The best microSD cards for the Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256GB of built-in storage, eight times more than the original Switch and four times more than the Switch OLED. But the new console’s improved performance means that some games will hog a ton of that space: Cyberpunk 2077 is a 60GB download, for one, while Split Fiction checks in at 73GB. Other titles aren’t nearly as big, but chances are you’ll eventually want to add more room to the device.

When you do, you’ll need a microSD Express card. These are not the same as the standard microSD cards you may have bought for the first Switch or other gaming handhelds — they’re newer, faster and significantly more expensive. But if you want more space, they’re your only choice. If you’re looking to grab one today, we’ve laid out the best microSD cards for the Switch 2 and broken down what you should know before you buy.

The best microSD cards for the Switch 2 (and why you might want to wait to buy)

Jeff Dunn for Engadget

The Switch 2 is the first mainstream device to require microSD Express for storage expansion, so there aren’t many options available to buy just yet. To make things easy, here’s a list of every microSD Express card we’ve seen at retailers at the time of writing:

128GB

• SanDisk microSD Express Card ($56 MSRP)

• PNY microSD Express Card ($47 MSRP)

256GB

• Samsung microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP)

• SanDisk microSD Express Card ($75 MSRP)

• Lexar Play Pro ($50 MSRP)

• PNY microSD Express Card ($59 MSRP)

• GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP)

• Onn microSD Express Card ($36 MSRP)

512GB

• Lexar Play Pro ($100 MSRP)

• GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($100 MSRP)

• Onn microSD Express Card ($66 MSRP)

1TB

• Lexar Play Pro ($200 MSRP)

• GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($190 MSRP)

Remember: You’re looking for microSD Express, not “Extreme,” a la the branding SanDisk uses for some of its conventional microSD cards. A microSD Express card will have a big “EX” logo printed on it — if you see that, you should be good to go.

Nintendo says the Switch 2 technically supports cards with a capacity up to 2TB, but we haven’t seen any microSD Express model go beyond 1TB just yet. It’s also worth noting that GameStop and Onn (Walmart’s in-house electronics brand) aren’t manufacturers, so it’s unclear who exactly is making their cards.

Currently, stock for each of these cards has been extremely spotty. SanDisk’s microSD Express Card has also increased in price since it first went up for sale in February; originally, it cost $45 for 128GB and $60 for 256GB. Either way, all of these cards are far pricier than traditional microSD options. The