Best MicroSD cards for your Nintendo Switch

Having an SD card on Nintendo Switch is a practically obligatory procedure. Beyond being a requirement for certain titles in physical format, we have more than 2050 games and applications available in your eShop (so far) and an internal memory of just 32 GB. And beware, approximately 6.2 GB of that space is reserved for the operating system—a very narrow margin.

It is increasingly common for editions with more than one title, such as Bayonetta 1 + 2 or the recently released Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster, to bet on offering one of the games integrated into the game card another through a digital code. The physical editions of Overwatch or Wolfenstein Youngblood for Switch directly warn us that inside the boxes, we will not find a cartridge.

We must add that somewhere. You have to install the DLCs (free or paid), season passes, updates, and a long etcetera.

To date, games like Final Fantasy IX, Cuphead, or Resident Evil 4 can only be purchased in the eShop, as well as the special and complete editions of bestsellers such as FIFA, Dragon Ball FighterZ or Zelda: Breath of the Wild itself. So acquiring an SD card, both in the long run and deep down, is a hazing that most gamers go through. Especially those of us who let ourselves be tempted by digital discounts in a matter of indies.

And that, unlike 3DS, Wii, or Wii U, we will not need it to store videos, songs, and other multimedia content beyond streaming apps such as YouTube and the photos and videos that we take with the capture button. Now, are all the cards the same?

What kind of cards does Switch use, and which ones are better

Nintendo’s established Switch is compatible with microSD memory cards, microSDHC, and through an update, microSDXC cards. The console is ready for MicroSDHC cards up to 2TB, which didn’t even exist when the console was announced. But not everything is capacity: you also have to take into account the loading times. Fortunately, with a glance, we will have all the information we need.

Nintendo itself recommends that to get the most out of the Switch. You need to use a high-speed MicroSD card, compatible with the UHS-I (Ultra High-Speed ​​Phase I) standard with a reading speed of 60-95 MB / s. 

The essential and the simplest thing is to subdivide the SD cards by their storage capacity. Something that, in essence, is what determines its price in the end. Which does not mean that we can take advantage of this according to our need:

Suppose we prefer the physical format, and we do not usually buy digital games and DLCs. In that case, we will not need to make a large investment to have extra storage and, incidentally, make room for our captures and videos.

If, on the other hand, we prefer to indulge in occasional whims or not have to change the Switch game card to throw ourselves an impromptu game, we’d better have -at least- double the 32 GB offered by the console itself.

With that ahead and focusing on speed (which translates, among other things, into loading times), we will see that of the three compatible formats (remember: Micro SD, Micro SDHC, and Micro SDXC ), the most recommended are the Micro SDXC although if our budget is tight, we may prefer to get a Micro SDHC in exchange for extra storage.

With all of the above ahead, which SD cards best suit your needs? Here you have more than fifteen suggestions.

64 GB cards

The ideal is to get a 64 GB if we only have to transfer one or two digital titles of good size – but not too much – and we want to be comfortable in DLCs and not so heavy titles. An economical solution, although due to the price difference, it may be convenient for us to bet on a little more memory.

• SanDisk Ultra microSDXC 64GB with SD adapter: A particularly affordable price that, at the same time, is an effective solution if we have to start juggling our data, also offering a read speed of up to 100 MB / s. Nothing bad.
• SanDisk – 64GB microSDXC card: A whim only for collectors: on paper, we face the same model as the previous one and maintains the official license. However, its design is inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild. Enough to make up those euros of difference?
• Kingston Canvas Select Plus – 64GB MicroSD Card with SD Adapter: Like the previous ones, this card offers 64 GB at 100 MB / s, with the addition of offering a more updated model that translates into an eight-year warranty along with the adapter and an extra write speed.
• SanDisk Extreme – 64GB microSDXC card: An excellent balance between speed and price, although its cost makes us flirt with trying to get another with extra capacity. Now, if we don’t need too much-added space, it is one of our best options.

