10 Nintendo Switch Memory Card Gamers Must Have

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Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite each come with a small internal capacity of just 32GB, of which only 25GB is accessible for use. In the worse scenario, you might only be able to download just one game on it, and certain options like NBA 2K19 wouldn’t even fit. So, expanding your Switch’s memory by investing in a memory card is your best option by far.

In this article, we have compiled a detailed review of the best 10 Nintendo Switch Memory Card gamers must have.

The SanDisk Ultra microSD UHS-I memory card allows you to shoot, save, and share more than any other memory card does. You can use it to record and watch Full HD (1920×1080 pixels) videos. This card has a transfer speed of 100MB/s. The card’s transfer speed helps you to moving any content at a fast rate:  up to 1000 photos can be transferred in a minute with this card.

The card is compatible with Android-based smartphones, MIL cameras, and tablets. It has an A1 rating, which means you can even load apps faster with it too. Its A1 performance is about 1500 read IOPS, and 500 write IOPS. It has a storage capacity of up to 200GB. 

The SanDisk Ultra 400GB MicroSDXC UHS-I memory card is perfect for watching and recording Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) videos. It also has a superb transfer speed of 100MB/s which allows you to transfer about 1200 photos in a minute. It has an A1 rating. The card is compatible with Android-based smartphones, and tablets, and it also has a 400GB storage capacity. It has a write speed of 100MB/s with a lower read speed. 

The SanDisk Extreme 1TB MicroSDXC UHS-I Memory Card has a very high speed for fast transfer, optimal app performance, and 4K UHD video. It is compatible with Android smartphones, action cameras, and drones. This memory card usually comes with a Micro SD adapter. The card handles 4K UHD video recording, Full HD (1920 x 1080) videos, and pictures with high resolutions. It can read up to 169MB/s and 90MB/s for its writing. This card is A2 rated which means that you can get very fast performance with applications for a great experience with your smartphone. Its A2 rated performance is 4000 for read IOPS and 2000 for write IOPS. This memory card also has a UHS speed class 3.

It is no secret that SanDisk Ultra microSDXC and microSDHC products are quite speedy and thus used for better pictures, app performance, as well as for recording Full HD (1920 x 1080) videos.

The SanDisk Ultra 128GB microSDXC UHS-I memory card is compatible with Android smartphones, and tablets. It is an A1 rated card and A1 rated cards usually load apps faster in smartphones giving you a great smartphone experience. It is also available in a 400GB storage capacity: that way, you’ll be able to store more pictures, and full HD videos. It was built to overcome all harsh conditions and is effectively waterproof, shockproof, temperature proof, and even X-ray proof. 

Samsung 512GB MicroSD EVO Select Memory Card has a read speed of 100MB/s and a write speed of 90MB/s. It is compatible with action cameras, drones, DSLR’s, tablets, gaming systems, laptops, Smartphones. This card comes with a MIcro SD adapter that’s used in cameras, laptops, and desktop computers. This card is very reliable because it is waterproof, temperature proof, magnetic proof, and X-Ray proof, making it capable of withstanding all conditions. This card has both a UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and a Speed Class 10. The actual storage capacity of this card might be less than its labeled capacity because part of the storage space is used for storing system files and other control purposes for storage.

The SanDisk Extreme 256GB microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card is great for fast transfer of documents, stable app performance, and recording 4K UHD video. It is compatible with action cameras, Android smartphones, and drones. This card is capable of handling 4K UHD video recordings, Full HD (1920×1080) videos, and photos with high resolution. It can read up to 160MB/s and 90MB/s for writing. This card is  A2 rated, which means that apps will perform great even on your smartphone.

The SanDisk 64GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Memory Card is an officially licensed SanDisk MicroSDXC designed for Nintendo Switch storage and Nintendo Switch Lite systems storage. It has a read speed of 100MB/s and a write speed of 60MB/s. This card can be used to store your games, your screenshots, and your video captures. With this card, you can add up to 64GB or 128GB or 256GB storage space to your system. 

