microSD Express Cards Fly Off the Shelves After Switch 2 Announcement — Over 337 Units Sold Per Hour

When Nintendo unveiled the Switch 2, they let gamers know that they would need to use microSD Express cards to boost the console’s memory capacity. Shortly after that revelation, both online and physical retailers found their stocks rapidly depleting. In Japan, Hermitage Akihabara reported, through a machine translation, that some stores were selling over 337 cards per hour. This fervor caught many off guard, particularly given the fact that microSD Express cards are significantly pricier than their regular microSD counterparts.

Now, if you’re thinking of upgrading, brace yourself for the price tag. Take the Lexar 1TB Play microSD card, for instance. Normally, it goes for $129.99 on Amazon, but it’s currently on sale for $69.99. It offers a decent read speed of up to 160 MB/s and a write speed of up to 100 MB/s, though that still pales compared to the internal memory speeds. Now, if you have your eyes on the Express variant, it’s a whole different beast with blazing speeds—a read speed of 900 MB/s and a write speed of 600 MB/s, which trumps the previous generation’s performance. Of course, this comes at a cost. The Lexar 1TB Play Pro microSD Express card was initially priced at $199.99, and even with a sale reduction to $172.63, it still demands more than twice what you’d pay for the standard model.

Interestingly, despite the steep prices, these microSD Express cards flew off the shelves following Nintendo’s announcement. But it’s not a case of rampant scalping, as the data shows that around 80% of buyers only grabbed one card. The highest number of cards purchased by an individual was a modest three, suggesting that these buyers are mainly genuine end-users eagerly preparing for the new Switch 2.

Although the microSD Express standard has been around since 2019, its adoption was slow, probably due to the higher costs when compared to regular microSD cards and traditional SSDs. Many gaming consoles allow storage upgrades by swapping out SSDs, but this isn’t the most user-friendly option. Typically, it involves opening up the console and fiddling with settings—a process not everyone is keen on or comfortable with.

Nintendo, known for preferring users not to tamper with console hardware, sees using microSD Express cards as the most straightforward way to expand the Switch 2’s storage. With several new blockbuster titles headed to the console, this could be a critical enhancement, as the console’s 256 GB internal storage might quickly fill up. With microSD Express, you can ensure all your favorite games are just a tap away, ready to be played at any time on your Switch 2.

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