Picking up one of the best microSD Express cards for Nintendo Switch 2 should be at the top of your to-do list if you own the latest Nintendo console. Expanding your system’s storage is one of the easiest, yet most substantial upgrades that you can make and it’s something that I would recommend every player looks into.
The Nintendo Switch 2 ships with just 256GB of internal storage out of the box, which isn’t a huge amount considering the size of some of the most popular games. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition, for example, come in at over 60GB each so it’s easy to fill it up. With a compatible microSD Express Card, you can add 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or even 1TB (1,000GB) to keep more games installed at the same time.
I’ve been testing a wide range of microSD Express cards since the console launched, carefully comparing their performance in everyday use and evaluating how good the value proposition of each model is in order to put together this list of the very best. Expect frequent updates as more options enter the market, or as new models of existing cards become available.
Dashiell Wood
As Gaming Editor at TechRadar, it’s my job to keep on top of the latest and greatest product releases including the Nintendo Switch 2. I’ve covered the console extensively since it reveal, attended preview events with Nintendo, and been testing it extensively hands-on since day one.
The quick list
SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2
Best overall
This official microSD Express card from SanDisk is very fast and reasonably priced, making it the best overall option.
Best budget
With a wallet-friendly 128GB model and regular discounts at online retailers, the PNY microSD Express Card is the top budget pick.
Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card
Best high capacity
As one of the first 1TB microSD Express cards on the market, the Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card is a must-have for those with big libraries.
Best overall microSD Express card for Nintendo Switch 2
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The SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 is our officially licensed pick and the best overall option for Nintendo Switch 2 players.
As the card has been endorsed by Nintendo, you can rest assured that it will work perfectly with your system right out of the box. It also means that it comes in an attractive Super Mario red color, with packaging that clearly denotes its compatibility with the Nintendo Switch 2.
In my testing it proved faster than the other official alternative from Samsung, and was actually ranked as one of the fastest microSD Express cards that I’ve tested thus far. SanDisk claims that the car offers a 880 MB/s read speed, with a 650 MB/s write speed – but it actually outperformed these estimates in my benchmarking. I managed to record a 894.4 MB/s read speed and 674.1 MB/s write speed in my standardized test.
The price is also attractive, with 256GB coming in at $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$79.95. It frequently receives discounts too, so it’s definitely one to watch if you’re after a deal.
The only major downside here are your limited options when it comes to capacity. SanDisk only offers a 256GB version right now, with no 512GB or 1TB offering unlike some other brands – which limits its usefulness if you’re after a significant upgrade in storage capacity.
Best budget microSD Express card for Nintendo Switch 2
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The PNY Micro SD Express Card is currently our top budget pick. The 256GB model retails for $59.99 / £59.99 / around AU$100 – but is regularly a few dollars less on sites like Amazon. There’s also a 128GB model to consider, which is often below $40 / £35 and comfortably the cheapest option on this list.
This card isn’t officially licensed like the SanDisk model, but it still offers more than enough performance for smooth play on the Nintendo Switch 2. PNY quotes a 890MB/s read speed and a 750MB/s write speed for the 256GB version, figures which the card came close to matching in my testing. It achieved a 893.74MB/ read speed and 713.42MB/s write speed in my benchmarks, putting it almost neck and neck with the SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2.
I used both cards for a significant period of time side by side, directly seeing how their performance stacks up in day-to-day use and did not notice any noticeable performance differences in even the most demanding games.
Although there is no 1TB option, PNY offers a 512GB version of the card, but it’s tricky to get your hands on outside of the US.
Best high capacity microSD Express card for Nintendo Switch 2
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Lexar was one of the first brands to bring a 1TB microSD Express Card to market, and its Play Pro model remains one of your best options if you’re after the largest possible storage upgrade. It’s been my personal card of choice when I’ve not been testing other models, namely because its sheer size is perfect for my massive library of games.
Lexar claims a 900MB/s read speed and 600MB/s write speed, though this card’s benchmark performance was a mixed bag. It offered a solid 831.97MB/s read speed, but a much lower 310.03MB/s write speed. This might lead to slower performance in some situations, like copying large games between internal and microSD Express storage on your Nintendo Switch 2, but I can say that it did not impact how games actually played in my testing.
Everything from demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition to less intense adventures such as Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster ran perfectly smoothly, with no missed frames, slow to load textures, or noticeable increase in loading times.
On top of that showstopping 1TB model, Lexar also offers smaller 512GB and 256GB options that come in at $119.99 / £99.99 and $58.98 / £59.45 / AU$119.34 respectively.
Best microSD Express cards for Nintendo Switch 2 – FAQs
Do microSD cards work with Switch 2?
Original microSD cards do not work with the Nintendo Switch 2. If you previously used a microSD card with your Nintendo Switch, then you unfortunately won’t be able to bring it forward to the Nintendo Switch 2.
What’s the difference between microSD and microSD Express?
Despite looking very similar, microSD and microSD Express cards are quite different. The latter is a more modern version of microSD that was released back in 2019. They’re significantly faster than regular microSD cards, reaching speeds similar to high-end SSD storage devices.
Do microSD Express cards work with the original Switch?
Although microSD cards do not work with the Nintendo Switch 2, microSD Express cards do work with the original Nintendo Switch. There is no real reason to consider using them with an old Switch, though, as they do not perform any better than regular microSD cards when inserted into that console and are much more expensive.
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dash.wood@futurenet.com (Dashiell Wood)