The Lexar High-Performance 633X 512GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Card is a high-speed performance memory card. It is compatible with sports camcorders, tablets, and smartphones. This memory card allows you to quickly capture, store playback and transfer full HD (1920×1080), 3D and 4K videos. With this card, you can store movies, photos, and songs in high quality. It also has a 512GB capacity and a Speed Class 10. Due to its speed class, it provides UHS-I technology for a transfer speed of about 100MB/s (633x). An SD adapter helps to make the process of file transfer easier.

Silicon Power 64GB Superior Pro Micro SDXC UHS-I (U3) MicroSD Card has the UHS-I feature specification which enables fast transfer speed. It is very durable and reliable. It has a read speed of 100MB/s and a write speed of 80MB/s. It supports Full-HD/ 4K video recording so that you can easily capture HD videos. UHS-I and USB 3.0 reader or host device are recommended to achieve maximum speed. It also has a Class 10 speed. This memory card is compatible with smartphones, tablets, drones, and so on.

The SanDisk 256GB MicroSDXC UHS-I Memory Card is compatible with Android smartphones, tablets, and MIL cameras. This card is an officially licensed SanDisk MicroSDXC card made for Nintendo Switch. It has a storage capacity of up to 512GB because it lets you add up to 64GB or 128GB or 256GB. It can be used to store Full HD (1920×1080) videos and high-resolution photos. It has a read transfer speed of 100MB/s and a write speed of 90MB/s. It allows you to transfer or move 1000 photos in a minute. 

Nintendo Switch Memory Card Buying Guide

Speed Class

Other than storage capacity, choosing the right speed for your Micro SD card is important. Grades —2, 4, 6, or 10 — are normally assigned to speed classes so that a card’s minimum baseline speed can be noted. A grade of 2 simply means a baseline speed of 2MB/s and so on. 

For a Nintendo Switch, it’s best you buy cards graded with a class 10 speed. The reason for this is that the console usually has the games stored on the cards and using a class 10 speed will help prevent slow performance. Alternatively, you could also use a Micro SDXC card that is of UHS class grade.

Brand Name

Another factor to take note of before buying a Micro SD Card is the brand. Just like other technologies, you can decide to save money by buying cheaper brands. It is best if you spend a bit of money to get one of good quality, rather than have to replace it once every month or so. For external storage products, the warranty period is important because it gives you a guarantee of how long they’d last. 

SanDisk and Samsung are the most well-known brands since their products undergo extensive testing before they are released to the market. It’s safe to say that their products are trustworthy and durable — waterproof, shockproof, temperature proof etc. Lexar is another well-established microSD card brand. These three brands offer the longest warranty periods of up to 10 years and occasionally even lifetime warranties. Lexar is known to offer limited lifetime warranties on almost all of its MicroSD cards. 

Nintendo Switch SD Card – How To Use

1. Ensure that your device has been powered off. Gently swing the stand open to access the microSD slot.
2. Make sure to position the microSD card well; its label should be facing away from the console.
3. Push the microSD card into the slot until you hear a gentle “click” sound.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nintendo Switch Memory Cards

1. Can you use any memory card for Nintendo switch?

As of writing, UHS-I SD, Micro SDHC and Micro SDXC are the only card formats that the Nintendo Switch is compatible with.

2. At what point on the Nintendo Switch console is the Micro SD Card slot found?

In order to get access to the Micro SD card slot on your Nintendo Switch, you just have to look out the kickstand that’s at the back of the Switch.

Nintendo Switch Lite might not come with a kickstand, but its card slot is located at the same spot on the console’s back (on the bottom left corner). 

3. What’s the best speed Micro SD Card to buy?

When buying a Micro SD Card for your Nintendo Switch, speed isn’t an important factor to look at because the Switch supports only UHS-I cards which have a maximum speed of 104MB/s. UHS-II has a maximum speed of 312MB/s which is three times faster than UHS-I. 

4. What Is Nintendo Switch SD Card Max Size?

The best storage capacity for a Micro SD that you should get is 1TB. SanDisk has MicroSDs of this capacity that are perfect for Nintendo Switch. You could get one with 2TB capacity as well, but those are usually very expensive and harder to find on the market.