The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256GB of internal UFS 3.1 storage—eight times more than the original Switch's 32GB. After system software, approximately 249GB is available for games and media.
Storage Expansion: microSD Express Required
For additional storage, the Switch 2 requires microSD Express cards—a newer, faster standard. Regular microSD cards from your original Switch will NOT work for game storage.
| Card Type | Works for Games? | Works for Screenshots? | |-----------|------------------|------------------------| | microSD Express | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | | Standard microSD | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
microSD Express Pricing
| Capacity | Approximate Price | |----------|-------------------| | 128GB | $45–50 | | 256GB | $60–70 | | 512GB | $80–100 | | 1TB | $150–200 |
Regular 128GB microSD cards cost around $20 for comparison. The price premium is significant but necessary for performance.
Why microSD Express?
MicroSD Express cards are approximately:
- 1.4x faster than SATA SSDs
- 4x faster than standard microSD cards
This speed is essential for streaming game data efficiently and reducing load times.
Recommendations
| User Type | Recommended Storage | |-----------|---------------------| | Physical game collector | 256GB internal may suffice | | Digital game buyer | Add 256GB–512GB microSD Express | | Large library owner | Add 512GB–1TB microSD Express |
Nintendo confirms support for cards up to 2TB, though 1TB is currently the largest available.
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How we researched this
Where this comes from: this answer draws on the product's published specifications and the reviews ShopSavvy collected for it, alongside prices from ShopSavvy's price data.
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