#10 Best Memory Cards for Nintendo Switch 2023
Explore the best memory cards for Nintendo Switch to enjoy the unlimited experience with your favorite games. These 10 top picks are the most voted recommendations by our experts. Read on!
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Finding the best SD cards for Nintendo Switch isn't easy. As we know, the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic hybrid console that’s perfect for gaming on the go. It is essentially a handheld device, meaning you can play it almost anywhere. Its portability and compact design make it an ideal companion whether you’re commuting to work, school, or hitting the road for an extended vacation.
However, the Nintendo Switch has very limited local storage options. You cannot upgrade its internal memory and must rely on microSD cards to store your games and DLC. The small amount of onboard data also means that loading times are rather long whenever you launch a new title. Fortunately, most modern smartphones have microSD card slots which make transferring files a breeze. So if you own a Nintendo Switch, here are the best memory cards for it so that your favorite titles can be accessed at any time! Keep on Reading!
Table of contents
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1.SanDisk 400GB Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Card: Excess of What You Need
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2.SanDisk 128GB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card: Fastest Data Transferring
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3.SanDisk 128GB microSDXC-Card: Officially Licensed for the Nintendo Switch
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4.Amazon Basics 1TB microSDXC Memory Card: Best Size with Affordable Price
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5.Silicon Power 512GB Micro SD Card U3: Best Deal from New Brand
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6.Samsung 256GB EVO Plus : Best Protection for SD Cards Faulty
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7.SanDisk 64GB microSDXC UHS-I Card: Most Affordable Memory Cards
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8.PNY 128GB Elite Class 10 U1 microSDXC : Best Offer for Storage Size
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9.Kingston SDCS/64GBSP Canvas Select: Greatest value for your money
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10.Toshiba 128G EXCERIA M303 with SD Adapter microSDXC: Best for Secured Data
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Cant find the answer you’re looking for? Reach out to our Q&A community.
Which microSD cards are supported by Nintendo Switch?
On the official website of Nintendo, it is stated that the Nintendo Switch is compatible with the following types of microSD cards:
- microSD cards (up to 2 GB)
- SDHC microSD (4 GB – 32 GB)
- microSDXC cards (64 GB and above)
Most importantly, if you want to use a microSDXC card with your Nintendo Switch console, you will need to upgrade the system first.
What's the priority matter to consider before purchasing the best SD cards for Nintendo Switch?
It is recommended that you use a microSD card that has a faster transfer speed in order to enhance the overall quality of your gaming experience.
Specifications for high-speed microSD cards:
- Compatible with the Ultra High-Speed Phase I standard (UHS-I)
- Speed of transfer between 60 and 95 MB per second
Also, note that the higher the transfer speed, the better the gameplay experience on Nintendo Switch.
What size/capacity microSD Card should I buy ?
Currently, you can choose from 1TB, 512GB, 400GB, 256GB, 200GB, and 128GB. For Switch owners who want to download a lot of games, SanDisk has a Micro SD card with a capacity of 1TB, but it’s obviously a little more expensive.
On the other end of the spectrum, you can purchase a very inexpensive 128GB Micro SD card, but it’s likely that you’ll quickly fill it up with downloads, so we advise you to explore the 200-256GB range instead. A different strategy would be to purchase many cards and switch them according to the games you want to play.
Which one is better, microSDXC vs. microSDHC?
Both microSDHC and microSDXC cards are compatible with the Switch. But, what’s the difference? restrictions on storage.
- Secure Digital High Capacity, or SDHC, cards have a 32GB maximum storage capacity.
- Secure Digital Extended Capacity, or SDXC, refers to the storage capacity of memory cards, which can range from 64GB to 1TB.
- 32GB of additional storage through microSDHC might be sufficient for you depending on your gaming habits, but for those who intend to use the eShop more frequently, microSDHC won’t likely last very long.
