Best Micro SD Express cards for Nintendo Switch 2
You'll need a new type of card.
The Nintendo Switch 2, is out now, and with it, we've seen Nintendo state that your old Micro SD cards for the OG Switch won't be compatible with this new console - you're going to need a Micro SD Express card for the Switch 2, and we've rounded up the best options that you can pick up right now to save you some hassle.
The best options we're seeing at the moment are 256GB options - the officially licenced Samsung card and the more 'generic' SanDisk MicroSD Express cards are £45-50 from Amazon, while the Lexar Play Pro Micro SD Express $60 on Amazon USA. We've got a lot more in the way of recommendations below, though.
Before going any further though, it's worth explaining what Micro SD Express is, and why it's vital for Switch 2. Essentially, these cards are a lot faster than older Micro SD cards whose speeds tended to top out at 200MB/s reads and writes for some of the briskest A2-rated options we've long recommended for use in the OG console. For reference, Micro SD Express cards get a fourfold or better increase in speed up to nearly 900MB/s to provide speeds that are closer to faster SSDs than hard drives thanks to harnessing the powers of PCIe and NVMe interfaces, in the same way as more 'standard' SSDs can for speedy access to files and load times.
The Switch 2 also benefits from a virtual eightfold increase in its internal storage to 256GB from the paltry 32GB of the original model, although having more storage with games constantly getting bigger is useful. Thanks to the the Micro SD Express slot, you'll be able to slide in more storage at a moment's notice, potentially doubling or tripling your overall capacity, or even more if you can get a larger card.
We've already seen capacities for these cards in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB forms from a couple of manufacturers, so you can get the card that suits your needs for your own Switch 2 habits. Of course, as the console matures over its lifespan, expect more manufacturers to make cards and for prices to fall - just look at what's happened to the best Micro SD cards for the Nintendo Switch for instance.
Right now though, here are the best Micro SD Express cards for Nintendo Switch 2 where we've recommended our picks of the bunch. These can range from cheaper cards that provide the best price-to-performance ratio to some absolute behemoths that offer upwards of a terabyte of storage. Testing on these cards is forthcoming, so watch this space.
Best Switch 2 Micro SD Express cards UK
At the moment, we're seeing a handful of Micro SD Express cards in the UK from SanDisk and Lexar, with capacities from 128GB up to 1TB - the heady heights of 1.5TB and 2TB options for mega-bulk storage aren't with us just yet.
As it stands, 256GB cards are arguably the best value as both 512GB and 1TB models are heinously expensive, even if the latter offers better price per GB.
| Buy | Price | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Value Switch 2 Micro SD Express Card | 256GB Samsung Micro SD Express | £49.95 | 19.5p/GB |
| Best Overall Value Switch 2 Micro SD Express Card - Alternative Pick | 256GB SanDisk Micro SD Express | £45.49 | 17.8p/GB |
| Best Value 512GB Switch 2 Micro SD Express Card | 512GB SanDisk Micro SD Express | £93.99 | 18.4p/GB |
| Best Value 128GB Switch 2 Micro SD Express Card | 128GB SanDisk Micro SD Express | £41.99 | 32.8p/GB |
| Best Value 1TB Switch 2 Micro SD Express Card | 1TB Lexar Play Pro Micro SD Express | £208 | 20.8p/GB |
Best Switch 2 Micro SD Express cards USA
At the moment, we're seeing a similar handful of Micro SD Express cards in the USA from SanDisk Lexar, as well as PNY and Samsung, with capacities from 128GB up to 1TB - the heady heights of 1.5TB and 2TB options for mega-bulk storage aren't with us just yet.
As it stands, 256GB cards are arguably the best value as both 512GB and 1TB models are heinously expensive, even if the latter offers better price per GB.
| Buy from Amazon USA | Price | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Value Switch 2 Micro SD Express Card | 256GB Lexar Play Pro Micro SD Express | $59.99 | 23.4¢/GB |
| Best Value 512GB Switch 2 Micro SD Express Card | 512GB Lexar Play Pro Micro SD Express | $120 (availability expected end of Sept 2025) | 19.5¢/GB |
| Best Value 128GB Switch 2 Micro SD Express Card | 128GB SanDisk Micro SD Express | $53.99 (temporarily out of stock) | 42.1¢/GB |
| Best Value 1TB Switch 2 Micro SD Express Card | 1TB Lexar Play Pro Micro SD Express | $220 (availability expected end of Sept 2025) | 22¢/GB |
According to Nintendo themselves, the Switch 2 will support cards up to 2TB in size, the same as the original Switch. We're yet to see cards this large though in the MicroSD Express space - it may be some time, considering we've only just got them for more 'standard' Micro SD cards. They also say you'll need a system update over the internet the first time you use a Micro SD Express card with the console.
We're still waiting on details concerning any minimum speed requirements on these cards, but as and when we get it, it'll be right here. What we can be sure of at the moment is that you'll be welcome for the extra space, both internal and external, given the size of some of these games. For instance, Cyberpunk 2077, a Switch 2 launch title, will take up 64GB of space on the console. Nintendo's launch title game sizes are smaller, with the largest being Mario Kart World at 23.4GB. Interestingly, the Switch 2 cartridges are likely to be physical game keys of sorts, with most of the data for games being downloadable from the internet.
We've seen cards from Lexar and SanDisk make their way to market first, with those officially-licenced Nintendo Samsung and SanDisk variants available, too. PNY has also waded in with cards recently, although stock of these is scant in the USA, while there is also Adata cards that rank among the best Switch 2 accessories we've rounded up.
As well as offering Micro SD Express cards as a requirement, the Switch 2 is a big upgrade over its predecessor with a larger 7.9-inch 1080p screen with up to 120fps support, HDR in some games and support for up to 4K resolution displays when docked - oddly though, its battery life is quoted to be worse than its predecessor. You can read everything we've learnt about the Switch 2 in our dedicated Direct article, and what Rich and Tom made of the Switch 2 with their hands-on article, as well as our full hardware review..
I think that's about it for now, but if you spot any other details concerning these Micro SD Express cards for Nintendo Switch 2, feel free to reach out to us on @DealsFoundry on X or @dealsfoundry.bsky.social on Bluesky.