Best microSD Express Cards for Nintendo Switch 2 2026

Buy the Samsung P9 Express 512GB. At $99.00 it is the cheapest 512GB card on this page, Samsung's own US store lists it at $149.99, and 512GB is the size most digital Switch 2 owners grow into. Pay $129.99 for the SanDisk 512GB only if you want the higher rated read speed, and drop to the PNY 256GB at $54.99 if you mostly play physical cartridges.

• Best for most Switch 2 owners: Samsung P9 Express 512GB, the best price per gigabyte here.
• Fastest rated 512GB card: SanDisk 512GB microSD Express, rated up to 880MB/s read.
• Cheapest way in: PNY 256GB microSD Express, rated up to 890MB/s read.
• SanDisk at 256GB: SanDisk 256GB microSD Express, the same card line as the 512GB pick.

Prices as of November 4, 2026.

Why a new card at all? SanDisk's Switch 2 support page puts it plainly: the console's storage slot works only with microSD Express cards, and a regular microSD card from an original Switch won't load digital games or save data on a Switch 2. If you buy games from the eShop, you need one of these.

Quick Picks

Samsung P9 Express 512GB: Best for Most Switch 2 Owners

This is the card to tell a friend to buy. Samsung's US store lists the 512GB P9 Express at $149.99, and the Amazon listing is $99.00. That's the best price per gigabyte of any card here by a wide margin.

The catch is rated speed. Samsung quotes up to 800MB/s read, while SanDisk and PNY quote 880MB/s and 890MB/s. Don't let that decide it. Lexar's own Switch 2 storage guide says its microSD Express card reaches up to 205MB/s read inside the console, so the slot, not the card, sets the ceiling during play. The higher ratings show up mainly in a PC card reader.

Who should skip it? Anyone who wants a SanDisk or PNY card for a PC workflow where the extra rated speed matters.

SanDisk 512GB microSD Express: Fastest Rated 512GB Card

SanDisk rates this card up to 880MB/s read and 650MB/s write, and backs it with a lifetime limited warranty. It's a strong card. It just costs $129.99 against the Samsung's $99.00 for the same capacity, and inside a Switch 2 that speed gap mostly disappears.

One thing to know before you buy: this listing is SanDisk's standard microSD Express card, model SDSQXFN-512G-GN4NN. SanDisk also sells a separate Nintendo-licensed "microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2" under a different model number (SDSQXFN-512G-GR6ZN). This page cards the standard version. It still works in the Switch 2, since the console needs a microSD Express card, not a licensed one.

Pick it over the Samsung if you'll also use the card in a PC reader and want the higher write rating.

PNY 256GB microSD Express: Cheapest Way In

PNY lists this card as compatible with microSD Express hosts including the Nintendo Switch 2, and backward compatible with UHS-I devices. Its rated 890MB/s read and 750MB/s write come from PNY's own spec table. At $54.99 it's the cheapest card here, and under the suggested retail price PNY announced at launch.

But do the math on storage. Twice the space on the Samsung costs $99.00, so the PNY only makes sense if you rarely download games.

SanDisk 256GB microSD Express: SanDisk at 256GB

This is the 256GB version of the SanDisk card above, model SDSQXFN-256G-GN4NN, with the same speed ratings. At $58.99 it sits close to the PNY at $54.99. Choose between them on brand preference, since the rated speeds are close and neither will run at full speed inside the console.

Like the 512GB SanDisk, this is the standard card, not the Nintendo-licensed SKU.

What to Look for in a Switch 2 microSD Express Card

microSD Express in one paragraph

Regular microSD cards use the older UHS-I bus. microSD Express cards add a PCIe and NVMe interface, which is why their rated speeds run several times higher. The Switch 2 uses that interface for its expandable storage, which is why it can't use the older cards for games. SanDisk and PNY both say their cards fall back to UHS-I speeds in older devices, so they still work in a camera or an original Switch.

Rated speed matters less than you think

All four cards are rated between 800MB/s and 890MB/s read. Those figures are measured in a microSD Express host or a fast PC reader. Lexar's Switch 2 guide puts its own card at up to 205MB/s read inside the console, which tells you the console sets the limit. Buy on capacity and price first.

Capacity: what you actually need

• 256GB: Fine if most of your games are cartridges and you keep a handful of downloads installed.
• 512GB: Where most digital buyers should land. The Samsung at $99.00 makes this the easy choice.

Nintendo licensing

SanDisk sells a Nintendo-licensed microSD Express card as a separate model. The SanDisk, Samsung and PNY cards carded here are each brand's standard microSD Express card. The Switch 2 requirement is the microSD Express format itself, so any of them will store games.

Buy from a known brand

Stick to an established brand like the three here, sold through a listing that names the exact model number. If a listing's title doesn't match the card you expect, skip it.

Bottom Line

Get the Samsung P9 Express 512GB at $99.00. It's the best price per gigabyte here, and its lower rated speed doesn't hold back the Switch 2. Choose the SanDisk 512GB at $129.99 if you'll also use the card in a fast PC reader. If you play mostly cartridges, the PNY 256GB at $54.99 is enough.

Frequently asked questions

Will my old Nintendo Switch microSD card work in a Switch 2?

Not for games. SanDisk's support page says a regular microSD card used in an original Switch won't load digital games or save data on a Switch 2. You need a microSD Express card for game storage.

Which microSD Express card should I buy for Switch 2?

The Samsung P9 Express 512GB at $99.00 is the pick for most owners. It's the best price per gigabyte on this page and sits well under Samsung's $149.99 US list.

Is 256GB or 512GB better for Switch 2?

512GB for anyone who buys games digitally. The Samsung 512GB costs $99.00, while the 256GB PNY costs $54.99, so you pay far less per gigabyte for the larger card. Pick 256GB only if most of your games are cartridges.

Do I need a Nintendo-licensed microSD Express card?

No. The Switch 2 needs the microSD Express format for game storage. SanDisk sells a Nintendo-licensed version as a separate model, but the standard SanDisk, Samsung and PNY cards here are all microSD Express cards.

Does the fastest rated card load games faster on Switch 2?

Not by much. Lexar's Switch 2 guide puts its own card at up to 205MB/s read inside the console, well under the 800MB/s to 890MB/s ratings on these cards. Buy on capacity and price.