Switch 2 ships with 64GB of storage — barely enough for two AAA games. Here's exactly which microSD card to buy and how much capacity you actually need.
Gaming Storage Team
EasyDriveCompare.com
Yes. Nintendo Switch 2 includes 64GB of onboard storage, but that fills up quickly. A single AAA game takes 15–50GB depending on the title. Within a few games, you'll have no space left for updates, screenshots, or save backups.
A microSD card (or microSD Express card) is essential for Switch 2 owners who want a reasonable library of installed games.
Nintendo recommends: a card with at least 128GB capacity and UHS-I speed class or higher.
Nintendo's official specs require a minimum of UHS-I and 60 MB/s read speed, but faster cards deliver noticeably quicker game load times and file transfers.
Capacity
128GB or larger
Speed Class
U3 (minimum)
Video Speed Class
V30 (minimum)
Read Speed
90+ MB/s (ideal; 60+ acceptable)
Write Speed
60+ MB/s
| Feature | MicroSD | MicroSD Express |
|---|---|---|
| Read Speed | 90–180 MB/s | 100–265 MB/s |
| Write Speed | 60–90 MB/s | 60–200 MB/s |
| Game Load Time | Acceptable | Faster |
| Price (128GB) | £20–40 | £35–65 |
| Switch 2 Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Future-Proof | Good | Excellent |
MicroSD Express is worth the premium if you frequently install and play large AAA titles. For casual players, standard microSD remains perfectly functional.
| Usage Level | Recommended Capacity | Typical UK Price |
|---|---|---|
| Casual (5–10 games) | 128GB | £20–35 |
| Moderate (15–25 games) | 256GB ⭐ Sweet spot | £35–60 |
| Heavy (30+ games) | 512GB or 1TB | £60–150 |
Most UK buyers find 256GB to be the sweet spot — it costs marginally more than 128GB but eliminates storage anxiety for a year or two.
Nintendo publishes a list of verified compatible microSD cards. Any card from these brands from a reputable UK retailer will work flawlessly:
Avoid: no-name cheap cards from marketplaces. Compatibility and reliability issues aren't worth the £5 saving.
Absolutely. Any microSD card from the original Switch works perfectly in Switch 2. You don't need to buy a new one.
Regular microSD works great. MicroSD Express is faster but optional. If budget is tight, standard microSD with UHS-I support is adequate.
Yes, but the card is formatted to each console. Moving between devices requires reformatting and you'll lose the data.
You lose local game data. Cloud backups protect save data for most games — keep cloud saves enabled.
Compare prices on microSD and microSD Express cards from trusted UK retailers. Filter by capacity, speed, and price-per-GB to find the best value.
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