If you’ve just picked up a fresh Nintendo Switch, we can bet the first thing you’re going to type in Google is “best micro SD card Switch“. After all, while the Nintendo console is incredibly popular, it’s not exactly known for its overflowing storage. That’s where we come in.
The best micro SD card for Nintendo Switch helps cement it as one of the best portable gaming consoles. Without a micro SD card, having to uninstall and reinstall all your favorite games over and over can get frustrating – but when you have one in place, you can fill your console with the best Nintendo Switch games. With this list, you can quickly solve that problem.
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Kingston 128GB microSDXC Canvas Go Plus
The best micro SD for Switch overall.
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| Storage space | 128GB |
| Read speed | 170MB/s |
| Bundled adapter | Yes |
- Decent storage space
- 170MB/s read speed
- Not specifically optimized for Switch
If you’re looking for the best of the best micro SD cards for Switch, the Kingston 128GB microSDXC Canvas Go Plus is the one. With 170MB/s read and 90MB/s write speeds, this thing is not messing around, with plenty of storage and rapid downloads. Add to all that the generous price point, and it’s no wonder this one is sitting pretty at the top of our list.
If you do 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 too. It’s not just the best micro SD for Switch, but one of the best overall too.
SanDisk 128GB Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card
A solid all-arounder.
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| Storage space | 128GB |
| Read speed | 140MB/s |
| Bundled adapter | Yes |
- Lots of storage space
- Decent read times
- Not specifically optimized for Switch
You can’t really go wrong with a classic SanDisk microSD card. While this option might not be Switch-optimized, it’s well within the recommended speeds for Nintendo. I’ve had a 512GB one in my Switch for years now without a single issue.
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 micro SD card, which has its own benefits, but you don’t get an adapter if you go for one of those
Samsung 256GB Pro Ultimate
The fastest microSD card for Switch.
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| Storage space | 256GB |
| Read speed | 200MB/s |
| Bundled adapter | Yes |
- Really, really fast
- Lots of storage space
- Decent price
- Not specifically Switch-optimized
This option on our list of the best micro SD cards for Switch is a Samsung offering that marries an affordable price point with fantastic read times. At 200MB/s, this one is twice as fast as SanDisk’s Switch-optimized alternative, and few on this list can compete in terms of speed.
Coming from Samsung, you know that this is going to be a top-quality product. Its powers might exceed what you’d need for the Switch, but if you’re after an option that’s not just for Switch storage, this is another one that we strongly recommend.
SanDisk 512GB microSDXC-Card
The best optimized for Switch.
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| Storage space | 512GB |
| Read speed | 100MB/s |
| Bundled adapter | No |
- Optimized for Nintendo Switch
- Cute design
- Read time could be better
- No bundled adapter
This is the only officially licensed Nintendo Switch micro SD card on this list, which means it’s optimized for the console and is ready and waiting to store your library of games. With this option, you also have a lower risk of data corruption or future system updates creating problems for your hardware.
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.
SanDisk 1TB Extreme PRO microSD UHS-I Card
The best for lots of storage space.
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| Storage space | 1TB |
| Read speed | 200MB/s |
| Bundled adapter | Yes |
- Obscenely huge storage space
- Impressive read speed
- Expensive
- Not made for Switch specifically
The best-of-the-best from SanDisk also comes in a massive size. A 1TB micro SD 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.
Delkin Devices 256GB Advantage microSDXC
The best alternative choice.
Today’s best deals
| Storage space | 256GB |
| Read speed | 75MB/s |
| Bundled adapter | Yes |
- Lots of storage space
- Good for most devices
- 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.
Though its read time is a little slower than the rest on this list, it’s essentially just as good as its Samsung or SanDisk counterparts. If you prefer Delkin or don’t want to go for Samsung or SanDisk for whatever reason, this is the one to go for
Samsung Evo 512GB microSDXC
The best budget choice.
Today’s best deals
| Storage space | 512GB |
| Read speed | 130MB/s |
| Bundled adapter | Yes |
- Lots of space at a reasonable price
- Solid read speed
- Not Switch-optimized
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.
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 micro SD card
How we chose the best micro SD cards for Switch
We kept two big factors in mind while putting together this list. First, and most importantly, storage. It’s no good buying a new micro SD card and then finding out it’s too small for your library of games. Secondly, we looked at the price. All the micro SD cards we’ve included offer solid value, no matter how many gigabytes you’re looking for.
Drawing from our own experiences with different micro SD cards and expertise on all things Nintendo Switch, we narrowed it down to just seven options.
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)
Is 256GB enough for the Switch?
For most people, we reckon it will be. You don’t need as much storage space for Switch games as you do for other consoles, because Switch games are just quite a bit smaller (even the big ones). If you’re after this console for the broad library of retro and indie games, this amount of space should be just fine.
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 micro SD 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.