If you are lucky enough that a new nintendo switch 2 is in hand, then you are probably filling it with old and new games. The console comes with 256GB storage; It is eight times more than the original switch and the switch is four times more than OLED. But the better performance of the new console means that some games will hog to a ton of that place. For example, Cyberpank 2077, Which is a 59GB download, whereas Divided story Check on 69GB. While not all titles storage so much, there is a good chance that you want to add more space to your switch 2.
You will need MicroSD Express Card to do this. These are No You may have the first switch or other gaming handheld to the standard microSD card. They are new, sharp and (as expected) is more expensive. But if you want more space, they are your only choice. If you want to grab a grab today, we have the best microSD card for switch 2 and what you should know before buying is broken.
The best microSD card for Switch 2 (and why you want to wait to buy)
Switch 2 is the first mainstream device for storage expansion for the need for microSD express, so many options are not yet available to buy. To make things easier, a list of each microSD express card we viewed on retailers at the time of writing here is given.
128GB
256 GB
512GB
1TB
Nintendo says Switch 2 Technically supports Cards with a capacity of up to 2TB, but we have not seen any microSD express model ahead of 1TB yet. It is also worth noting that the gamestop and ONN (in-house electronics brand of Walmart) are not manufacturers, so it is not clear who is actually making its cards.
The stock for these cards is somewhat patches, especially for high -capacity options. But many of the 128GB and 256GB models seem to be available continuously as the launch week of switch 2. Just be warned that you may have to deal with the extended ship’s time in some cases. The microSD express card of Sandisk has also increased in the price as it first went for sale in February; Originally, it costs $ 45 for 128GB and $ 60 for 256GB.
Either way, all these cards are far from traditional microSD options. For example, the Samsung Pro Plus, $ 17 for 128GB, $ 25 for 256GB, $ 43 for 512GB and this writing costs $ 90 for 1TB.
Remember: you’re looking for microSD expressNot “extreme”, such as branding sandisk uses for some of its traditional microSD cards. A large “former” logo will be printed on a microSD express card – if you see that, you must be good to go.
We have already tested Sandisk’s Express Card and Lexar Play Pro for our broad guide for the best microSD card. Between the two, the sandisk card is very fast Sequential reed Speed – 899 MB/S vs 712 MB/S CrystaldiscmarkTo name a benchmark – which better equipped theoretically to reduce the load time.
Play is sharp for Pro Write sequential (720 MB/s vs. vs. 650 MB/s), available in more sizes and whenever it is in stock, should be cheaper at 256 GB. (Sandisk says that the 128GB version of its card writes a sequential sequential compared to the 256GB model.) Random Performance is almost identical, so both must be equally adept at keeping big games Mario Cart World It is running smoothly.
We tested those cards mainly on a Windows PC and Mac, though. How they perform on the actual switch 2, it remains to be seen. Nintendo did not send initial review units to press, and we have only received our own retail model. So we will need a few more days to finish the test.
For now, however, we cannot say to ensure whether the console presents all microSD express cards at the same speed. This was largely in the case of the first switch: Once a (regular) microSD card hit A Some threshold For performance, there was not such a practical difference between it and other options. Switch 2 is working with a different standard, but if something similar again, the “best” microSD express card bus will be the cheapest one from a reputed brand you want you want.
This brings us to the main piece of our advice: if you can stop purchasing any one of these things quickly, it is probably a good idea. This is not just about the lack of tests – to be honest, we will be surprised that if any of these cards are really “bad”.
This is more about the value: stopping more Tariff sheengansAll these cards are as expensive today as they are likely to get at any time. Switch 2 is already popular and will continue, thus more microSD express cards will be required and prices (eventually) will come down. Try to use all 256 gigabytes cooked in the first switch 2, even if it means removing a game or two. But if you are completely sure that you want more space now, then the card above Needed Be quite good.
What are MicroSD Express Card?
Most microSD cards are based on a standard called Ultra High Speed (UHS), three of which are versions: UHS-I, UHS-II and UHS-III. Most of the cards you purchased would have been purchased in previous use in UHS-I. These include a line of pin in the back and an theoretical maximum data transfer speed of 104 megabytes per second (MB/S). (Although many cards are capable of crossing that limit Ownership technique And card readers.) The original switch has a UHS-I microSD slot, as most other gaming handhelds such as the steam deck of the valve.
UHS-II cards add a second line of pin and can reach 312 MB/s. These are much less and less common than cards based on UHS-i, but they are some cameras and high-power handhelds such as SUS ROG Ellie X. The UHS-III is supported as, meanwhile, the theory is doubled as UHS-II (624 MB/S), but has not actually been used.
The UHS-I cards have been held over the years because they are cheap, widely supported and are enough for things that most people need to do: record 4K videos, photos and so on. But with Switch 2, Nintendo More needsThe new console is dramatically more powerful, which allows it to run the game -demanding games that may basically be designed for strong hardware such as Playstation 5, Xbox Series X or Gaming PCs. Tip It also uses it UFS 3.1 Interior storage, which is much faster than EMMC Used by the original switch. (a custom File disruption engine The load also helps to improve time.) So if the switch is going to accept 2 microSD cards, it requires people who will not bring a serious drop-off in performance and can catch with modern games.
Therefore, SD Express. This is standard Stay technically around Since 2018, but most did not go anywhere until Switch 2 came together. It also uses a second line of PIN, but this MicroSD card avails the PCI Express (PCIE)/NVME interface, which is the same inherent technology used by modern SSDs. As a result, it can produce the speed of reading and writing quite fast, with a current. Theoretical maximum 985 MB/S K.
As mentioned above, the actual world performance will not be quite fast. Even if it was, the best microSD express card will still be much slower than NVME SSD By PS5 And Xbox. ,Sony recommends SSD with sequential read speed of at least 5,500 MB/s.) And they will fall down at their peak speed under continuous loads: for example, Sandsk says that its 128 GB express cards can be low as a continuous writing speed for 100 MB/s.
But they are still a marked improvement on the old UHS-I card, and in principle, they must be faster than some old SATA-based SSDs when it rebuilt the loading game level, asset streaming, or mimics the game for external storage. While the microSD express card of the sandisk can produce sequential read speed around 900 MB/S, Lexar’s professional silver plus -The Top UHS-I pick-kel in our general microSD card guide tops the top of 200 MB/s, and it is with a ownership reader. (On the first switch, it will be close to 100 MB/s.) Write the sequential and the random speed was three to four times better, and sometimes more depending on the benchmarks used by us.
It remains to be seen how well these express cards will catch with extended use, and there is no way to know when their sky-high prices will fall. Non-switch 2 devices that support microSD express are still highly rare, and the standard itself is not backwards with UHS-II, so you will be limited to UHS-I speed if you want to use your card with another device (until you buy a price outsider). Nevertheless, while increased cost and limited selections are annoying, the technique itself seems worthy of the next-gene switch.
