Lexar 512GB and 1TB MicroSD Express for Switch 2 are heavily discounted
Blog Andrew Joseph 09 Oct , 2025 0
If you're looking for a high-capacity microSD Express card for the Nintendo Switch 2, the Lexar Play Pro 512GB and 1TB models are on sale at Amazon at an all-time low price. this 512GB model discounted to $88.47 (originally $120),and 1TB model for $158 (originally $220). other than Officially licensed Samsung microSD Expressthe Lexar Play Pro remains the most popular microSD Express card on Amazon
Until recently, Walmart offered the best deals on 512GB microSD Express cards, but the retailer has increased the price of the 512GB microSD Express cards. Onn Brand 512GB Express From $65.77 to $84.77. same, SanDisk 512GB Gaming It went up from $78 to $98 and is currently sold out. Onn microSD Express is still The cheapest 256GB microSD Express card Although the price increased from $35.77 to $46.77.
Other notable options include PNY 128GB microSD Express for $38.24 (regularly $45) Of course, there are Samsung 256GB microSD Express officially licensed for $59 on Amazon. The Nintendo-licensed Samsung card remains the most popular choice overall.
microSD Express card for Nintendo Switch 2
Below, we've listed all the microSD Express cards we could find from well-known brands Amazon. Currently, the only officially licensed option is the aforementioned Samsung Card. SanDisk is working on its own Nintendo-themed version, but it's still unclear when it will be available and if it will surpass it. 256GB. The microSD Express market is still small, but the Switch 2 is the first major consumer device to use the ultra-fast storage format. Since Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 will require microSD Express for storage expansion, the number of options has more than doubled.
Amazon's famous microSD Express card
Walmart’s famous microSD Express card
Nintendo Switch 2 storage may be disappearing fast
Nintendo Switch 2 has 256GB of onboard storage. On paper, this is a huge leap, as it's four times larger than the Switch OLED (64GB) and eight times larger than the original Switch and Switch Lite (32GB). But the Switch 2's ability to run more graphics-intensive games also means larger file sizes. For context, here are the file sizes of several of Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 games: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Captivity (44.9GB), “Metroid 4: Beyond” (31.6GB), Kirby Sky Knight (25GB), Pokemon Legends: ZA (10GB). Other examples of games launched so far: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (20GB), mario kart world (22GB), and Great Vajra Bananza (8.9GB).
You can save storage space on these first-party games by getting physical copies, since Nintendo-published games have the full game files on the card. For third-party games, with very few exceptions, e.g. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Editionphysical games on Switch 2 use game key fobs. These are low-capacity cards that essentially serve as unlock keys for downloading games from the eShop. So if you buy the physical version Madden NFL 26you still need to download the game's 55.3GB file from the eShop. star wars desperadoesMeanwhile, it requires 20.9GB to download.
A number of well-known upcoming Switch 2 games with Game-Key Card versions also have larger file sizes, including Borderlands 4 (48.8GB), Persona 3 Reloaded (25.4GB), and Dragon Ball: Spark Zero (25GB). Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade The download size on the Switch 2 is currently expected to be 87.9GB, so the game alone will consume a lot of storage space.
The prevalence of game key fobs and the larger file sizes of AAA games may cause many Switch 2 users to run out of storage space even faster than the original Switch.
microSD Express: What is it?
The Express format is the latest advancement in the semiconductor industry, but it has yet to be widely adopted by manufacturers. If you're wondering why Express cards seem so expensive compared to the UHS-I cards you used on the original Switch console and most devices, it all comes down to speed. For example, the SanDisk Ultra 512GB microSD card has read speeds of up to 150MB/s, and the SanDisk Gameplay 512GB Express card has read speeds of 880MB/s, which is almost six times faster. Express cards are significantly faster than SATA SSDs; in this context, the price makes more sense.
You can take a closer look at a number of microSD Express cards from the list in the gallery below.
$59 | Officially Licensed
- read: 800MB/sec
- Write: 400MB/sec
Samsung's officially authorized model adopts Mario red color scheme and M logo. Not surprisingly, it's the most popular microSD Express card on the Switch 2 so far. Samsung and SanDisk are widely considered to be the top brands for microSD cards. Since SanDisk's Nintendo-licensed cards aren't yet available, Samsung is the only “official” option.
Samsung's microSD Express sells for $60 ($59 at Amazon and Walmart), which is much more affordable than the more expensive microSD Express. Nintendo themed SanDisk card Works with original Switch. If you choose the 256GB Express card, we'd choose this card or Walmart's Onn Express card (if available in your area). The Walmart-branded card will save you about $25, and it technically has better specs.
We include the read/write speeds of each card in this list. Read speeds range from 800-900MB/s, but you're unlikely to notice a difference between the Samsung's 800MB/s read speed and the Lexar's 900MB/s speed.
