128GB microSD Express Cards for Switch 2 Start at $45

Nintendo recently provided a comprehensive look at the Switch 2 during a special 60-minute Nintendo Direct, unveiling crucial details such as the console's price of $449.99 and its release date on June 5, 2025. Alongside these announcements, they showcased a lineup of exciting new games and confirmed that the Switch 2 will exclusively support microSD Express Cards for storage expansion.

This means that if you plan to upgrade to the Switch 2 this summer, you won't be able to use your existing storage cards. To boost your storage, you'll need to invest in microSD Express cards. Currently, SanDisk offers options on Amazon, including a 128GB card for $44.99 and a 256GB card for $59.99.

Switch 2 Compatible### SanDisk 256GB microSD Express Card

The Switch 2 comes equipped with 256GB of internal storage, a substantial improvement over the original Switch's 32GB. This upgrade might mean you won't immediately need to expand your storage. However, considering the larger file sizes expected for Switch 2 games, such as the anticipated increase from the original 16GB size of Tears of the Kingdom to even more demanding titles like Mario Kart World, you may eventually need additional space.

While the exact file sizes for Switch 2 games remain unconfirmed, it's reasonable to expect they will require significantly more storage than their predecessors. Unlike the original Switch, which supported a range of microSD cards, the Switch 2 will only be compatible with microSD Express cards.

Nintendo's decision to use microSD Express cards for the Switch 2's storage expansion is a significant shift. MicroSD Express cards represent a major advancement in portable storage technology, offering speeds up to 985 MB/s through PCIe and NVMe technology—nearly ten times faster than the 104 MB/s maximum of traditional microSD cards using the UHS-I interface. This increased speed is crucial for handling the larger, more demanding games on the Switch 2 without experiencing slowdowns.

However, there's a notable downside: microSD Express cards are more expensive. A 128GB microSD card suitable for the original Switch might cost around $10-15, while a similar capacity microSD Express card could set you back about $45. Additionally, these cards are less widely available, with only a few brands like SanDisk and Samsung currently producing them. While Nintendo's move to microSD Express is aimed at enhancing speed and future-proofing the console, it does come with higher costs for users seeking expandable storage.

If you're planning to purchase a Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster and pricier memory cards. For more insights into what was showcased during today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.