Nintendo Switch 2 Needs MicroSD Express

Nintendo's recent announcement about the Switch 2 confirmed the console will exclusively support MicroSD Express cards for expanded storage. While this means existing MicroSD cards won't work, the performance benefits are substantial - these advanced cards operate at speeds comparable to the console's internal UFS storage.

Understanding the Speed Advantage

The traditional MicroSD format has evolved through multiple speed tiers over the years, starting from just 12.5MB/s to the current SD UHS-III at 312MB/s. The game-changing SD Express standard, introduced five years ago, switches to a PCIe 3.1 interface - similar to high-performance NVMe SSDs. While full-sized SD Express cards achieve staggering speeds up to 3,940MB/s, the MicroSD Express variant still delivers impressive 985MB/s throughput - triple the speed of conventional high-speed MicroSD cards.

Why Nintendo Chose This Standard

While Nintendo hasn't detailed its specific rationale, several compelling factors justify this decision. The Switch 2's upgraded UFS internal storage demands equally fast external options to prevent performance bottlenecks. Early demonstrations already show significant loading improvements - with Polygon reporting 35% faster fast-travel times in Breath of the Wild and Digital Foundry noting 3x improvements in initial loads. This future-proofing ensures games requiring fast storage won't suffer when running from expanded storage.

Current Market Availability

Presently, MicroSD Express options remain limited. Lexar offers 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB variants of their Play Pro model (priced up to $199), while SanDisk currently maxes out at 256GB. This limited selection should expand as manufacturers ramp up production for the Switch 2's launch and beyond, with Samsung likely to enter this emerging market.

Lexar Play Pro MicroSD Express

Available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB capacities

SanDisk MicroSD Express 256GB

Currently the largest SanDisk offering