The Nintendo-authorized Samsung card has the slowest write speeds on this list. On the surface, this sounds bad, but it actually shows what is important and what is not. If an officially licensed card can write at 400MB/s, that means the Switch 2 can't benefit from higher speeds.
While this isn't as important for the Switch 2, write speed may become more of a consideration if you consider there's an opportunity to upgrade to a higher-capacity card and repurpose it into a different Express-compatible device. But to be clear, 400MB/s is still pretty fast.
Available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB models
- read: 900MB/sec
- Write: 600MB/sec
Lexar Play Pro is the only 1TB model microSD Express card from a major brand. The 1TB Play Pro frequently sells out, and restocks on expensive cards tend to sell out quickly.
256GB – $46.77 | 512GB – $84.77
- read: 800MB/sec
- Write: 600MB/sec
A note on availability and pricing: These cards frequently sell out and are sometimes only available in certain areas of the United States. If you want one, we recommend checking Walmart every day as both models are sold out many There have been so many times since the Switch 2 launched. Walmart previously sold these 256GB and 512GB cards for $35.77 and $65.77.
Walmart-owned tech brand Onn is known for its low prices, and the same goes for its microSD Express cards. Even with Walmart's price increase, the 256GB model is the cheapest microSD Express card available.
The Onn card's write speeds are the same as the Lexar Play Pro's, but the Play Pro's read speeds are 100MB/s faster. That said, the 512GB Lexar is almost twice the price.
Interestingly, I've been using the 512GB model since launch and haven't had any issues.
Walmart says the cards are “waterproof, shockproof, temperature-resistant, and antimagnetic.” Your purchase includes a one-year limited warranty.
$78-$98 | Walmart only
- read: 880MB/sec
- Write: 650MB/sec
- Keep writing: 220MB/sec
A note on pricing and availability: As of October 9, the card is sold out at Walmart, with the current listing showing the price at $98.
As mentioned, the SanDisk Gameplay 512GB microSD Express card is currently only available at Walmart. It appears to be an exclusive card with a few branding changes. While the regular SanDisk model has “microSD Express” written on the red stripe, this model has “Gameplay” written on the red stripe and “Express” written on the lower right side. Does this difference matter? not at all.
Important: From a technical and performance standpoint, the SanDisk plays exactly the same as the regular 512GB model. However, you can save approximately $40 by purchasing the game version.
The 512GB gaming version is only $6 more than the 256GB regular version and less than $20 more than the 128GB model. The Gameplay version is only available in 512GB.
If you choose SanDisk, gameplay is the obvious choice. As far as 512GB microSD Express cards go, only Walmart's Onn brand is cheaper, and the card isn't available in all regions and is slightly slower.
Available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB
- 128GB
- Read: 880MB/sec
- Write: 480MB/sec
- Continuous writing: 100MB/s
- 256GB
- Read: 880MB/sec
- Write: 650MB/sec
- Continuous writing: 210MB/s
- 512GB
- Read: 880MB/sec
- Write: 650MB/sec
- Continuous writing: 220MB/s
SanDisk's regular microSD Express cards come in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB models. All three capacities offer the same 880MB/s read speeds, but as mentioned above, there are differences in write speeds and sustained write speeds.
Currently, all three cards are quite expensive compared to the other cards on this list. Ironically, the main reason these products fail to offer solid value is the presence of SanDisk's 512GB Gameplay Express card.
SanDisk will release a Nintendo-licensed microSD Express card with a Mario red color scheme and logo, but a release date has yet to be announced. What we do know is that the licensed version is the same card, but with a different look – just like in the case of SanDisk Gameplay.
SanDisk currently makes 128GB and 256GB models of microSD Express cards.
Available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB
- read: 800MB/sec
- Write: 500MB/sec
TeamGroup is a well-known cheap manufacturer of microSD cards. Apex is Team Group's first card to use Express technology.
Team Group’s prices are typically significantly lower than those of its competitors. For example, Team Group A2 Pro Plus 1TB microSD card It usually sells for about $60. To be clear, the A2 Pro does no Works on Switch 2 – although it's a solid choice for the original Switch and Steam Deck.
Available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB models
- read: 800MB/sec
- Write: Not available
GameStop also sells branded microSD Express cards. It's unclear which manufacturer the card is made by, but we won't reveal that information as write speeds aren't included on the product page. While read speed is most important for the Switch 2, we would never recommend purchasing a storage device without knowing its write speed. Additionally, you can buy 256GB and 512GB models from well-known brands at lower prices.
GameStop is one of the few companies to offer a 1TB model, but it's almost always sold out. The 512GB model also frequently sells out. We suspect this stems from the small print run rather than popularity. There are only a handful of customer reviews for these cards.
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