When Nintendo revealed the Switch 2, they mentioned that users would need microSD Express cards to boost the device’s memory. This led to a shopping frenzy, with both online and brick-and-mortar stores seeing their stock rapidly vanish. At some stores, employees recounted to Hermitage Akihabara in Japan that they managed to sell over 337 cards each hour. This was unexpected because microSD Express cards come with a hefty price tag compared to standard microSD cards.
Purchasing these upgraded memory cards will set you back quite a bit. For instance, the Lexar 1TB Play microSD card is typically sold for $129.99 on Amazon, though it’s currently marked down to $69.99. This version offers read speeds up to 160 MB/s and write speeds of 100 MB/s, which are decent, though still slower than internal storage capabilities. The microSD Express model, however, boasts a read speed of 900 MB/s and a write speed of 600 MB/s – significantly faster than the older version. But this speed comes with a cost. The Lexar 1TB Play Pro microSD Express card originally lists for $199.99 on Amazon, and even with a current sale price of $172.63, it’s still more than twice as pricey as the standard version.
Despite these costs, there wasn’t a scalping rush. Although microSD Express cards have been flying off the shelves since the Switch 2 announcement, this isn’t because of widespread reselling. Reports suggest that most buyers only picked up one card each, with just a few buying up to three. It seems that the majority were individual users preparing for the new console’s release rather than those looking to flip the cards for a profit.
Introduced in 2019, the microSD Express standard hasn’t seen widespread use largely due to its higher cost compared to its non-Express counterparts and SSDs. While some gaming systems allow for an internal memory boost by swapping out SSDs, this method can be cumbersome. It requires opening up the system and possibly making technical adjustments.
Nintendo, known for being protective of its hardware, discourages such tweaks. Therefore, for Switch 2 owners who need more storage that can match the speed of internal memory, microSD Express cards offer the simplest solution. With the Switch 2 gearing up for several major game releases, this storage option will undoubtedly come in handy against its limited 256 GB internal capacity. It ensures that gamers can have all their beloved titles ready for play.
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