With the best microSD card for Nintendo Switch, you can store more games on your handheld console. The original Switch comes with just 32GB internal memory and the OLED has 64GB, meaning it’ll quickly get filled up. But as microSD cards look similar, how do you choose the best Nintendo Switch microSD for your needs?
Think about the capacity and speed. Nintendo Switch consoles support microSD cards up to 2TB, but more storage isn’t always better. We’d recommend starting with at least 128GB memory, and a 100MB/s read speed, offered by SanDisk’s official Nintendo Switch microSD cards. The bigger your budget, and the more games you want to store, the higher and faster we’d go.
The best microSD card for Nintendo Switch helps cement it as one of the best portable gaming consoles. With a microSD, you can fill your console with the best Nintendo Switch games and play without interruption. Here are our top picks, based on hours of gameplay.
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Best micro SD card for Nintendo Switch:
Kingston Canvas Go! Plus
Best micro SD for Switch overall
Kingston Canvas Go! Plus specifications:
Storage space |
128GB |
Read speed |
170MB/s |
Bundled adapter |
Yes |
Reasons to buy
- Decent storage space
- 170MB/s read speed
Reasons to avoid
- Not specifically optimized for Switch
The best microSD you can get for your Switch is the Kingston 128GB microSDXC Canvas Go Plus. It has rapid read and write speeds, so you can download plenty of games and load them up quickly. That’s all you can really ask for from a great memory card, and while there are higher storage options out there, 128GB is plenty of space for more than a few titles. I use a 128GB card, and I’ve never had a problem. Its read times are pretty decent too, so you don’t know to worry about poor load times or anything like that.
If you want to use it for anything beyond Nintendo Switch, you’ll be pleased to hear that it is quite broadly compatible with most platforms, and comes with an adapter if you want to put it into any older devices. It’s not just the best microSD for Switch, but one of the best overall, too. The fact that it comes bundled with an adaptor means it’s really easy for you to use it for other devices if you choose to (and you’ll probably have enough space left over for that).
SanDisk Ultra
Best value microSD
SanDisk Ultra specifications:
Storage space |
128GB |
Read speed |
140MB/s |
Bundled adapter |
Yes |
Reasons to buy
- Lots of storage space
- Decent read times
Reasons to avoid
- Not specifically optimized for Switch
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last fifteen years, we’re pretty sure you’ve seen a SanDisk microSD card before. That’s for a pretty good reason, as this is a brand known both for affordability and reliability. Nowhere is that truer than with the SanDisk 128GB Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card, which offers a solid amount of storage and competitive read and write speeds. I use one myself and have done for over three years of owning a Switch, with no issues at all.
This model is available in multiple sizes, but we recommend the 128GB for most Switch owners. It’s big enough to contain most libraries, and it’s not too expensive either. You might think about going for a specially optimized Switch SanDisk microSD card, which has its own benefits, but you don’t get an adapter if you go for one of those.
These ones are standard all-rounders, offering plenty of storage space and impressive read times. You can just slip them into anything. It’s the perfect choice for anyone who wants an option that will not only store their Switch games, but media and files for other devices.
Samsung Pro Ultimate
The fastest microSD card for Switch
Samsung Pro Ultimate specifications:
Storage space |
256GB |
Read speed |
200MB/s |
Bundled adapter |
Yes |
Reasons to buy
- Really, really fast
- Lots of storage space
- Decent price
Reasons to avoid
- Not specifically Switch-optimized
If you’re looking for lightning-quick read speeds to get those games loading as quickly as possible, the Samsung Pro is the best option on this list. Its 200MB/s read speeds don’t mess around when it comes to loading games, and you can store plenty of your favorite titles with the generous 256GB of storage.
As a Samsung product, this has been designed for general use. To be honest, it may well be overkill for simply using it with the Nintendo Switch. However, if the Switch is just one thing that you’re looking to buy a microSD card for, this is another fantastic choice for just about everything – and the bundled adapter makes that even easier.
SanDisk microSDXC
Best optimized for Switch
SanDisk microSDXC specifications:
Storage space |
512GB |
Read speed |
100MB/s |
Bundled adapter |
No |
Reasons to buy
- Optimized for Nintendo Switch
- Cute design
Reasons to avoid
- Read time could be better
- No bundled adapter
This pick is the only one on our list that’s optimized for Nintendo Switch. It’s also one of the more generous storage options, with 512GB of space capable of storing over 100 indie games or Stardew Valley more than 300 times over. You really can’t grumble at that sort of storage. Read times could be a little better, but it shouldn’t be too noticeable when you’re loading up games.
