The best microSD cards for the Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here, and that means a whole lot more people will eventually need a new microSD card. While the new console comes with 256GB of built-in storage — eight times more than the original Switch and four times more than the Switch OLED — its improved performance means that some games will chew up a ton of that space. Cyberpunk 2077 is a 59GB download, for example, while Split Fiction checks in at 69GB. Other titles aren’t nearly as big (particularly those made by Nintendo itself), but chances are you’ll want to add more room at some point down the road.

Whenever that is, you’ll need a microSD Express card. This is not the same as the old reliable 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,” like the branding SanDisk uses for some of its conventional microSD cards. A microSD Express card will have a big “EX”