Name | Rank | Check Prices |
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SanDisk
400GB Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Card | #1 | Amazon Walmart.com eBay |
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SanDisk
128GB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card | #2 | Amazon Walmart.com eBay |
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SanDisk
128GB microSDXC-Card | #3 | Amazon Walmart.com eBay |
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Amazon Basics
1TB microSDXC Memory Card | #4 | Amazon Newegg.com eBay |
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Silicon Power
512GB Micro SD Card U3 | #5 | Amazon Newegg.com eBay |
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Samsung
256GB EVO Plus | #6 | Amazon Bestbuy.com eBay |
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SanDisk
64GB microSDXC UHS-I Card | #7 | Amazon Adorama.com eBay |
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PNY
128GB Elite Class 10 U1 microSDXC | #8 | Amazon Newegg.com eBay |
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Kingston
SDCS/64GBSP Canvas Select | #9 | Amazon Walmart.com eBay |
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Toshiba
128G EXCERIA M303 with SD Adapter microSDXC | #10 | Amazon Newegg.com eBay |
10 List of Best Memory Cards for Nintendo Switch
- Have a problem
with this product?#1SanDisk 400GB Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Card
Excess of What You Need
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:400GB? Even while we doubt you’ll use all of that, knowing you won’t run out of room is comforting to play. As comfort always places the first, SanDisk 400GB Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Card placed the first in our best memory cards for Nintendo Switch list. However, you can purchase a 512GB version, but you’ll pay a hefty premium for the additional storage space. For the time being, we recommend keeping your storage at 400GB for safer Nintendo switch memory cards.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Spacious storageCons (reasons to avoid)
May be too spacious for limited deviceWhat other experts liked
This is a great product and it makes your smart devices even more powerful.What other experts didn't like
Average write 14MB/S. Nowhere near the 98MB/S claimed - Have a problem
with this product?#2SanDisk 128GB Extreme microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card
Fastest Data Transferring
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Read speeds on the SanDisk Extreme can reach up to 160 MB/s in certain conditions, while write rates can reach up to 90 MB/s in the same conditions. In addition to that, it has no problem coping with high-resolution photographs, videos in 4K resolution, or huge files. If you proceed with this Nintendo switch memory card, it is highly unlikely that you will run out of storage space for a very long time.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Rated A2 for faster loading and in app performanceCons (reasons to avoid)
Some customers complain about speedWhat other experts liked
Legit card. Legit fast.What other experts didn't like
The read/write speeds are nowhere near the advertised values. - Have a problem
with this product?#3SanDisk 128GB microSDXC-Card
Officially Licensed for the Nintendo Switch
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:SanDisk 128GB microSDXC-Card gives you a good amount of space and lets you show how much you like Nintendo’s most popular franchise. It’s red like Mario, it’s officially licensed by Nintendo, and it even has the famous mushroom on it. It’s also pretty fast, with speeds of up to 100MB/s. This card is a must-have as many users have known its credibility as one of the best memory cards for Nintendo switch.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Speeds up to 100 MB/s and write speeds up to 90MB/sCons (reasons to avoid)
A little bit expensiveWhat other experts liked
This memory card is more expensive than others, but it's really cool and makes me feel a little bit old. It works, though!What other experts didn't like
It's a little expensive for the space compared to some other cards. - Have a problem
with this product?#4Amazon Basics 1TB microSDXC Memory Card
Best Size with Affordable Price
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Amazon Basics is a trustworthy brand, and its SD cards are no exception. They have simply rebranded Hong Kong cards, but they work and appear to be reliable. Surely enough, it is a must-card to be listed on the best memory cards for Nintendo Switch. In addition, the price is hard to beat if you require a large amount for a Nintendo switch memory card. There is no cheaper 1TB Switch SD card storage than microSDXC from this brand.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Sturdy and spacious memory cardCons (reasons to avoid)
1-year warrantyWhat other experts liked
Amazon Basics SD card has excellent performance and fast write speeds.What other experts didn't like
After installation, I found just only 117 GB is accessible for storage, therefore I'm short 11 GB! This card is deceiving. - Have a problem
with this product?#5Silicon Power 512GB Micro SD Card U3
Best Deal from New Brand
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:The next deal for the best memory cards for Nintendo Switch comes from a brand that perhaps you are new to hear. Silicon Power SD card is the recommended Nintendo switch memory card. It is an excellent choice for UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) and Video Speed Class 30 (V30) memory cards. On top of the new name, it’s guaranteed to work with the Nintendo Switch, and its transfer speeds are adequate. All in all, that’s a pretty good deal for 512GB of storage!
