The honeymoon phase with the Nintendo Switch 2 is officially here, but honestly, there’s a massive elephant in the room that’s catching a lot of people off guard. You’ve probably got a drawer full of those old microSD cards from your OG Switch, right? Well, here is the cold, hard truth: they’re pretty much paperweights if you want to actually play new games on this thing.
Nintendo made a choice. To keep up with the beefy power of the custom Nvidia Tegra T239 chip, they ditched the old storage standards. The Switch 2 microSD Express requirement is the new reality. If you don't see that little "EX" logo on your card, you’re basically stuck in the slow lane.
What is a Switch 2 microSD Express card anyway?
Basically, microSD Express is the marriage of a tiny memory card and the guts of a high-end SSD. It uses the PCIe Gen 3x1 interface and NVMe 1.3 protocol. If that sounds like tech-babble, just know it means speed. A lot of it.
Traditional cards used in the original Switch capped out at around 104MB/s. They were fine for Breath of the Wild back in 2017, but the Switch 2 is pushing 4K textures and assets that need to move fast. The new Switch 2 microSD Express cards can hit theoretical speeds of up to 985MB/s. In the real world, we’re seeing cards like the Samsung P9 and the Lexar Play Pro hitting a solid 800MB/s to 900MB/s.
That’s a 4x to 8x jump in speed.
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It’s the difference between waiting 40 seconds for a level to load and having it pop up in under six. Nintendo’s own internal 256GB UFS 3.1 storage clocks in at about 1.2GB/s, so they needed an expandable storage option that didn't feel like a massive bottleneck.
The Backward Compatibility Trap
Here is where it gets kinda annoying. You can physically slide your old microSDXC card into the Switch 2 slot. It fits perfectly. But don't get excited.
Nintendo has been very clear: you can use those old cards for screenshots and videos, but that’s it. You can't save your Switch 2 games on them. You can't load digital titles from them. If you try to move a game like Mario Kart World onto an old card, the system will basically tell you "no thanks."
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Wait, it gets more complicated.
Because the Switch 2 is backward compatible with original Switch games, you can technically play your old library from an old card. But for anything "next-gen," the Express standard is mandatory. It’s a split-brain situation that’s going to confuse a lot of casual players this year.
The Best Cards for Your Switch 2 Right Now
Honestly, the market is a bit of a mess. Because the Switch 2 microSD Express standard is so new, cards are frequently out of stock or marked up to insane prices.
- Samsung microSD Express (256GB): This is the "safe" bet. It’s the officially licensed card with the Mario "M" on it. It’s reliable, hits 800MB/s, and usually retails for around $60.
- Lexar Play Pro (1TB): If you’re a digital hoarder, this is the gold standard. It’s the fastest card we’ve seen, occasionally pushing 900MB/s. But be prepared to pay. It’s been hovering around $180-$220.
- SanDisk GamePlay Express: SanDisk is a staple, and their Express cards are solid. Their 512GB model is a sweet spot for price-to-performance, usually found for about $100.
- Onn (Walmart Exclusive): Surprisingly, the budget option isn't terrible. You can snag a 512GB Express card for about $85. It’s a bit slower on the "write" side (moving games to the card), but game loading speeds are almost identical to the expensive brands.
Don't buy "Extreme" thinking it's "Express." I've seen so many people on Reddit make this mistake. "Extreme" is just a marketing name for SanDisk's older UHS-I cards. Look for the EX logo. No EX, no Express.
Why did Nintendo do this to us?
It’s easy to feel like this is a "Nintendo tax," but there is a technical reason.
Modern games use a technique called asset streaming. When you’re running through a massive open world, the console is constantly pulling data from the storage. If the storage is too slow, you get stuttering, pop-in, or long loading screens. By requiring Switch 2 microSD Express, Nintendo is ensuring that developers can build games without worrying about the storage slowing them down.
It brings the Switch 2 closer to the performance of a PS5 or Xbox Series X, albeit in a much smaller package.
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The Shortage Issue
There is one more thing you should know. Storage prices are getting weird in 2026. Because AI companies are buying up NAND flash memory like crazy, there have been some supply hiccups. If you see a 512GB or 1TB Express card in stock for a decent price, honestly, just grab it. Waiting for a "better deal" might land you in a situation where everything is sold out for months.
Moving Your Data
If you’re upgrading, don't expect to just swap cards. You’ll need to redownload your games. The encryption on the Switch 2 is different from the original, so even for your old library, a fresh install on a new Switch 2 microSD Express card is the best way to avoid glitches.
The internal 256GB fills up fast. Metroid Prime 4 and the new Zelda are massive files. You’re going to need that extra space sooner than you think.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your current cards: If they don't have the "EX" symbol, start budgeting for a new one now.
- Prioritize Internal Storage: Install your most played, high-end games (like Mario Kart World) on the internal 256GB storage first, as it’s still slightly faster than any SD card.
- Look for the EX Logo: When shopping, ignore terms like "V30" or "U3"—those are for the old standard. Only the "EX" branding guarantees the PCIe speeds the Switch 2 requires for new games.