"Switch 2 microSD Express Cards: 128GB for $45"

In a recent super-sized 60-minute Nintendo Direct, Nintendo unveiled a wealth of new details about the eagerly anticipated Switch 2. Priced at $449.99, the console is set to launch on June 5, 2025, and will come with a host of new games. A significant change for the Switch 2 is its exclusive compatibility with microSD Express Cards, meaning that traditional microSD cards won't work with this new system.

If you're planning to upgrade to the Switch 2 this summer, you'll need to invest in microSD Express cards for additional storage. SanDisk offers these cards on Amazon, including a 128GB version for $44.99 and a 256GB version for $59.99. These options are currently discounted from their original prices of $49.99 and $64.99, respectively.

The Switch 2 comes equipped with 256GB of internal storage, a significant leap from the original Switch's 32GB. This upgrade means you may not need to expand your storage immediately. However, given the potential for larger game sizes on the Switch 2, such as the anticipated versions of games like Tears of the Kingdom and Mario Kart World, you might want to consider additional storage options down the line.

While specific file sizes for Switch 2 games haven't been disclosed, it's reasonable to expect that they will be larger than those on the original console. The Switch 2's exclusive support for microSD Express cards, unlike the original's compatibility with standard microSD, microSDHC, and microSDXC cards, is a notable shift.

Why MicroSD Express for Switch 2?

Nintendo's decision to use microSD Express cards for the Switch 2 is a bold move aimed at enhancing storage technology. Traditional microSD cards top out at 104 MB/s with the UHS-I interface, whereas microSD Express cards leverage PCIe and NVMe technologies to achieve speeds up to 985 MB/s—nearly ten times faster. This speed boost is crucial for handling larger, more demanding games without performance hiccups.

However, this upgrade comes with a higher price tag. A 128GB microSD card for the original Switch typically costs around $10-15, while a 128GB microSD Express card is priced at about $45. Additionally, microSD Express cards are less widely available, with only a few brands like SanDisk and Samsung producing them. This shift to microSD Express, while focused on speed and future-proofing, does mean increased costs for expandable storage.

If you're gearing up to purchase a Switch 2, be prepared to budget for these faster, yet pricier, memory cards. For a comprehensive overview of all the announcements from today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, you can click here.