As a nice little bonus, these ones come with different Nintendo patterns on them – a star from the Mario games, an Animal Crossing leaf, and other things like that. It’s a very, very small detail, but we know it will put a smile on the faces of die-hard fans.
This was specifically designed for Nintendo Switch, and because of that, it doesn’t come with an adapter. It’s not really ideal if you want to use it in addition to your Nintendo console, but if you don’t foresee yourself having the need to put it into use on other platforms, that won’t be a problem at all. For a lot of people, this is going to be an easy go-to choice, because of its low price and its Switch optimization, but beyond that it isn’t very versatile.
SanDisk Extreme PRO
Best microSD for storage space
SanDisk Extreme PRO specifications:
Storage space |
1TB |
Read speed |
200MB/s |
Bundled adapter |
Yes |
Reasons to buy
- Obscenely huge storage space
- Impressive read speed
Reasons to avoid
- Expensive
- Not made for Switch specifically
The best-of-the-best from SanDisk also comes in a massive size. A 1TB microSD card is overkill for almost any Nintendo Switch user. I mean, I own about 270 videogames, and I never have issues getting most of the ones I need on a card half the size. But, if you want all the space in the world at the highest possible speeds, this is our recommendation.
There are cheaper cards at slower speeds and some unbelievably low-priced options out there, but that unbelievability often leads me to think of the old adage: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t go buying a 1TB microSD card for $16 and expect anything other than a bad time.
If you’re after something that you’ll exclusively use with your Switch, then it might make more sense to get the Nintendo-branded SanDisk microSDXC (detailed above) as they’ve been specifically optimized for the platform. However, the prospect of having practically every Switch game available on one device thanks to the SanDisk Extreme PRO is rather tantalising.
Delkin Devices Advantage
Best alternative choice
Delkin Devices Advantage specifications:
Storage space |
256GB |
Read speed |
75MB/s |
Bundled adapter |
Yes |
Reasons to buy
- Lots of storage space
- Good for most devices
Reasons to avoid
- Read times could be better
- Not made specifically for Switch
Delkin is another great brand for top-quality microSD cards, though they’re a little less well-known (and a tad harder to come by on sites like Amazon). Still, with high enough speeds and good tech pedigree, they’re a good option if you fancy something different.
Looking at the read times, you might be alarmed by the fact that they are significantly lower than many of the others on this list. Fortunately, when it comes to using microSDs on a Switch, it really doesn’t make much difference – it’s when you’re dealing with much more taxing programs and files on PC that this really becomes a problem, so it’ll only irk you if you plan to move beyond Nintendo territory.
Samsung EVO Select
Best budget microSD for Switch
Samsung EVO Select specifications:
Storage space |
512GB |
Read speed |
130MB/s |
Bundled adapter |
Yes |
Reasons to buy
- Lots of space at a reasonable price
- Solid read speed
Reasons to avoid
- Not Switch-optimized
- Pricey
While Samsung’s advertised read/write speeds are often far too generous for what its SD cards actually manage in the real world, this little lie doesn’t stop the fact that these are fast enough cards at an often unbeatable price. This particular option is a whopper when it comes to storage, too. At 512GB, there’s enough space to download Tears of the Kingdom 28 times over.
If you want to push the envelope and get a lot of spare storage without breaking the bank, this is a good option. It’s a great, budget all-purpose microSD card. Just keep in mind, like a lot of the options on this list, it’s not Switch-optimized. Not that that matters all too much.
Integral Gamer’s Edge
MicroSD with the best warranty
Integral Gamer’s Edge specifications:
Storage space |
1TB |
Read speed |
180MB/s |
Bundled adaptor |
No |
Reasons to buy
- Massive storage space
- Great read speed
- Huge warranty
Reasons to avoid
- Hard to find in the US
- Pricey
I was absolutely delighted when I got the Integral Gamer’s Edge 1TB. I’d just filled up my 256GB Sandisk microSD, and now all of a sudden I’ve got something four times bigger. As a lover of smaller indie games, I am looking forward to filling this thing up with an enormous selection of games.
