Most microSD cards from well-known brands are generally reliable for expanding storage to save videos, games, and other files. However, some microSD cards stand out due to their superior speed or enhanced reliability. These qualities not only improve performance but also make the cards more versatile and a better investment over time.
After testing over a dozen of the latest microSD cards, we’ve determined that the Samsung Pro Plus and the SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch are the top choices for most users. These cards offer the best combination of speed, reliability, and compatibility, making them ideal for smartphones, tablets, and portable gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck.
Everything we recommend
The best microSD cardThe Samsung Pro Plus is the fastest microSDXC card we tested and is our top recommendation for most users. It offers excellent speed, making it ideal for recording 1080p, 4K, and even up to 5K video on action cameras and drones. It’s also perfect for expanding storage on smartphones, tablets, and gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.
In addition, it works well as a boot drive or extra storage for compact computers like the Raspberry Pi. With a generous 512 GB capacity, this card provides plenty of room for large apps, video files, and an extensive game library—making it a smart and versatile choice for everyday use.
SanDisk microSDXC card for Nintendo Switch (128 GB)
Less storage for less money
This microSD card is fast, affordable, and works well with phones, tablets, and game consoles. While it offers less capacity than our top pick, it still doubles the storage space on a Nintendo Switch, making it a great value for everyday use.
The SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch comes in several storage sizes, offering flexibility based on your needs. In earlier tests, the 128 GB version stood out for its excellent speed, earning it the top spot at the time.
This card is a great choice for beginner drone users, those expanding storage for home security cameras, and new gamers who just got their first Nintendo Switch. It’s also ideal for Switch owners who primarily download and play Nintendo’s flagship titles, providing reliable performance and enough space for essential games.
Who this is for
You can use microSD cards to expand storage on a variety of devices, including certain smartphones, tablets, and laptops. They’re also great for saving photos and videos captured on action cameras like GoPros or security cameras such as the Wyze Cam. Additionally, microSD cards are commonly used to store downloaded games on portable gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.
Small computers—especially DIY or kit systems like the Raspberry Pi—often rely on microSD cards as their primary storage, holding the operating system and applications.
Before purchasing a microSD card, it’s important to check whether your device supports microSD cards and what type it accepts. Most modern devices support microSDXC (microSD eXtended Capacity), which allows for cards larger than 32 GB. However, some older devices may only support microSDHC (up to 32 GB) or standard microSD cards (up to 2 GB).
If your device has a full-size SD card slot, you can either buy a full-size SD card or use a microSD card with an adapter. In the past, full-size SD cards were much faster than microSD cards, but today, microSD cards offer similar speeds, making them a convenient and versatile choice.
How we picked
Key Features to Look for in a microSD Card (No Matter How You Plan to Use It):
1. Availability:
Make sure you’re buying from a trusted retailer like Amazon, Best Buy, or the brand’s official store. Avoid shady third-party sellers. While counterfeit cards are less common than before, they still exist and may offer lower actual capacity, slower speeds, and no warranty support.
2. Capacity:
You can now get a good 512 GB microSD card for under $40, and a 128 GB card for about $15. Always check your device’s compatibility—if it supports microSDXC, you’re good to go with cards over 32 GB. If it only supports microSDHC, stick with cards 32 GB or smaller.
3. Speed Rating:
Speed ratings can be confusing. Look for U3 or V30 labels—these guarantee a minimum write speed of 30 MB/s, which is perfect for 4K video recording. Higher ratings like V60 or V90 are made for 8K video and require rare UHS-II devices, which are expensive and unnecessary for most users.
4. UHS-I Bus Mode:
This refers to the interface between the card and your device. For most people, a UHS-I card is all you need. UHS-II cards are only necessary for certain high-end cameras or computers and can be much more expensive. All of our recommended cards use UHS-I, which is widely supported.
5. Warranty:
Longer warranties are always better. While we didn’t exclude cards with shorter warranties, we paid extra attention to those offering 10-year or lifetime limited warranties. Choosing a card from a trusted brand like Samsung, SanDisk, or Kingston can also reduce the chances of failure.
6. Sequential Speed:
This is how fast the card can read and write large files in a row. It matters when you’re watching videos, loading games, or copying files. High sequential write speed is also important when you’re recording video or transferring large media files.
7. Random Speed:
If you’re using the card to run apps, games, or an operating system—like on a Nintendo Switch or Raspberry Pi—you’ll want high random read/write speeds. This allows the card to handle small bits of data quickly and improves performance for software and multitasking.
