After the much-anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, some intriguing specs have surfaced about this new console. Among the most compelling is its reliance on a different type of MicroSD card—specifically, the MicroSD Express—which represents a significant shift from what users of the original Switch might be accustomed to. But adventuring down the path of new technology often comes at a cost, and these cards could hit your budget hard. Presently, they are priced much higher per gigabyte than many SSDs on the market; MicroSD Express prices hover between 20 and 25 cents per GB, while some budget SSDs can be found for only 5 to 6 cents per GB. This higher cost is largely due to the built-in support for NVMe and PCIe 3.0, technologies typically seen in M.2 SSDs.
Sandisk’s offering in this space starts at $49.99 for a 128GB MicroSD Express card, with the 256GB card priced at $64.99. These cards promise speed, hitting up to 880 MB/s for reading, 480 MB/s for writing, and 100 MB/s for sustained write speeds.
Meanwhile, Lexar is stepping up with larger capacity options, maxing out at a hefty 1TB. Brace yourself, though, as these do not come cheap either.
Lexar’s flagship, the 1TB Play Pro MicroSD Express card, is priced at a steep $199.99. You might settle for the 512GB model at $99.99, or the 256GB one at $49.99. Lexar excels in performance claims, suggesting read speeds up to 900 MB/s and write speeds soaring at 600 MB/s.
Comparatively, Sandisk’s entry-level 128GB at $0.39 per GB doesn’t seem like the best value when the 256GB steps down to $0.25 per GB. In contrast, Lexar offers a constant value of $0.20 per GB across its range, seemingly offering more bang for your buck with superior specifications.
With the Switch 2 arriving with a standard 256GB of storage, gamers have reasons to take notice. But don’t be fooled into thinking physical game cartridges wholly negate download requirements. In fact, physical copies now essentially act as “Game-Key Cards,” just unlocking the right to download a full game. An example? Pop in a Street Fighter 6 cartridge, and you’re immediately tasked with downloading an additional 50GB just to start playing. This not only eats into your available storage but also starts a cycle where storage management—or buying those pricey MicroSD Express cards—becomes inevitable.
The world of MicroSD Express might initially seem a mystery, especially as it makes its debut as part of the Switch 2’s spec sheet. While from the outside they may resemble their UHS-I predecessors used in the original Switch, what’s inside is quite revolutionary. The classification differentiates them into four speed classes: Class 150, Class 300, Class 450, and Class 600, each number reflecting the minimum MB/s performance for read/write operations. There’s also a transformation here with pins: MicroSD Express cards carry 16 to 17 pins, compared to just eight in the UHS-I cards.
Behind the technological leap is the use of NVMe and PCIe 3.0 interfaces, potentially capable of future speeds peaking at 2GB/s. However, despite the promises, the full capabilities of the Switch 2 concerning these speeds remain undisclosed, and current MicroSD Express cards haven’t reached these theoretical speeds yet.
Joey Lopez, the Director of Brand Marketing at Lexar, frankly highlights the excitement, stating that this new standard enables a performance leap in memory cards. However, while the technology paints an exciting picture, we’ll need to wait to truly test these claims, with the cards and the console still pending their real-world debut.
Ultimately, while the technical potential stirs eagerness, concerns about storage costs and management remain. Until the Switch 2 and these advanced MicroSD Express cards are in everyday use, the gaming community is left balancing anticipation with practicality.
