Best microSD Cards for Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 has arrived, bringing with it a need for faster and larger storage solutions. While the console comes with 256GB of built-in storage—a significant upgrade from its predecessors—many games will quickly eat up that space. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Split Fiction take up 59GB and 69GB respectively, meaning additional storage will be essential for most players.
Unlike the original Switch, which used standard microSD cards, the Switch 2 requires microSD Express cards. These newer cards offer much faster speeds but come at a higher price. If you’re looking to expand your storage, here’s what you need to know.
Performance Differences Are Minimal
Currently, there are only a handful of microSD Express cards available, and we’ve tested most of them. The results show that in real-world gaming scenarios, the differences between cards are minor.
For example, loading times for Mario Kart World were nearly identical across all tested cards, taking between 18 and 20 seconds to start and about 6.5 seconds to load the first race. Cyberpunk 2077 took roughly 38 seconds to reach the start screen on every card, with save loads in demanding areas like Jig-Jig Street varying by just a few seconds.
The internal storage of the Switch 2 was consistently faster than any microSD card, but the difference wasn’t drastic. If you want the absolute best performance, keeping games on the console’s internal storage is ideal. However, if you need extra space, any of the available microSD Express cards will work fine.
Best Options Available
Since microSD Express is a new standard, choices are limited. Here are the best options currently on the market, organized by capacity:
128GB
SanDisk microSD Express Card ($60 MSRP)
PNY microSD Express Card ($47 MSRP)
256GB
Samsung microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP)
SanDisk microSD Express Card ($73 MSRP)
Lexar Play Pro ($60 MSRP)
PNY microSD Express Card ($61 MSRP)
GameStop Express microSD Card ($60 MSRP)
Onn microSD Express Card ($36 MSRP)
512GB
SanDisk microSD Express Card ($125 MSRP)
Lexar Play Pro ($120 MSRP)
GameStop Express microSD Card ($100 MSRP)
Onn microSD Express Card ($66 MSRP)
1TB
Lexar Play Pro ($220 MSRP)
GameStop Express microSD Card ($190 MSRP)
The SanDisk card was the fastest in our tests, but the differences were small enough that most players won’t notice. The Onn cards from Walmart are the cheapest but have been difficult to find in stock.
What Makes microSD Express Different?
Traditional microSD cards use the UHS-I standard, which maxes out at around 104MB/s. The Switch 2’s improved hardware demands faster storage, so microSD Express was introduced. These cards use PCIe/NVMe technology—the same as modern SSDs—allowing for speeds up to 985MB/s in theory.
While real-world speeds are lower, microSD Express is still a big step up from older cards. However, they’re not backward compatible with UHS-II devices, meaning they’ll only reach UHS-I speeds in non-Switch 2 devices unless you use a specialized reader.
Should You Buy Now or Wait?
MicroSD Express cards are expensive right now due to limited availability. Prices will likely drop as more options hit the market, so if you can hold off, it’s worth waiting. But if you need extra storage immediately, any of the cards listed above will work well.
For now, the best strategy is to maximize the Switch 2’s internal storage before investing in an expansion card. But when the time comes, you won’t go wrong with any of the available options.