When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2, they highlighted that players would need to use microSD Express cards to expand the console’s memory. This announcement triggered a frenzy. Both online platforms and physical stores found their shelves empty, with one store in Japan, Hermitage Akihabara, reporting a staggering sale of over 337 cards every hour. It took many by surprise, mainly because these microSD Express cards are significantly pricier than their regular counterparts.
### Expect to Spend More on microSD Express
For instance, the standard Lexar 1TB Play microSD card has a list price of $129.99 on Amazon, but it often sells at a discounted rate of $69.99. This card offers decent performance with a read speed of up to 160 MB/s and a write speed of 100 MB/s. While it’s adequate, it doesn’t match up to the speeds of internal storage. On the other hand, the microSD Express version cranks things up, boasting a read speed of 900 MB/s and a write speed of 600 MB/s, surpassing the previous standard by over five times. However, this speed boost will cost you—the Lexar 1TB Play Pro microSD Express card is listed at $199.99 on Amazon, and even at a sale price of $172.63, it remains more than twice as expensive as its non-Express version.
### No Signs of Scalping Here
Despite the hefty cost of microSD Express cards, they flew off the shelves following Nintendo’s announcement. Surprisingly, this wasn’t due to widespread scalping. Reports suggest that most purchasers were individual customers: about 80% of buyers snagged just a single card, with the maximum purchases capped at three per buyer. This pattern indicates that these pricey cards are being bought mostly by end-users eagerly preparing for the new Switch 2.
The microSD Express standard has existed since 2019, but its adoption has been slow. Its premium price compared to regular microSD cards and SSDs likely deterred wider use. While many gaming consoles allow you to boost internal memory by swapping SSDs, the process is not always convenient due to hardware adjustments involving the backplate and configuration tweaks.
Given Nintendo’s preference for users not altering their console hardware, using microSD Express cards presents the easiest way to expand storage on the Switch 2. With the new console receiving a slew of AAA games likely to exceed its 256 GB internal capacity, upgrading storage could be essential. By doing so, players can keep all their favorite titles easily accessible on the Switch 2.
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