Our pick: Samsung Pro Plus (512 GB)
The 512 GB Samsung Pro Plus microSD card stands out as our top recommendation for a wide range of devices, including tablets, gaming consoles like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, as well as drones, security cameras, and action cameras. This card impressed us with its high-speed performance, meeting all the key speed certifications—U3, V30, and A2. These ratings ensure fast write speeds for 4K video recording, quick app loading, and smooth multitasking, making it suitable for everything from recording high-resolution footage to expanding game storage.
What makes the Samsung Pro Plus even more appealing is its affordable price and wide availability through trusted online retailers and major electronics stores. Additionally, it comes backed by Samsung’s 10-year limited warranty, which offers peace of mind against manufacturing defects. However, as with any flash storage, it’s smart to regularly back up your data to avoid accidental loss. For users who need both speed and reliability across multiple device types, this card is a solid long-term investment.
The Samsung Pro Plus 512 GB microSD card is one of the fastest we’ve tested, outperforming its competitors in our latest round of evaluations. It excelled particularly in random read and write speeds, which are crucial for handling small files. These fast access speeds help reduce loading times between game levels and allow for quicker game saves, eliminating frustrating delays and improving the overall gaming experience. Additionally, its sequential read and write speeds are more than sufficient for smooth playback and recording of 4K and even 5K video content, making it ideal for use in action cameras, drones, and other high-performance devices.
In terms of storage capacity, the 512 GB model offers plenty of space for dozens of games. For example, large titles like Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom take up about 16 GB each, meaning you could store roughly 30 similarly sized games. Smaller indie games, such as Hades, take up even less space—about 6 GB—allowing for an even more extensive game library.
Despite its premium performance, the Samsung Pro Plus remains affordably priced, typically ranging from $35 to $40, which is significantly less expensive than some competing cards priced near $60.
It’s also widely available, making it a reliable choice for consumers. We’ve consistently found it in stock on trusted sites like Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo/Video, Micro Center, Newegg, and Staples, and it’s also available in many of these retailers’ physical locations. In contrast, cards from lesser-known brands may be harder to find or have inconsistent availability.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Although Samsung’s microSD cards come with a 10-year limited warranty, some competing brands we tested offer limited lifetime warranties. On paper, a lifetime warranty may sound more appealing, but in practical terms, we believe 10 years is more than sufficient for most users. Technology evolves rapidly, and within a decade, there will likely be new generations of gaming consoles, action cameras, and mobile devices. By that time, you’ll probably be looking to upgrade to newer, faster, and larger-capacity cards anyway.
In other words, the 10-year warranty from Samsung offers solid peace of mind during the realistic lifespan of the product—long enough to cover even heavy usage across a wide range of devices, without overpaying for warranty coverage that extends far beyond the card’s practical use.
Budget pick: SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch (128 GB)
The 128 GB SanDisk microSDXC Card for Nintendo Switch was previously our top-pick microSDXC card, but with a recent price drop, we now recommend it as a budget-friendly option for those looking to expand their storage without breaking the bank.
While it offers less storage than our top pick, 128 GB is still plenty of space for many users. It’s ideal for novice Nintendo Switch players or those who primarily play a few favorite games. At this storage size, it’s certainly the minimum we would suggest to enhance the storage capacity of a Nintendo Switch or any other gaming handheld. The price typically hovers under $15, making it an attractive choice for an impulse purchase.
This card can easily double the storage of the original Switch (32 GB) or the Switch Lite (32 GB). It’s also a significant upgrade for the Switch OLED model, which comes with 64 GB of built-in storage. So, with the 128 GB SanDisk card, you’ll be able to store many more games, ensuring you don’t run out of space too quickly. During our testing, this card also performed faster than its competitors, making it a reliable option for game loading and saving. It’s widely available at Nintendo’s stores, major online retailers, and physical stores, so it’s easy to find when you need it.
Test results and how we tested
Using the microSD card reader built into a Dell Latitude 5430 laptop, we ran CrystalDiskMark, a benchmarking tool that tests sequential and random read/write speeds of storage devices. We reformatted each card using the SD Association’s recommended utility to ensure stable performance.
Sequential read speeds show how quickly large files are read from the card, such as when watching movies, loading game levels, or transferring photos. Sequential write speeds are crucial when writing large data, like recording videos or downloading games.
In our tests, all cards had sequential read speeds around 89 MB/s. Sequential write speeds ranged from 77 MB/s to 82 MB/s, with faster cards handling high-resolution video or burst photo modes more efficiently.
Though sequential speeds are more relevant for media storage, random access speed is also essential. MicroSD cards used for apps, game saves, or operating systems need fast random reads and writes. The Samsung Pro Plus card excelled in this, writing random data at 7 MB/s, far outpacing others that averaged 2 MB/s to 4 MB/s. If your card holds your operating system or games, faster random speeds ensure smoother performance.