128GB and up cards

If your game collection is made up of a wide variety of digital and physical games, with 128 GB, you will be very well served: space to go loose with several of the annual digital Switch must-haves and a good assortment of indie gems.

• Netac 128GB Memory Card: Unlike most of the models you will see below, the Netac 128GB Memory Card does not include an SD adapter. However, its price makes it an opportunity to expand the storage capacity of our Switch.
• ARCANITE – 128GB microSDXC memory card with SD adapter: If you’re looking for extra memory and zero complications, the ARCANITE 128GB alternative is a great solution. Your UHS U3 offers 30MB / s minimum write speed and up to 90MB / s read speed. And yes, the package includes an SD adapter.
• SanDisk Ultra – 128GB microSDXC Card with SD Adapter: An affordable solution at a highly recommended price, Class 10, UHS Speed ​​Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed ​​Class 30 (V30) and with the added extra of including the SD adapter so that we can download all our captures to the PC in a comfortable way or keep it more visible when you’re not at the console.
• Samsung Pro Endurance – 128GB MicroSD Memory Card: Samsung offers similar features to the previous ones with more advanced technology and is designed for maximum compatibility. To which we must add that an SD Adapter is also included.
• SanDisk – 128GB microSDXC card: Although having the official Nintendo license is a plus, this is the best option that SanDisk proposes: 128 GB, up to 100 MB / s reading, and 90 MB / s writing. And, of course, the iconic Mario mushroom screen-printed on the card.
• SanDisk Extreme – 128GB microSDXC Card with SD Adapter: This is an option to consider over the previous ones: this SanDisk Extreme PRO offers up to 170 MB / s, is Class 10, U3, and V30, and also comes with its SD adapter. According to the manufacturer, they are made to be used in difficult conditions. Are you thinking of taking the Switch on vacation?

256GB or larger cards

If we bet heavily on the eShop compared to the physical format, you are safe with a 256 GB one: you will have space to throw yourself in the mud in thematic offers and enjoy news without having to delete games previously. Of course, we are considering prices that are equivalent to that of a physical game on Switch.

It is possible to find more capacity, of course. As we said, the Switch design is targeting 2TB, although the budget is already unnecessarily skyrocketing.

• SanDisk microSDXC UHS-I for Nintendo Switch 256GB: As in the previous cases, the Nintendo licensed product is not the cheapest option. As you will see just below, getting the yellow edition with the detail of the Star from Super Mario Bros. from the SanDisk card will cost us approximately double. But of course, it is a whim.
• SanDisk Ultra – 256GB microSDXC card with SD adapter: A huge store of games and digital content at a particularly attractive price. You’ll have plenty of space, writing speed on par with previous cards, and the always welcome extra of an SD adapter.
• Samsung EVO Select – 256GB microSDXC Card with SD Adapter: A 10-year manufacturer’s warranty, a transfer rate of 100 Mb / s for reading and 90 MB / s for writing, 256 GB of space. What else can you ask for from this tiny card? Yes, it also brings its SD adapter.
• SanDisk Extreme – 256GB microSDXC Card with SD Adapter: This card is not cheap at all, but you will have plenty of space, and you will enjoy the best speed that the console can currently offer you. It also includes its SD adapter.
• SanDisk microSDXC UHS-I for Nintendo Switch 512GB: In a way, it’s throwing yourself into the mud: with 512GB, read speeds of up to 100MB / s and write speeds of up to 90MB / s, it’s quite likely that you won’t have to buy another card for the life of your console. To which must be added a special incentive: the Animal Crossing-inspired silkscreen. However, you may be more interested in our last option.
• SanDisk Ultra microSDXC Memory Card with SD Adapter: The Terabyte of the capacity of the SanDisk Ultra microSDXC will allow you to store 31 times the internal memory of the Switch, with the added advantage that it is its Class 10 system with the A1 performance class allowing the fastest charging. It’s not cheap, of course, but it includes its adapter, so you won’t need to spend a penny more on cards either.