Pros (reasons to buy)
UHS Speed Class 3 (U3)
Video Speed Class 30 (V30)Cons (reasons to avoid)
Limited size storage optionsWhat other experts liked
It does what it says and works on a switch.What other experts didn't like
The write speeds keep getting slowing down each time. - Have a problem
with this product?#6Samsung 256GB EVO Plus
Best Protection for SD Cards Faulty
1 experts agreeWHY WE LIKE IT:SD cards are usually a good and reliable way to store data, but if you want to make sure your card can handle a bit of coverage, you might want to look at the Samsung EVO Plus line. For the 4-proof protection this item has, many customers highly ranked it as one of the best memory cards for Nintendo Switch. In addition, they are resistant to water, heat, X-rays, and magnets. However, the speed offered is fast enough, and the price seems fair.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Solid body and decent speed
Available various storage size optionsCons (reasons to avoid)
Size before deducted for system operationsWhat other experts liked
Came in nice packaging and works great with my Nintendo Switch! - Have a problem
with this product?#7SanDisk 64GB microSDXC UHS-I Card
Most Affordable Memory Cards
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:For a Nintendo switch memory card, this product may seem to offer too less than the market. However, when it comes to SD cards, you can’t omit SanDisk’s trustworthiness. In the bargain, by purchasing this 64GB microSDXC UHS-I Card you can still play Nintendo games very well– only, you need to be minimal and be selective about what game you want to keep.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Nintendo's seal of approvalCons (reasons to avoid)
Minimal storageWhat other experts liked
Does exactly what it should, and the Nintendo switch doesn't have any difficulty identifying it.What other experts didn't like
As soon as we turned it on, we could smell plastic burning or melting. The sd card has melted on the port. - Have a problem
with this product?#8PNY 128GB Elite Class 10 U1 microSDXC
Best Offer for Storage Size
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:For an initiated gamer, the real deal is about the memory card storage and the price, right? PNY, then, offers the best deal for you. Despite the less known name, the brand dares to show its capacity as Nintendo switch memory card by providing a huge storage amount at a humble price. Over and beyond, with its up to 85mb/s read speed, this item is perfect to record and transfer videos, photos, music, files, and more at amazingly fast speeds.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Great storage
Fine read speedCons (reasons to avoid)
Less-known brandWhat other experts liked
You can store your micro sd cards on the go with this great product. The easiest way to add more space to a Samsung or Android phoneWhat other experts didn't like
If you spend a lot of time making music playlists on your phone only to find that you can't listen to them at the gym, this micro SD is for you. - Have a problem
with this product?#9Kingston SDCS/64GBSP Canvas Select
Greatest value for your money
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Kingston isn’t quite as official as Sandisk, but it’s still a very well-known brand, and its 128GB memory card costs a few cents less per gigabyte than another famously known brand. With only 80mb/s, the load speed is a little slower, but it’s still well within Nintendo’s SD card rules. Therefore, it is one of the best memory cards for Nintendo switch. Also, you can choose from 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB models. This is the best Nintendo Switch memory card if you care most about value.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Fine read and write speed
Worth value for the priceCons (reasons to avoid)
Slow loading speedWhat other experts liked
Almost as quick as Sandisk Extreme! The box for this card says that it can read at 90MB/s and write at 80MB/s, which is pretty close to what it can do in real life.What other experts didn't like
It is unable to write or delete files with micro sd card reader. - Have a problem
with this product?#10Toshiba 128G EXCERIA M303 with SD Adapter microSDXC
Best for Secured Data
1 experts agreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Last but not least, on our list of the best memory cards for Nintendo switch lies the Toshiba SD card. It is a card made to survive extreme conditions and is waterproof and shockproof. Also, it is made for taking pictures and making videos outside. Because it is designed for professionals, the price of this 128GB SD card is significantly higher than the price of other cards with the same amount of storage space; nevertheless, if the security of your data is more important to you than the cost, you might not mind paying the higher price.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Fast speed and sturdy
Gigantic storageCons (reasons to avoid)
High price pointWhat other experts liked
This memory card was one of the best, and the price was reasonable as well. So far, I'm very pleased with how fast this thing is.
Conclusion: Best Memory Cards for Nintendo Switch
When it comes to choosing a memory card for your Nintendo Switch, there are quite a few options. Not all memory cards are created equal, though. Many won’t work with the hybrid console, so it’s important that you do your research before buying one. Thankfully, we’ve put together this guide to help you find the best memory cards for Nintendo Switch. Hope this helps!