Yes, the Nintendo Switch 2 has more internal storage and supports expandable cards, but you'll need a specific type

(Image credit: Nintendo)

The Nintendo Switch 2 features 256GB of internal storage
The console still supports expandable storage, but you'll need to use a microSD Express card to run games
These cards offer faster speeds but are more expensive

The Nintendo Switch 2 has a lot going for it – a more powerful CPU to enable even more impressive games, better audio from improved speakers, and yes, a larger screen at 7.9 inches. But can we give a round of applause to Nintendo for upping the internal storage to 256GB?

That’s a big leap – eight times what the original Nintendo Switch offered – and it should mean that you’ll have a lot of room for games and apps. Of course, there is expandable storage. However, it’s not all roses in that regard … especially if you’ve invested in a lot of standard microSD cards for your current Switch and want to make the upgrade.

Why? Well, the Nintendo Switch 2 still supports expandable storage, but it’s only going to work with microSD Express cards. That’s an important distinction, as non-standard microSD cards don’t carry the properties of ‘Express.’ These higher-end microSD cards, though, do offer faster speeds that are more on the level of SSDs (solid-state drives).

A Nintendo Switch 2 console on a Zelda background — (Image credit: Nintendo)

That feature, alongside the improved performance, should make for a more fluid experience when reading or writing onto the microSD Express card. You will need a microSD Express card to use with the Switch 2 to save a game or open one. However, according to this support page, you can plug a standard microSD card in to view photos or screenshots.

The improved speeds might weigh out the downsides aside from the cost though. A regular 128GB microSD card runs for about $20.99 (on Amazon for this SanDisk model), but a 128GB microSD Express card from SanDisk is $49.99 (currently $44.99 on Amazon). That’s quite a jump and generally the case here – microSD Express Cards are more expensive than microSD cards.

So yes, upping the internal storage on the Switch 2 to 256GB is great, and keeping the option for expandable storage is good, but the microSD Express requirement might cost you a bit more.

Of course, there’s always the chance that you might have been using a microSD Express card in your Switch Lite, Switch, or Switch OLED – it’s worth checking and as we get closer to preorders (April 8 from Nintendo and April 9 from other retailers) and launch (June 5, 2025), we’ll be writing about any major sales on this cards.

Jacob Krol is the US Managing Editor, News for TechRadar. He’s been writing about technology since he was 14 when he started his own tech blog. Since then Jacob has worked for a plethora of publications including CNN Underscored, TheStreet, Parade, Men’s Journal, Mashable, CNET, and CNBC among others.

He specializes in covering companies like Apple, Samsung, and Google and going hands-on with mobile devices, smart home gadgets, TVs, and wearables. In his spare time, you can find Jacob listening to Bruce Springsteen, building a Lego set, or binge-watching the latest from Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars.