Upgrade Nintendo Switch 2 Storage With Steeply Discounted Samsung 512GB microSD Express

Fast look: microSD Express Black Friday Offers

The favored Lexar Play Pro microSD Express can also be featured in Amazon’s Black Friday sale, however sadly the 1TB version remains to be priced at $200. The value cuts are for the 512GB and 256GB capacities. The 512GB model is available for $99.49 (was $120), whereas the 256GB version is down to $49.49 (was $60).

Greatest microSD Express Playing cards at Amazon

Under, we have listed every microSD Express Card from a reputable brand we might discover on Amazon–though we excluded playing cards which can be lots pricier than common. The Switch 2 is the primary main client gadget to make use of the ultra-fast storage format, so the market is understandably restricted. That mentioned, the variety of choices has doubled a number of occasions over since Nintendo introduced the Switch 2 requires microSD Express to develop storage.

Greatest microSD Express Playing cards at Walmart

Walmart has a smaller choice, nevertheless it has three unique microSD Express Playing cards that it’s best to find out about, too. The retailer’s in-house tech model normally has probably the most inexpensive 256GB and 512GB playing cards. The Onn 512GB microSD Express is at the moment going for $84.77, whereas the 256GB mannequin is barely $46.77. With the Samsung P9 512GB deal working at Amazon, Onn has been dethroned for the primary time. Walmart not too long ago restocked its unique SanDisk GamePlay 512GB microSD Express for $98.

Nintendo Switch 2 space for storing can disappear quick

The Nintendo Switch 2 has 256GB of onboard storage. On the floor, it is a huge leap ahead, because it’s 4 occasions bigger than the Switch OLED (64GB) and eight occasions bigger than the unique Switch and Switch Lite (32GB). However the Switch 2’s skill to run extra graphically intensive video games additionally means bigger file sizes. For context, listed here are file sizes for some present and upcoming Switch 2 video games revealed by Nintendo: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (43.4GB), Metroid Prime 4: Past (31.6GB), Kirby Air Riders (21.7GB), Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (20GB), Mario Kart World (21.9GB), Pokemon Legends: Z-A (10GB), Donkey Kong Bananza (8.9GB).

It can save you your space for storing for these first-party video games by grabbing bodily editions, as a result of the entire titles listed above have the complete knowledge file on the cardboard. That is been the case for each Nintendo-published sport on Switch 2 up to now, however Pokemon Pokopia can be a Sport-Key Card. We’ll simply have to attend and see if that is an anomaly. For third-party titles, exterior of uncommon exceptions like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, bodily video games for Switch 2 are utilizing Sport-Key Playing cards. These are low-capacity playing cards that primarily function unlock keys to obtain the sport from the eShop. So in case you purchase the bodily version of Madden NFL 26, you will nonetheless have to obtain the the sport’s 57.1GB file from the eShop. Different sports activities video games are even bigger: NBA 2K26 is 69.7GB and EA Sports FC 26 is 71.6GB. Outdoors of sports activities: Persona 3 Reload is 21.7GB, and Star Wars Outlaws is nineteen.4GB.

Waiting for subsequent 12 months: Closing Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is at the moment anticipated to have an 87.9GB obtain on Switch 2, in order that sport alone will devour an unlimited chunk of space for storing. In the meantime, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection and Resident Evil Requiem are each estimated at slightly below 30GB.

The prevalence of Sport-Key Playing cards and bigger file sizes for AAA video games basically will doubtless trigger many Switch 2 homeowners to expire of space for storing even quicker than they did on the unique Switch.

microSD Express: What’s it?

The Express format is a current development within the semiconductor business that hasn’t been extensively adopted by producers simply but. When you’re questioning why Express playing cards appear so costly in comparison with the UHS-I playing cards you used on the unique Switch console and most gadgets, all of it comes all the way down to speeds. For instance, the SanDisk Extremely 512GB microSD Card has as much as 150MB/s learn pace, and the SanDisk 512GB Express Card can hit 880MB/s–it’s practically six occasions quicker. Express playing cards are markedly quicker than SATA SSDs; the costs make extra sense with this context.

You’ll be able to take a better have a look at most of the microSD Express Playing cards from the lists within the gallery beneath.

$59

• Read: 800MB/s
• Write: 400MB/s

Samsung’s officially licensed model has a Mario red color scheme and M logo. Unsurprisingly, it’s by far the most popular microSD Express Card for Switch 2. Samsung and SanDisk are widely considered the top brands for microSD cards. Since SanDisk’s Nintendo-licensed card isn’t available yet, Samsung is the only “official” option.

At $60, the Samsung microSD Express is far more reasonably priced than the pricey Nintendo-themed SanDisk cards for unique Switch.

We have included learn/write speeds for every card on this checklist. Learn speeds vary between 800-900MB/s, nevertheless it’s extremely unlikely you’d ever discover a distinction between Samsung’s 800MB/s learn pace and Lexar’s 900MB/s pace.

