microSD Express Cards Sell Out Rapidly Following Switch 2 Reveal — Over 337 Units Sold Hourly

When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2, it caused quite a stir with the announcement that users would need microSD Express cards to boost the device’s memory. Almost immediately, these cards flew off the shelves, both in online and physical stores. Reports from places like Hermitage Akihabara in Japan revealed a staggering sale of over 337 cards per hour, which caught everyone off guard. After all, microSD Express cards come with a hefty price tag compared to their standard counterparts.

So, just how much more does one have to dish out for these high-speed wonders? To give you an idea, the standard Lexar 1TB Play microSD card, typically priced at $129.99 on Amazon, was going for a discounted $69.99 when this was written. It boasts a 160 MB/s read speed and 100 MB/s write speed, which is decent, although it still doesn’t match up to the internal storage speeds of most devices. Alternatively, the microSD Express version of this card rockets ahead with 900 MB/s read and 600 MB/s write speeds—making it significantly faster. Of course, such performance comes at a cost. The Lexar 1TB Play Pro microSD Express card was originally priced at $199.99 on Amazon, and even with a sale price of $172.63, it’s more than twice as expensive as the non-Express version.

Despite the increased price, there’s no evidence of rampant scalping. Even with the Switch 2’s microSD Express requirement being a hit to the wallets of Nintendo fans, these cards sold incredibly well in the wake of the announcement. Interestingly, about 80% of customers seemed to be purchasing just one card, and no one was buying more than three. This suggests most buyers were genuine end-users, preparing for the impending arrival of the Switch 2.

With microSD Express technology on the market since 2019, its high cost compared to regular microSD cards and SSDs has likely slowed widespread adoption. While many gaming consoles allow users to expand storage by swapping out the SSD, the process is not particularly user-friendly. Getting to the SSD often means removing the backplate and possibly tweaking settings.

Nintendo prefers users not to tamper with its console hardware, so opting to expand the Switch 2’s storage via microSD Express cards is the straightforward choice. Given that this new console will feature various upcoming AAA titles, its initial 256 GB of internal storage could quickly feel cramped. An external microSD Express card can ensure that you have all your favorite games accessible whenever you want them on your Switch 2.

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