The Best MicroSD Cards I've Tried
Shopping for a MicroSD card can be a little daunting. There are a ton of numbers to consider, a huge number of brands producing cards with similar-sounding features and names, and words like Pro, Extreme, and Express getting thrown around everywhere.
To make a long story short, unless you're shooting a ton of photos and videos, and doing so even semiprofessionally where losing those shots might be detrimental to your professional reputation, you're fine to buy a MicroSD card from any company whose name you've heard before. I prefer cards from PNY, SanDisk, and Lexar. Keep an eye out for the “U” symbol with a 3 inside, or a “V30” on the card for the best balance of speed and price. There are two exceptions to that suggestion:
If you're shooting on a high-end camera, you should consider a V60 MicroSD card, if you can find one for a reasonable price. Some cameras have extra video features you can enable with a faster MicroSD card, so check your manual for more info on whether you need to upgrade.
If you're buying for a Nintendo Switch 2, you'll need an unfortunately more expensive MicroSD Express card. While you can transfer images and videos from your Switch 2 with most regular MicroSD cards, you'll need an Express version to use it for actually running games.
Capacity
How much storage you need will largely depend on your needs, but there are a few things to consider when debating between 128 GB and 1 TB. The first is that MicroSD cards are tiny, and having to swap them out on the road can be a risky proposition. Costs tend to go up exponentially for 1 TB and 2 TB cards, but the gap between 256 GB and 512 GB isn't that large, so I recommend sizing up a bit.
The other factor is that storage sizes are also separated into different standards, so you'll want to make sure your device actually supports that larger card. Cards that are 64 GB are higher are technically “SDXC” for Extended Capacity, and are currently the most common type, and you should be able to use them in most modern situations.
Speed
If you're interested in learning more about MicroSD speeds, we have a write-up with a full explanation of the different speeds and how they interact, but I'll give you the quick rundown here too.
Each MicroSD card will have its actual minimum sequential write speed indicated by a letter and number on the card. The number indicates the speed in MB/s, with the letter representing the generation. A C10, U1, and V10 are all essentially the same speed, just written differently, so you're likely to see multiple symbols printed on each card. I'd recommend checking out the SD Association's page on speeds with a handy chart showing the full comparison.
In practice, you have to go out of your way to find a MicroSD card that's slower than V30/U3 at most retailers, though you may find them included with some electronics that don't require anything more substantial.
The other metric that sometimes pops up on MicroSD cards is the Application Performance Class. Rather than referring to the minimum speed for writing predictable data in large chunks to the card, this number references the capability to random smaller read and write operations, like you might have when running an application stored on the card. There are currently only two options here, A1 and A2, with the A2 being the faster, newer standard. While there are some exceptions, most of the V30 or higher MicroSD cards I see for sale online are A2, but it's worth keeping an eye out for if you plan on using the card in your phone.
More Speed
In addition to the numbers above, the MicroSD standard also recently adopted new, even higher speed Express standards, but so far the only devices to leverage the even higher speeds are the Nintendo Switch 2 and a few lonely card readers. Nintendo Switch 2 owners will want to check out my full explainer, with benchmarks and real world test results for some popular MicroSD Express offerings, but the bottom line is you'll need one of these cards to expand your new console's storage, the old cards won't work.
If you don't own a Nintendo Switch 2, you can safely ignore the Express offerings and save yourself quite a bit of cash. I'll update this guide if that changes.
Other Factors
There are currently four different bus types for transferring data to and from the memory itself, UHS-I, UHS-II, UHS-II, and Express. While UHS-II and UHS-III share a contact layout, UHS-I uses only the top row of pins, and Express substitutes the lower row found on UHS-II and UHS-III for its own. As a result, the cards are technically backwards compatible with slower devices, but Express cards will only run at UHS-I speeds in devices without Express support, due to the Express pins not lining up correctly with the UHS-II pins. You'll find that most modern cards UHS-II, as it has more than enough speed to support V90 cards.
There isn't much else to consider when buying a MicroSD card, as long as you've covered the above and met or exceeded your intended device's capabilities. Aesthetics don't matter at all since it will be tucked into a slot while in use, and brand loyalty only goes as far as how superstitious you are about those lost photos from that one beach trip. Still, I have some picks below that I've had success with in the past, but considering how little these cards cost, I wouldn't shy away from even a small discount on an extra memory card for my 3D printer.
Best for Most People
While I'm not terribly picky when it comes to my basic MicroSD cards, I've historically had good luck with the SanDisk Extreme line, and they're generally right in the middle of the price range for their capacity. They also usually include a full-sized SD card adapter, which is helpful for compatibility and USB readers, as well as just helping you not lose the tiny memory card when it's out of its device. We recommend this card in our GoPro buying guide as well for their reliability and value.
For Nintendo Switch 2 Owners
I tested a few MicroSD Express cards when the Switch 2 first launched, and of the three, the PNY option performed the best, though the difference in real-world game transfers and load times wasn't as noticeable.
You'll pay almost twice the price for the same capacity MicroSD Express card as you would for the comparable V30 card, but if you're playing on the Switch 2 you don't have much choice.
For Original Switch Owners
While the Switch 2 demands the latest and greatest in MicroSD technology, the original console was far less picky about your storage. You only need a UHS-I and U10 card, so Nintendo worked with Samsung to produce these affordable MicroSD cards that meet those requirements, and they even come branded with fun logos from popular Nintendo games.
Best Basic USB Card Reader
This no-frills card reader from Insignia is more than fast enough to handle even V60 and V90 MicroSD cards of all capacities. It has both USB-C and USB-A ports for maximum compatibility for your computer, gaming device, or mobile phone, all packed into one convenient little dongle.
An Express Card Reader
To be clear, you probably don't need a dedicated MicroSD Express card reader. The only common device that currently uses the faster standard is the Nintendo Switch 2, and the only reason you'd transfer files on or off would likely be transferring screenshots or recordings to your PC, which is easily accomplished with a traditional UHS-I USB reader. Still, this is one of only two MicroSD Express-compatible readers I could find, and the only one I've gotten to actually spend time with. There's a Lexar model that's much less expensive, so I'll update here if I get chance to check it out.
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