The Nintendo-licensed Samsung card has the slowest write pace on this checklist. At face worth, this sounds dangerous, however actually it signifies what’s vital and what is not. If the formally licensed card writes 400MB/s, that doubtless means the Switch 2 does not profit from larger speeds.

256GB / 512GB — Black Friday Deal

• Read: 800MB/s
• Write: 330MB/s

Samsung’s P9 microSD Express Card is available in 256GB and 512GB capacities as of November 4. The 512GB model normally retails for $100, which is less than many competitors. The 256GB edition is normally $5 less than Samsung’s officially licensed card for Switch 2. The P9 matches the official card’s 800MB/s read speed, but the max write speed is 330MB/s, making it a bit slower than the Mario-themed card.

1TB / 512GB / 256GB — Black Friday Deal

• Read: 900MB/s
• Write: 600MB/s

The Lexar Play Pro is the only microSD Express Card from a major brand with a 1TB model, but it’ll typically cost you $200-$220.

Outside of Samsung’s officially licensed card, the Play Pro is the most popular microSD Express on Amazon. Unlike most cards in this roundup, the Play Pro was available before the Switch 2 console launch. If you want to add 1TB to your Switch 2, the Lexar Play Pro is the best option.

512GB / 256GB / 128GB

• 128GB
  • Learn: 880MB/s
  • Write: 480MB/s
  • Sustained Write: 100MB/s
• 256GB
  • Learn: 880MB/s
  • Write: 650MB/s
  • Sustained Write: 210MB/s
• 512GB
  • Learn: 880MB/s
  • Write: 650MB/s
  • Sustained Write: 220MB/s

SanDisk’s microSD Express Card is out there in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB fashions. All three capacities supply 880MB/s learn pace, however, as proven above, write and sustained write speeds are markedly completely different when shifting from 128GB to 256GB. The 512GB version is benchmarked for barely quicker sustained write speeds.

At $120, SanDisk’s 512GB mannequin is pricier than just a few different stable decisions, however if you wish to go together with the model with the most effective monitor document, that is the 512GB card to select. The 256GB class is crowded with good decisions to strongly suggest paying full value for it–especially when the formally licensed Samsung card exists. The 128GB mannequin retails for $60, so we might keep away from this one except it is on sale for an enormous value reduce.

SanDisk can be releasing a Nintendo-licensed microSD Express Card with a Mario pink colour scheme and brand, however a launch date nonetheless hasn’t been revealed. We do know that the licensed version is identical card with a special look–just just like the SanDisk Gameplay state of affairs.

512GB / 256GB – Walmart Exclusive

• Read: 800MB/s
• Write: 600MB/s

The Walmart-owned tech brand Onn is known for its budget prices, and that remains true with its microSD Express Cards. It was especially true the first few months after the Switch 2’s launch, as Walmart sold the 256GB card for $35.77 and the 512GB model for $65.77.

The prices increased about a month ago, but $46.77 is still the lowest in the 256GB category. Even with a $19 price hike to $84.77, the 512GB Onn card is often cheaper than the competition.

Anecdotally, I’ve been using the 512GB model since launch day and haven’t experienced any issues.

Walmart says the cards are “water, shock, temperature, and magnet proof.” Your purchase includes a one-year limited warranty.

$98 | Walmart Exclusive

• Read: 880MB/s
• Write: 650MB/s
• Sustained Write: 220MB/s

In addition to offering microSD Express Cards from its own tech brand, Walmart was the only retailer selling the SanDisk Gameplay microSD Express. If you snagged one of these 512GB cards from Walmart while they were being sold for $78, you nabbed quite the deal.

The SanDisk Gameplay is identical to SanDisk’s regular microSD Express from a technical and performance perspective. They were anything but identical when it came to price. The SanDisk Gameplay’s original $78 price was $42 lower than the SanDisk 512GB microSD Express. The latter still sells for $120 today.

But just like it did with its Onn-branded cards, Walmart raised the price to $98 a few months after launch. It was sold out throughout October, but the card is back in stock as of November 4.

1TB / 512GB / 256GB / 128GB

• Read: 800MB/s
• Write: 500MB/s

TeamGroup is a well-regarded budget manufacturer of microSD cards. The Apex is TeamGroup’s first card with Express tech. TeamGroup’s prices are often noticeably lower than competitors, but that’s not the case with the Apex just yet.

512GB / 256GB / 128GB

• Learn: 890MB/s
• Write: 550MB/s

Fashionable finances tech model PNY has 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB microSD Express Playing cards.

(*2*)1TB / 512GB / 256GB

• Learn: 800MB/s
• Write: 700MB/s

GameStop sells branded microSD Express Playing cards, too. It is unknown which producer makes the cardboard, and there are no buyer critiques on GameStop’s retailer web page. It does not make a lot sense to get the 256GB or 512GB mannequin from GameStop when you may get one from a identified model for a similar value or much less.

GameStop is without doubt one of the few manufacturers providing a 1TB mannequin, and the $190 MSRP is the bottom. Nonetheless, if you are going to spend this a lot money on a microSD Express, snagging the Lexar Play Professional 1TB is the safer wager.