Here’s Why the Nintendo Switch 2’s MicroSD Express Support Could Dent Your Wallet

When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2, we got a peek at some tantalizing new features, and there’s quite a bit to unpack, especially in terms of technical specifications. One of the standout details is the console’s need for a fresh MicroSD standard, known as MicroSD Express. Brace yourself, because if pricing trends on recent products are any indication, this won’t be a budget-friendly upgrade. MicroSD Express cards come with a hefty price tag, offering 20 to 25 cents per gigabyte, a substantial increase compared to the 5 to 6 cents per gigabyte for many SSDs. This cost bump can be attributed to the integration of NVMe and PCIe 3.0, technologies you typically find in M.2 SSDs, now embedded in these new cards.

When it comes to current offerings, Sandisk is leading the pack with its MicroSD Express cards. They have priced the 128GB card at $49.99, while the 256GB version comes in at $64.99. These cards promise read speeds up to 880 MB/s, write speeds of 480 MB/s, and sustained write speeds of 100 MB/s.

Lexar is stepping up the game with their announcement of larger capacity cards—up to a whopping 1TB. But remember, bigger storage comes with bigger prices, so prepare for some sticker shock with this new technology.

If you’re eyeing Lexar’s options, the Play Pro 1TB card will set you back $199.99. The 512GB model is priced at $99.99, and the 256GB version comes in at a more palatable $49.99. Lexar claims their cards can reach read speeds of up to 900 MB/s and write speeds of 600 MB/s.

Comparing prices, Sandisk’s 128GB card hovers around $0.39 per gigabyte, whereas their 256GB option is a better deal at $0.25 per gigabyte. Lexar, on the other hand, maintains a standard cost of $0.20 per gigabyte across their models, providing solid competitive specs.

Now, why is all this storage talk crucial for the Switch 2? Well, even though it’s set to launch with 256GB of built-in storage, that may not be enough. Some games, despite being purchased physically, will require you to download the entire game to the system. The cartridge essentially acts as a “Game-Key Card” or a license. This shift might stem from publishers wanting to cut back on cartridge production costs as NAND storage prices climb.

Take, for instance, Street Fighter 6; even with a physical cartridge, you’ll need to download an extra 50GB onto your console immediately. So, with only 256GB onboard, you’ll find your storage filling up quickly. This means unless you want to juggle downloads constantly, investing in those pricey MicroSD cards becomes almost essential.

Diving into the new MicroSD Express standard for the Switch 2 reveals some fascinating technical details. This new standard is quite a leap from the UHS-I cards used by the original Switch. According to the SD Association, MicroSD Express cards fall into four speed categories: Class 150, 300, 450, and 600, indicating their read/write performances in MB/s.

One of the major advancements is the increased number of pins—16 or 17 compared to the eight on UHS-I cards—which, along with NVMe and PCIe 3.0 interfaces, enable speeds reaching up to 2GB/s with a PCIe 4.0 interface. Despite these theoretical capabilities, the actual performance of the Switch 2 is still under wraps.

Joey Lopez from Lexar highlights the potential of these cards, saying they deliver unmatched performance for MicroSD forms, eagerly prepping gamers for the future of handheld gaming. Yet, until the Switch 2 and these new MicroSD cards make their way into our hands, their true speed remains a mystery. For now, anticipation builds as we look forward to getting hands-on time with the Nintendo Switch 2.