Best MicroSD Express Cards For Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 requires microSD Express cards for storage expansion due to its need for faster data transfer speeds.

A very important detail: the Switch 2 uses MicroSD Express Cards, not regular MicroSD Memory cards. These new Express cards are significantly faster than the older ones. When buying, look for the EX written on the card.

Recommended Memory Cards for Nintendo Switch 2

Lexar Play Pro MicroSD Express (256GB-1TB)

• Speed: Up to 900MB/s read, 600MB/s write
• Why Buy: Offers the highest capacity available and excellent speed for seamless gameplay. Ideal for large libraries.
• Note: Best for series gamers.
• Where To Buy: Amazon / B&H

SanDisk microSD Express (128GB, 512GB)

• Speed: Up to 880MB/s read, 650MB/s write
• Why Buy: Offers a great balance of speed and price, available in 128GB for light gaming or 512GB, which strikes a nice sweet spot.
• Note: A reliable choice for most users.
• Where To Buy: Amazon / B&H

Samsung MicroSD Express (256GB, Nintendo-licensed)

• Speed: Up to 800MB/s read
• Why Buy: Affordable, officially licensed, and features a Mario-themed design.
• Note: Best budget-friendly option.
• Where To Buy: Amazon

PNY MicroSD Express (128GB, 256GB)

• Speed: Up to 890MB/s read, 750MB/s write
• Why Buy: Affordable, available in 128GB for those with only a few games.
• Note: Good budget-friendly option with fast write speeds.
• Where To Buy: Amazon / B&H

List of all MicroSD Express Cards Available

Here is a list of more MicroSD Express Cards on the market. Shop around to see if there are any great deals not shown above. Some of these are just going to be white label brands, which basically means it was made by another company and slapped with a new label.

I’ll benchmark these as soon as readers come onto the market.

Here is some information about the size of card you can expect to need, as well as some recommended cards to purchase.

What Capacity do you need for Nintendo Switch 2

If you’re a parent buying a Switch 2 for your child, you likely won’t need an extra SD card unless you plan to play multiple games. Mario Kart, Smash Bros, Zelda. So, don’t buy a card at first and see how the internal storage works out; as you buy more games, add more storage. However, if you want to play a lot of non-Nintendo titles, these games can be huge, and you will for sure need extra storage.

Personal Anecdotes

As a father of two elementary school children, I’d like to share my personal and family setup to give you a rough idea of how much storage you might need based on today’s popular games.

How Much Storage Young Kids Need

Estimated Total Storage Requirements: 256-512GB

I use 1TB of storage on my Xbox Series X, and my Six-Year-Old Son, who has a Series S, has only 512GB of total internal storage, with a significant portion reserved for the system. This leaves him with only 364GB for games, which is sufficient for his needs. We sometimes have to swap games around.

He has installed Minecraft (1.9GB), Overwatch 2 (66.9GB), Marvel Rivals (68.1 GB), Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville (30.7GB), Goat Simulator 3 (7.1GB), Palworld (11.5GB), Fortnite (65.8GB), and we play Space Marines 2 (65GB) together. And that about maxes out his storage. As you can see, most modern games are around 60 GB in size, and many of the larger games, such as Starfield and Fallout 76, are closer to 100 GB. The Elden Ring base game is 72GB.

On a Switch 2, you’ll likely have mostly Nintendo games, which are usually much smaller in size, aiming for around 512GB total storage as a starting point (meaning buying a 256GB card).

How Much Storage Series Gamers Need

Estimated Storage Requirements: 512GB-1TB.

Older kids and adults, particularly serious gamers, who use the Switch 2 as their primary console and play a lot of the games I listed above and more, will likely want a total storage capacity of 1TB or more, as they’ll likely be playing more AAA (non-Nintendo) titles, which are expected to be available on the Switch 2. You could start with a 512GB card, which would give a total of 768GB, or simply grab a 1TB card and store all the games on the external card, while dedicating all the internal storage to the system to keep things running smoothly.

Is It Your Primary Console?

Also, what you will need all depends heavily on whether the Switch 2 is your only console. I mostly play on PC and Xbox, and would only use a Switch for select Nintendo games, such as Zelda, Smash Bros., and Mario Kart, so that I wouldn’t need much more than 512GB total. I could honestly probably get by just on internal storage until Nintendo starts releasing titles that require more space.

Summary on what size card to buy:

If you are a parent with young kids and only a few Nintendo games, you may not need an SD card at all (at first), or you can start with a 256GB card.

More serious gamers typically start with a 512GB or 1TB model if the Switch 2 is their primary console.

MicroSD Memory Card Tips

Tips:

• Look for the “EX” logo to ensure compatibility.
• Stick to reputable brands like Lexar, SanDisk, or Samsung to avoid fakes.
• Standard microSD cards won’t work for games, but they can store screenshots and videos.

One more note: As someone who has been testing memory cards and MicroSD memory cards for the past decade, I recommend avoiding used or older cards.

Memory cards have a limited lifespan and can develop problems as they age. This year (2025), I had a microSD card start burning, which ended up burning a hole through both the card and the SD card adapter. If the card were not in an Adapter, it would likely have caused damage to whatever device it was in. It was a card I was using for the Retroid Pocket 5. Luckily, it only happened during testing.