Considering the limited internal storage that comes with the Nintendo Switch, it’s easy to run out of space, thus restricting your gaming experience. The best way to curb this is to add a micro SD card.
Fortunately, the costs of SD cards are rapidly falling, making it easy for you to easily triple or quadruple the size of your Nintendo Switch storage. The best SD card for Switch can expand the storage up to 1TB.
In this guide, we will disclose the top 10 Nintendo Switch memory cards to enjoy countless impressive games.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an SD Card for Nintendo Switch
There are many SD cards for Nintendo Switch, hence selecting one can be quite challenging. But there is a reliable trick to get more space on your Nintendo Switch. Just consider these factors that affect your gaming experience.
Storage Capacity
Games nowadays can be quite large, hence choosing an SD card with large storage capacity is advisable. This will allow you to accommodate frequent game downloads and updates, as well as expand your gaming library space.
Speed Class
Speed Class in SD card for Switch refers to the quickness in game processing and saving of data. The common Speed Class types are Class 2 (C2), Class 4 (C4), Class 6 (C6), and Class 10 (C10). Ultra High-Speed Classes include UHS-I, UHS-II, and UHS-III.
It’s essential to choose SD cards with higher Speed Classes to enjoy smoother gameplay, faster loading times, and rapid access to game data.
Read and Write Speed
The read speed determines how fast games will load, while the write speed influences saving game progress, installing updates, and capturing in-game content like videos or screenshots. According to Nintendo, the recommended Read and Write Speed is 60 to 90 MB/s.
What are the Top 10 Best SD Cards for Switch
These are the 10 best micro SD cards for Switch. This list was technically curated after examining crucial determinants like their storage capacities, speed class, read & write speed, pros, and cons.
📇 SD Cards | 📂 Storage Capacity | 📜 Speed Class | 💾 Read & Write Speed |
SanDisk MicroSDXC for Nintendo Switch | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | UHS-III | Up to 100 MB/s |
Kingston Canvas Go Plus MicroSDXC | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | UHS-I | Up to 170 MB/s |
Micro Center Premium MicroSDXC | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | UHS-I | Up to 95 MB/s |
SanDisk 1TB Extreme MicroSDXC | 1TB | UHS-I | Up to 190 MB/s |
Silicon Power 1TB Superior SD Card | 1TB | UHS-III | Up to 100 MB/s |
Samsung EVO Select MicroSDXC | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | UHS-I | Up to 130 MB/s |
SanDisk Ultra 64GB MicroSD | 64GB | UHS-I | Up to 120 MB/s |
Lexar PLAY 1TB MicroSDXC | 1TB | UHS-I | Up to 160 MB/s |
Gigastone 256GB Micro SD Card | 256GB | UHS-I | Up to 100 MB/s |
PNY Elite MicroSDXC | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | UHS-I | Up to 100 MB/s |
SanDisk MicroSDXC for Nintendo Switch
This is regarded as the very best micro SD card for Switch because it’s officially licensed by Nintendo and compatible with all Switch machines. It is available in various capacities, ranging from 64 GB to 512 GB.
Generally, the SanDisk MicroSDXC offers a bit of everything thanks to its reliable storage options, speed, and versatility.
Specifications:
Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Speed Class | UHS-III |
Read & Write Speed | Up to 100 MB/s |
Pros:
✅ Officially supported by Nintendo
✅ Compatible with all types of Nintendo Switch
✅ Comes in different storage capacity
Cons:
⭕ Quite expensive
Kingston Canvas Go Plus MicroSDXC
If you are looking for a very fast Switch SD card, the Kingston Canvas Go Plus MicroSDXC is one of your best bets. While the considerable speed recommended officially by Nintendo is 60 to 90 MB/s, this SD card offers a blistering speed of 170 MB/s.
It’s worth mentioning that Kingston SD cards are perfectly compatible with some powerful data recovery tools on PC and Mac. That is why you can easily get your game data back when you delete it from Kingston cards by accident.
Specifications:
Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Speed Class | UHS-I |
Read & Write Speed | Up to 170 MB/s |
Pros:
✅ Extremely high speed
✅ Strong
✅ Available in bundles
Cons:
⭕ Can be costly
Micro Center Premium MicroSDXC
The Micro Center Premium MicroSDXC offers you the best for your money if you are looking for an affordable option. It complies exactly with the transfer speed recommended by Nintendo, which means you can trust it for smooth functionality.
The Switch SD card becomes more recommendable when you consider its storage capacity variations, which range up to 1TB.
Specifications:
Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
Speed Class | UHS-I |
Read & Write Speed | Up to 95 MB/s |
Pros:
✅ Budget-friendly
✅ Available in a wide range of storage capacities
✅ Common in bundles and multi-packs
Cons:
⭕ Quite slow compared to other options
SanDisk 1TB Extreme MicroSDXC
This is another Switch memory card produced by SanDisk and it can be trusted for its storage capacity and speed. If you would like to enjoy the fastest micro SD card for Nintendo Switch with the biggest possible storage capacity, look no further than the SanDisk 1TB Extreme MicroSDXC.
