MicroSD Express Cards are a must-have Switch 2 accessory

Planning to use your trusty MicroSD card for your Switch 2 when it finally arrives? Then we have bad news. Gamers require a whole new storage medium this time around. Specifically, you need MicroSD Express cards for the Switch 2.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is poised to be one of the most successful video game console launches of all time, with high demand for preorders globally. The hype for Nintendo’s next-generation console is understandable, as it’s an improvement over the nearly decade-old original in meaningful ways. It has a larger, higher-resolution screen, significantly faster processor, better GPU, support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, a built-in microphone, and two USB-C ports. It also has the ability to play games in 4K, up to 120Hz (at 1080p and 1440p), with HDR (High Dynamic Range) enabled for better contrast and colors. This bump in power was necessary for the Switch 2 to compete with the latest crop of capable portable PCs, including the ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and Steam Deck OLED.

Nintendo outfitted the Switch 2 with 256GB of internal storage, which is eight times as much as was available in the original Nintendo Switch. That’s a big bump, but it might not be enough space if you have a large library of digital games for the original Nintendo Switch and plan on staying all-digital during the Switch 2 generation. Game file sizes for both first and third-party Switch 2 games have been announced, and several launch titles, including Cyberpunk: 2077: Ultimate Edition, Split Fiction, and HITMAN World of Assassination Signature Edition, will each eat up over 50GB of space apiece. Mario Kart World, Nintendo’s most-anticipated launch day game, will eat up 23.4 GB of space. 

If you’d like to spend time playing games instead of deleting and redownloading them, you can augment the Switch 2’s internal storage by popping in a microSD Express card. All existing Switch games and upcoming Switch 2 games can be downloaded and played from a MicroSD Express card. Critically, the Nintendo Switch 2 is not compatible with a standard microSD card, which was the storage medium used by the original Nintendo Switch. Let me say that again: The Nintendo Switch 2 is not compatible with a standard microSD card.

The difference between MicroSD and MicroSD Express cards

Here’s how you can tell the difference. MicroSD Express cards have a little “EX” insignia (highlighted below) on them. 

So, if the card you’re looking at doesn’t have the “EX”, then you can’t use it with the Nintendo Switch 2. This is confusing because microSD cards are typically augmented with words like “plus,” “ultra,” or “extreme,” all of which sound like they have more to do with performance than “express.” SanDisk prints the words “microSD EXPRESS” on its cards, which is a nice courtesy, but some other companies don’t, so it’d be impossible to tell whether the card was compatible with the Switch 2 without looking for the “EX” print.

Nintendo embraced the MicroSD card as a storage medium over a decade ago with the “New” 3DS XL before continuing to support it with the Switch. The reason the company turned to this new storage format is simple: speed. A microSD Express card can read and write data at 880MB per second and 480MB per second, respectively. This is a giant leap over the read and write speeds of a standard MicroSD card, which top out at 190MB per second and 90MB per second. These improved speeds are required to run modern games without being a bottleneck in performance. 

MicroSD Express cards are available from multiple companies in sizes up to 1TB, but most of them have been sold out since Nintendo fully unveiled the Switch 2 in early April. This won’t matter if you’re holding off on buying the new console, but it will make it difficult for early adopters who want to snag one at launch. If you’re in that boat, we've gathered the best MicroSD Express card options for the Nintendo Switch 2 right now. 

Where to buy MicroSD Express Cards for Switch 2

The most readily available MicroSD Express Card is the 128GB model from SanDisk. This card can hold dozens of smaller games, or a couple of larger ones with some space left over for indie titles. SanDisk also offers a 256GB card, but it’s been out of stock frequently (including at the time of publication), so it’s a riskier bet. Best Buy is offering a Nintendo Switch 2-branded 256GB Samsung MicroSD Express card for preorder. You’ll be able to pick up this MicroSD Express card in store the day the Nintendo Switch 2 is released. Best Buy says it’ll ship the card on June 5, so you’ll get it within a few days of the system’s launch. 

If you’re patient and you want an ultra-high capacity MicroSD Express card to hold all of your digital Switch and Switch 2 games, there are two routes to take. Walmart is offering a 512GB MicroSD Express card from its in-house onn brand, which is currently sold out but an excellent value. That card has four times the storage capacity as SanDisk’s MicroSD Express card for roughly the same price. Having said that, I’ve tested several SanDisk MicroSD Cards over the years and never had trouble with them, while I’ve never had any experience with onn cards. 

Similarly, Lexar is offering MicroSD Express cards with a capacity of up to 1TB, all of which are currently sold out, of course. However, going to the Lexar website allows you to plug in your name and e-mail address to get notified of restocks. When the 1TB MicroSD Express card comes back in stock, you’ll get an e-mail, and can pick one up accordingly. There’s no telling when this MicroSD Express card is going to be available again, but if you’re fine playing the waiting game, it’s smart to keep your name on the list. (The same goes for tracking Switch 2 restocks.)

Your last option: Try to get your hands on the Samsung MicroSD Express cards, designed specifically for Switch gamers. You can find these available for preorder at Best Buy and the Nintendo Store.

The good news is that if the Switch 2 is anything like the original Switch, then you’ll be able to use the same MicroSD Express card you get at launch for the next decade or so. The only time you’ll have to swap one out is if it’s defective or you switch (pardon the pun) to a higher capacity card. As new cards become available, we’ll keep you updated on the best MicroSD Express cards to pick up for the Switch 2.

Does the Switch 2 come with a MicroSD Express card?

Unfortunately, it does not. According to Nintendo, storage cards for the Switch 2 are sold separately.