.

Frequently Asked Questions

It's designed for devices that accept Memory Stick PRO Duo media — primarily Sony digital cameras and portable audio players from the mid-2000s era. It includes an adapter for use in full-size Memory Stick PRO slots. It is backwards compatible with Memory Stick PRO Duo-enabled devices.
The card has 256MB total capacity, with approximately 220MB available for user storage after formatting overhead.
Sony lists up to 80Mbps read speed. The minimum write speed is 15Mbps on devices with Memory Stick PRO Duo 4-pin parallel interfaces. Write speed performance depends on the host device's interface implementation.
Sony specifies that it supports high-resolution moving image recording in real time — but in context, "high-resolution" refers to the standards of Memory Stick PRO Duo-era devices, not modern 4K or HD video formats.
Only if you're maintaining or operating legacy Sony hardware — older Cyber-shot cameras, PSP consoles, or Sony Walkman players that require Memory Stick PRO Duo media and for which larger capacity cards may be incompatible. It's a purpose-specific legacy format, not a general-purpose modern storage solution.

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