It is more expensive than other SanDisk models, but considering the numerous features, it is worth the price.
Specifications:
Storage | 1TB |
Speed Class | UHS-I |
Read & Write Speed | Up to 190 MB/s |
Pros:
✅ Extremely fast speed
✅ Highly durable
Cons:
⭕ Costly than other SanDisk models
Silicon Power 1TB Superior SD Card
This SD card is mainly for people who play many games and need a bigger space to store them. Yes, by default, it costs more than other memory cards with smaller capacities, but the sheer value is ridiculous. You won’t have to bother about limited storage space anymore.
The Silicon Power 1TB Superior SD Card also comes with an adapter, so you can connect it to other devices, such as your PC or MacBook. It’s convenient when you need to retrieve game data using the data recovery software on a Mac or Windows computer.
Specifications:
Storage | 1TB |
Speed Class | UHS-III |
Read & Write Speed | Up to 100 MB/s |
Pros:
✅ Incredible storage capacity
✅ 5-year warranty
✅ Brilliant value
Cons:
⭕ Quite big
⭕ Expensive
Samsung EVO Select MicroSDXC
The Samsung EVO Select MicroSDXC is an inexpensive yet reliable micro SD for Switch. It boasts of a fantastic endurance capability thanks to its strong construction, hence it’s one of the options to consider if you want a long-lasting SD card.
Furthermore, the speed guarantees a seamless gaming experience.
Specifications:
Storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
Speed Class | UHS-I |
Read & Write Speed | Up to 130 MB/s |
Pros:
✅ Inexpensive
✅ Fast and durable
✅ Available in multiple capacities
Cons:
⭕ Limited space
SanDisk Ultra 64GB MicroSD
Do you want solid storage from Nintendo’s licensed SD card manufacturer at a low cost? You should try out SanDisk Ultra 64GB MicroSD. The efficiency of this memory card is the same as other SanDisk SD cards with larger storage.
At a considerably cheap price, you will enjoy fast gameplay. The only downside is its limited space.
Specifications:
Storage | 64GB |
Speed Class | UHS-I |
Read & Write Speed | Up to 120 MB/s |
Pros:
✅ Inexpensive
✅ Perfect for beginners
Cons:
⭕ Limited space
Lexar PLAY 1TB MicroSDXC Card
This micro SD card for Nintendo Switch is a powerhouse in a tiny package. With a 160 MB/s read and 100 MB/s write speed, you won’t have to wait around for games to load even though they are heavy files.
Furthermore, Lexar puts efforts into producing reliable and durable devices, making this SD card capable of withstanding harsh conditions and ideal for gamers on the go.
Specifications:
Storage | 1TB |
Speed Class | UHS-I |
Read & Write Speed | Up to 160 MB/s |
Pros:
✅ High-speed performance
✅ Large storage capacity
✅ Highly durable
Cons:
⭕ Not compatible with all devices
⭕ Quite expensive
Gigastone 256GB Micro SD Card
Gigastone 256GB Micro SD was professionally designed for game lovers. It boasts of fast operation speed that supports the smooth running of video games.
In addition, the SD card is constructed to be resistant to water and shock, thereby possessing an additional layer of security and protecting your game files in extreme conditions.
Specifications:
Storage | 256GB |
Speed Class | UHS-I |
Read & Write Speed | Up to 100 MB/s |
Pros:
✅ Capable of withstanding water and shock
✅ 5 years warranty
Cons:
⭕ Space might not be enough for storing multiple games
PNY Elite MicroSDXC
PNY Elite MicroSDXC is available in a wide range of storage capacities, including 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB. This micro SD for Switch is versatile, hence its application across many devices like Nintendo Switch, smartphones, PCs, cameras, drones, etc.
Moreover, its fast transfer speed supports quick transfer and saving of game data.
Specifications:
Storage | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
Speed Class | UHS-I |
Read & Write Speed | Up to 100 MB/s |
Pros:
✅ Available in various capacities
✅ Offers many affordable options
Cons:
⭕ Not ideal for gamers with many gaming interests
After choosing the suitable SD card for your Nintendo Switch, you may need to learn how to increase the storage space of the Switch using this card. The following blog will offer you detailed steps to do that.
Conclusion
The Nintendo Switch memory cards mentioned in this guide are the best options on the market for storing and enjoying hundreds of games. However, they have their respective pros and cons, which means that you must carefully assess them before making a buying decision.
The best overall pick is the SanDisk MicroSDXC for Nintendo Switch. Apart from covering all the bases that gamers need, it is officially approved by Nintendo as the most suitable SD card to use for games.
Vanessa is a professional editor with a strong foundation in computer information technology. Since graduating, she has dedicated her career to create content in IT fields. In the past three year, she has accumulated sufficient knowledge in data recovery, computer problems troubleshooting and application of multimedia software.
She has been trying her best to bridge the gap between complex technical concepts and accessible, reader-friendly content.