If you get this one, not only are you helping to support a small family-run business, but you’re getting a quality product with a five-year warranty. It’ll easily last for the duration of that time, but if you find yourself reluctant to make large purchases like this, perhaps it will be a little easier to justify when you know you’re going to get a good life out of it.
It boasts an impressive 180MB/s read time as well, which means it’s well-positioned to offer fast and quick load times. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’ve got a third-party product that does a poor job getting your games up and running, but this one runs like a dream. Additionally, it’s also great for Steam Deck, if you happen to have one of them too, so it’s a great all-rounder microSD when it comes to games.
How we chose the best microSD cards for Switch
We kept three big factors in mind while putting together this list. First, and most importantly, storage. It’s no good buying a new microSD card and then finding out it’s too small for your library of games. Secondly, we looked at the price. All the microSD cards we’ve included offer solid value, no matter how many gigabytes you’re looking for.
Finally, we also take read and write speeds into account. These are a little less crucial as brands often slightly exaggerate speeds, but they’re still an important factor. In simple terms, quicker write speeds mean quicker downloads, while quicker read speeds mean quicker loading. As you can probably guess, the faster, the better.
Drawing from our own experiences with different microSD cards and expertise on all things Nintendo Switch, we narrowed it down to just seven options.
What size MicroSD card should I get?
That entirely depends on which games you like to play, but taking one ‘big’ Switch game as being 15GB (and many are smaller than that), this is what you’ll fit in each microSD card:
|
|
64GB |
4 big games |
128GB |
8 big games |
256GB |
17 big games |
512GB |
34 big games |
1TB |
66 big games |
Personally, I use the 256GB microSD card, and as somebody who plays a lot of indie and retro games (alongside bigger releases like Tears of the Kingdom) I have an absolutely enormous library of games. So far, I’ve got 86 downloaded games and apps (including several collections of multiple games, like the N64 Nintendo Switch Online app and Castlevania Anniversary Collection), plus save data from 17 physical games, and I’m not close to running out of space!
How big are Switch games?
To give you an idea of which microSD you’ll need to buy to download the games you want to buy, here’s a look at the file sizes of some of the most popular Switch games, from largest to smallest:
|
|
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate |
19GB |
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom |
18.2GB |
Fire Emblem Engage |
18GB |
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity |
15.6GB |
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 |
14.3GB |
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild |
13.4GB |
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 |
13GB |
Pokémon Sword & Shield |
12.4GB |
Fortnite |
12.2GB |
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe |
12GB |
Fire Emblem: Three Houses |
12GB |
Red Dead Redemption |
11.5GB |
Sonic Frontiers |
10.4GB |
Splatoon 3 |
9GB |
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet |
6.8GB |
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze |
6.6GB |
Super Mario RPG |
6.4GB |
Animal Crossing: New Horizons |
6.2GB |
Kirby and the Forgotten Land |
5.8GB |
Super Mario Odyssey |
5.7GB |
Octopath Traveler 2 |
5.2GB |
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door |
5.08GB |
Octopath Traveler |
5GB |
Metroid Dread |
4.1GB |
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury |
2.9GB |
Super Mario Maker 2 |
2.8GB |
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle |
2.3GB |
Minecraft |
1.6GB |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong |
1.32GB |
If you add up the total of the games you most want to play, it will give you an idea of how much memory space you’re going to need.
What SD cards are compatible with the Switch?
You can be sure that every micro SD card on this list works with the Nintendo Switch. While Sandisk is the only company to offer SD cards that are specifically for the Nintendo console, anything that meets the following criteria works just as well:
- microSD (up to 2 GB)
- microSDHC (4 GB – 32 GB)
- microSDXC (64 GB – 2 TB)
Can I just swap SD cards on Switch?
You can swap SD cards on Switch, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Firstly, you need to make sure your Switch is completely shut down, not just in sleep mode, as you can risk corrupting your local saved data. Secondly, there’s no way of swapping SD cards with a friend who has a massive library of games, as Nintendo doesn’t want users to share games they download. So, maybe it is worth still picking up a physical copy of a game now and then.
Anyway, there you have it, the best microSD cards Switch owners will love. Need help deciding which type of Switch is right for you? Read our guide on the best Nintendo Switch console. Want a few bells and whistles for it? Our guides on the best Nintendo Switch accessories and best Nintendo Switch controllers are worth reading.