2024's top microSD card for the Nintendo Switch

The best microSD you can get for your Switch is the Kingston 128GB microSDXC Canvas Go Plus. It has rapid read and write speeds, so you can download plenty of games and load them up quickly. That’s all you can really ask for from a great memory card, and while there are higher storage options out there, 128GB is plenty of space for more than a few titles. I use a 128GB card, and I’ve never had a problem. Its read times are pretty decent too, so you don’t know to worry about poor load times or anything like that.

If you want to use it for anything beyond Nintendo Switch, you’ll be pleased to hear that it is quite broadly compatible with most platforms, and comes with an adapter if you want to put it into any older devices. It’s not just the best microSD for Switch, but one of the best overall, too. The fact that it comes bundled with an adaptor means it’s really easy for you to use it for other devices if you choose to (and you’ll probably have enough space left over for that).

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last fifteen years, we’re pretty sure you’ve seen a SanDisk microSD card before. That’s for a pretty good reason, as this is a brand known both for affordability and reliability. Nowhere is that truer than with the SanDisk 128GB Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card, which offers a solid amount of storage and competitive read and write speeds.  I use one myself and have done for over three years of owning a Switch, with no issues at all.

This model is available in multiple sizes, but we recommend the 128GB for most Switch owners. It’s big enough to contain most libraries, and it’s not too expensive either. You might think about going for a specially optimized Switch SanDisk microSD card, which has its own benefits, but you don’t get an adapter if you go for one of those.

These ones are standard all-rounders, offering plenty of storage space and impressive read times. You can just slip them into anything. It’s the perfect choice for anyone who wants an option that will not only store their Switch games, but media and files for other devices.

If you’re looking for lightning-quick read speeds to get those games loading as quickly as possible, the Samsung Pro is the best option on this list. Its 200MB/s read speeds don’t mess around when it comes to loading games, and you can store plenty of your favorite titles with the generous 256GB of storage.

As a Samsung product, this has been designed for general use. To be honest, it may well be overkill for simply using it with the Nintendo Switch. However, if the Switch is just one thing that you’re looking to buy a microSD card for, this is another fantastic choice for just about everything – and the bundled adapter makes that even easier.

This pick is the only one on our list that’s optimized for Nintendo Switch. It’s also one of the more generous storage options, with 512GB of space capable of storing over 100 indie games or Stardew Valley more than 300 times over. You really can’t grumble at that sort of storage. Read times could be a little better, but it shouldn’t be too noticeable when you’re loading up games.

As a nice little bonus, these ones come with different Nintendo patterns on them – a star from the Mario games, an Animal Crossing leaf, and other things like that. It’s a very, very small detail, but we know it will put a smile on the faces of die-hard fans.

This was specifically designed for Nintendo Switch, and because of that, it doesn’t come with an adapter. It’s not really ideal if you want to use it in addition to your Nintendo console, but if you don’t foresee yourself having the need to put it into use on other platforms, that won’t be a problem at all. For a lot of people, this is going to be an easy go-to choice, because of its low price and its Switch optimization, but beyond that it isn’t very versatile.

The best-of-the-best from SanDisk also comes in a massive size. A 1TB microSD card is overkill for almost any Nintendo Switch user. I mean, I own about 270 videogames, and I never have issues getting most of the ones I need on a card half the size. But, if you want all the space in the world at the highest possible speeds, this is our recommendation.

There are cheaper cards at slower speeds and some unbelievably low-priced options out there, but that unbelievability often leads me to think of the old adage: if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t go buying a 1TB microSD card for $16 and expect anything other than a bad time.

If you’re after something that you’ll exclusively use with your Switch, then it might make more sense to get the Nintendo-branded SanDisk microSDXC (detailed above) as they’ve been specifically optimized for the platform. However, the prospect of having practically every Switch game available on one device thanks to the SanDisk Extreme PRO is rather tantalising.

Delkin is another great brand for top-quality microSD cards, though they’re a little less well-known (and a tad harder to come by on sites like Amazon). Still, with high enough speeds and good tech pedigree, they’re a good option if you fancy something different.

Looking at the read times, you might be alarmed by the fact that they are significantly lower than many of the others on this list. Fortunately, when it comes to using microSDs on a Switch, it really doesn’t make much difference – it’s when you’re dealing with much more taxing programs and files on PC that this really becomes a problem, so it’ll only irk you if you plan to move beyond Nintendo territory.

While Samsung’s advertised read/write speeds are often far too generous for what its SD cards actually manage in the real world, this little lie doesn’t stop the fact that these are fast enough cards at an often unbeatable price. This particular option is a whopper when it comes to storage, too. At 512GB, there’s enough space to download Tears of the Kingdom 28 times over.

If you want to push the envelope and get a lot of spare storage without breaking the bank, this is a good option. It’s a great, budget all-purpose microSD card. Just keep in mind, like a lot of the options on this list, it’s not Switch-optimized. Not that that matters all too much.

If you go for the Integral Gamer’s Edge microSD, not only are you helping to support a small family-run business, but you’re getting a quality product with a five-year warranty. It’ll easily last for the duration of that time, but if you find yourself reluctant to make large purchases like this, perhaps it will be a little easier to justify when you know you’re going to get a good life out of it.

It boasts an impressive 180MB/s read time as well, which means it’s well-positioned to offer fast and quick load times. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’ve got a third-party product that does a poor job getting your games up and running, but this one runs like a dream. Additionally, it’s also great for Steam Deck, if you happen to have one of them too, so it’s a great all-rounder microSD when it comes to games.