The best SD cards for Switch in 2024

Quick list

If you buy any number of digital Nintendo Switch titles on either the standard Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite, there’s a very strong chance that you’re going to need to upgrade your console’s storage fairly quickly with one of the best SD cards for Switch. The measly 32GB of internal storage can fill up fast and, even with the increased 64GB capacity of the Nintendo Switch OLED, it’s easy to find yourself running out of space.

The smoothest way to get more storage in your system is through the addition of a compatible SD card, which can be quickly slotted into your console in a matter of minutes. Luckily, the prices of SD cards have been rapidly falling and, in 2024, there’s never been a better time to consider an upgrade. You can easily triple or even quadruple your console’s storage for less than the price of some of the best Nintendo Switch games. 

A new SD card is just one way in which you could improve your experience with the Nintendo Switch. For other ideas, consider visiting our guides to the best Nintendo Switch accessories, the best Nintendo Switch controllers, the best Nintendo Switch carry cases, or the best Nintendo Switch headsets.

The Quick List

1. SanDisk microSDXC for Nintendo Switch

The best SD card for Switch overall

You can't go wrong with a product that has the official blessing from Nintendo. It's pricier than some, but worldwide availability and guaranteed compatibility makes the SanDisk microSDXC the best SD card for Switch.

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2. Kingston Canvas Go Plus microSDXC

The best premium SD card for Switch 

The Kingston Canvas Go Plus SD card is over twice as fast as what Nintendo recommends for the console so, while they cost more than your average model, they are a good premium alternative.

Read more below

3. Micro Center Premium microSDXC

The best budget SD card for Switch 

The Micro Center Premium microSDXC SD card is ideal for those wanting to expand their console's storage at a low price. Just be aware that your performance could suffer in some games.

Read more below

4. SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSDXC

The best high-capacity SD card for Switch 

If you're looking for the maximum amount of storage then the SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSDXC has you covered. With a very reasonable price tag, this is one of the fastest and most consistent 1TB models on the market.

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5. Samsung EVO Select MicroSDXC

The best endurance SD card for Switch 

While the Samsung Evo Select isn't the fastest SD card in our roundup by any stretch, it has the most reliable performance and the highest endurance as it has been designed specifically for high-intensity use.

Read more below

The best SD cards for Switch in 2024

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Best overall SD card for Switch

1. SanDisk microSDXC for Nintendo Switch

The best SD cards for Switch

Specifications

Storage: 64GB, 128GB

Read Speed: up to 100 MB/s

SD Reader: No

Ultra High Speed: UHS-3

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

Buy it if

✅ You don't want to worry about compatibility: The SanDisk microSDXC for Nintendo Switch has Nintendo's seal of approval. As an officially licensed product, this is our go to pick for hassle-free use.  

Don't buy it if

❌ You're on a tight budget: The SanDisk microSDXC for Nintendo Switch can be pricey. If you're on a tight budget, consider other, non licensed, versions instead.

SanDisk's officially licensed microSDXC for Nintendo Switch is our top pick for the very best Nintendo Switch SD card. It is widely available in many territories and comes in a range of different sizes. If you don't want to worry about whether a particular microSD card will run inside your machine, this officially licensed card is your best bet. 

Capacities vary from 64GB all the way up to 512GB, giving you a wide range of options too. We especially recommend the 128GB version, which seems to be the absolute sweet spot and is frequently available for around $25 - a very fair price. A 128GB card will also most likely give you more than enough to download your favorite games from the eShop without worry.

Deals on this model are also very common and it's entirely possible to score the massive 512GB version for below $60 at trusted retailers. If you see an offer like this, make sure to snap it up quick.

Best premium SD card for Switch

2. Kingston Canvas Go Plus microSDXC

The best premium SD cards for Switch

Specifications

Storage: up to 512GB

Read Speed: up to 170 MB/s

SD Reader: Yes

Ultra High Speed: UHS-1

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

Buy it if

✅ You want a fast SD card for Switch: The Kingston Canvas Go Plus microSDXC is one of the fastest SD cards you can get at this price in 2023. 

Don't buy it if

❌ You want above 512GB of storage: If you want to go beyond 512GB, consider one of the higher capacity options that we have listed below.

The Kingston Canvas Go Plus microSDXC SD card will put any of your fears about performance inside of a Nintendo Switch firmly to bed. While Nintendo officially recommends transfer rates of between 60 to 95 MB/s as a minimum, this card is rated at a blistering 170 MB/s. That is over double the official suggestion, so you won't need to worry about any potential slowdown.

