The Nintendo Switch 2 is right here, and so that you is perhaps available in the market for a microSD card to retailer extra video games. Whereas all microSD playing cards look the identical, solely microSD Categorical playing cards will work on the Change 2 for storing and taking part in video games. The cardboard you utilized in your authentic Change or Change Lite will solely provide very restricted performance if put in into Nintendo’s new handheld, letting you view screenshots or video clips you captured beforehand — that’s it.
That’s as a result of Nintendo opted for a considerably sooner spec in its new handheld console, which boasts an marketed 4.4x enchancment when it comes to switch speeds over the microSD playing cards you may have already got mendacity round. That enchancment is signified by a small, easy-to-miss “EX” emblem etched onto the entrance of the cardboard.
What’s tougher to overlook is how far more costly Categorical playing cards are, with some costing greater than $50 for simply 256GB of storage. The Change 2 helps microSD Categorical playing cards as much as 2TB in dimension, though 1TB is the most important capability broadly obtainable (that’s an overstatement, as many are offered out presently), with some playing cards promoting for as much as $200 a pop. Phew. I suppose it is sensible that they’re pricier since they’re labeled as bonafide PCIe NVMe SSDs by the SD Association. Walmart’s Onn label is a beacon of sunshine, as its microSD Categorical playing cards are considerably cheaper than the competitors, with its 512GB model costing $65.88 when it’s in inventory.
Fortunately, for the reason that Change 2 has 256GB of built-in storage, you probably received’t want a microSD Categorical card instantly upon receiving your console. Getting a microSD card was a ceremony of passage with the unique Change since all variations, apart from the newer OLED version that launched in 2021, got here with simply 32GB.
In case you’re available in the market for one in all these pricier storage enlargement playing cards, we’ve listed the obtainable choices under.
Replace, June twenty seventh: Up to date costs. TeamGroup has announced a microSD Categorical card, nevertheless it isn’t obtainable to buy but. We’ll replace this publish as soon as that adjustments.