Why Nintendo Switch 2’s Compatibility with MicroSD Express Could Strain Your Budget

Nintendo recently unveiled details about the Switch 2, and there’s a lot to digest, especially concerning its storage capabilities. Unlike its predecessor, the Switch 2 will require MicroSD Express cards. Unfortunately, these cards aren’t exactly budget-friendly. If prices for currently available products are any indication, users can expect to spend a pretty penny on these new storage options. The price tag is largely due to advanced technology like NVMe and PCIe 3.0 support, which you usually find in M.2 SSDs.

Sandisk’s MicroSD Express cards kick off at $49.99 for just 128GB of space, and the price for a 256GB version jumps to $64.99. These cards can read at speeds up to 880 MB/s and write at 480 MB/s, with a sustained write speed of 100 MB/s. Meanwhile, Lexar steps up to the plate offering sizes up to 1TB. Still, don’t expect these to come cheap.

For instance, Lexar’s 1TB card will set you back a significant $199.99, whereas smaller options such as the 512GB model costs $99.99, and the 256GB version rings in at $49.99. Lexar promises performance speeds of 900 MB/s for reading and 600 MB/s for writing.

When comparing price per gigabyte, Sandisk’s 128GB card is pricey at $0.39 per GB, while their 256GB option is $0.25 per GB. Lexar may have the edge here with all its card sizes priced at a consistent $0.20 per GB and claiming to offer superior specifications.

Storage is crucial for the Switch 2, as it comes standard with 256GB. However, there’s a caveat: simply inserting a physical game cartridge doesn’t guarantee you’ll start playing right away. Some games require you to download and install the full version, effectively reducing the cartridge to a digital key. This could be due to manufacturers trying to save on cartridge production costs as NAND storage prices continue to climb.

Take the example of Street Fighter 6: Buying a physical cartridge means you’re still on the hook to download an additional 50GB of data. With only 256GB of base storage, the console will fill up fast, and purchasing add-on MicroSD cards might become a necessary, albeit expensive, reality unless you want to deal with the hassle of managing downloads every time you swap out games.

Now let’s talk about what sets MicroSD Express apart. Despite looking similar to standard MicroSD cards, these new cards outshine their predecessors significantly. They have more pins and better performance. The SD Association breaks MicroSD Express into four speed classes: Class 150, 300, 450, and 600, which dictate the cards’ minimum read/write speeds in MB/s.

With underpinning technology involving NVMe and PCIe 3.0, these cards could theoretically reach speeds up to 2GB/s with PCIe 4.0. Although the full potential of these cards isn’t clear yet, as no official card has hit these marks, they undoubtedly represent a major leap from the UHS-I standard previously used.

Lexar’s Joey Lopez emphasized the game-changing nature of this new standard, noting how it sets the stage for a new level of handheld gaming performance. While the Switch 2’s ability to fully utilize these capabilities remains to be seen, gamers are sure to be eager to experience these advancements firsthand. Until then, if you’re curious, there’s a hands-on preview available for the Nintendo Switch 2.