The price is a highlight too, as they can often be found selling at, or cheaper than, the prices of their officially licensed counterparts from SanDisk. Although not  marketed specifically towards Nintendo Switch (instead aimed at shooting 4K video) our testing confirmed that they offer a very smooth gameplay experience. We recommend picking up either the 128GB or 256GB models for the very best value for money.

Best budget SD card for Switch

3. Micro Center Premium microSDXC

The best budget SD cards for Switch

Specifications

Storage: up to 1TB

Read Speed: up to 170 MB/s

SD Reader: Yes

Ultra High Speed: UHS-1

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

Buy it if

✅ You're working on a tight budget: The Micro Center Premium microSDXC is one of the cheapest high-speed SD cards available from a known and trusted brand. 

Don't buy it if

❌ You're after something faster: While the Micro Center Premium microSDXC is affordable, it just barely lives up to the console's recommended benchmarks. 

If you're after the very best value for money, then you can't get much better than the Micro Center Premium MicroSDXC card. Prices start from just $7.99 for a 64GB capacity which would give you far more room for your games. What's more, you won't have to worry about the transfer speeds, as all these SD cards run at 95 MB/s which is right at the top end of Nintendo's recommendation. 

This option becomes even stronger when you consider some of the higher capacity variations available. If you're someone who wants the most bang for your buck then the 512GB version is about as cheap as it comes. There's also a 1TB version, perfect if you truly never want to run out of storage space again. It doesn't have the very best specs, but the price-to-performance can't really be argued with here. 

Best high-capacity card for Switch

4. SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSDXC

The best high capacity SD card for Switch

Specifications

Storage: up to 1TB

Read Speed: up to 190 MB/s

SD Reader: Yes

Ultra High Speed: UHS-1

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

Buy it if

✅ You want the biggest capacity available: The SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSDXC is perfect for storing all the many Nintendo Switch games that you could ever need. 

Don't buy it if

❌ You're working with limited funds: While the SanDisk 1TB Extreme microSDXC is impressive, it certainly doesn't come cheap. 

Few names are more well-known in storage world than SanDisk and the company's Extreme line of MicroSDXC cards has a fantastic reputation. If you're after the absolute fastest available SD card for Switch with the biggest possible capacity then look no further than the SanDisk 1TB Extreme. 

It's a pricey investment compared to some of the alternatives, but with its performance of up to 190 MB/s, you won't need to worry about games not running at their best. This 1TB configuration also frequently sells for well below its $190 MSRP.

Best endurance SD card for Switch

5. Samsung EVO Select MicroSDXC

The best endurance SD Card for Switch

Specifications

Storage: Up to 256GB

Read Speed: 130 MB/s

SD Reader: Yes

Ultra High Speed: UHS-1

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

Buy it if

✅ You plan on doing big data transfers: The Samsung EVO Select MicroSDXC is ideal for transferring big Nintendo Switch games to and from the internal storage thanks to its encoding and sequential rates. 

Don't buy it if

❌ You want something officially licensed: If you would rather have peace of mind then and officially licensed card could be a better choice. 

If you’re searching for an affordable and reliable MicroSD for your Nintendo Switch, the Samsung EVO Select MicroSDXC is a great choice. Prices start at $10.99 for a 64GB card, which would provide ample space to store a substantial game library, and sizes can go up to 512GB for $49.99. 

Additionally, despite read speeds not being at the top end of the scale, 130MB/s guarantees seamless gaming on the Nintendo Switch as it well exceeds recommendations by Nintendo. As its designed for 4K video, this SD card also boasts fantastic endurance. If you want a long lasting card, this should be your number one pick.

Best SD cards for Switch - FAQs

Does the Nintendo Switch need an SD card?

You might not need an SD Card for your Nintendo Switch immediately but if you plan on downloading some of the biggest titles you will undoubtedly run out of space. It's best to purchase an SD Card, even if it's one of the smaller sizes, just to make sure you're not caught short when a big title drops. 

What is the best brand of SD card for Nintendo Switch?

Although it doesn't technically matter which SD card you choose for your console, we tend to rely on well-known brands like Kingston, SanDisk, and Micro Center for our top picks. Cheaper cards run the risk of inadequate performance or shoddy build quality.

How do you increase the storage capacity of the Nintendo Switch?

You can increase the storage capacity of a Nintendo Switch through the by slotting a compatible micro SD card into the console's micro SD card slot. Increased storage capacity could be a massive benefit if you enjoy downloading games from the Nintendo eShop, or simply want to make sure that your system will have enough space for your entire library.

Visit our roundup of the best Micro SD cards for a more general overview. Also see our recommendations for the cheapest Nintendo Switch deals for offers on hardware and console bundles. 

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