Why I say buy capacity, not benchmarks, for Switch 2 microSD Express

I’ll be blunt: microSD Express is necessary for the Switch 2, but it’s not a speed arms race for most people. These cards are new, expensive, and in real gameplay tests the differences between them are often a few seconds — not something you’ll actually notice while playing. That means capacity and price matter far more than shaving a couple seconds off load times.

SanDisk and Lexar are consistently solid and benchmark well, but cheaper options like Samsung, PNY or even the Onn card hold up in real use. If you’re transferring huge games frequently, the SanDisk can save a few minutes. If you just want space for a backlog, buy the largest card you can afford at a reputable retailer and stop worrying about benchmarks.

Practical takeaways:

• Buy capacity: prioritize 512GB or 1TB if you hoard games; 256GB is the bare minimum I’d recommend.
• Get whatever’s in stock: performance differences in play are small — availability and price are the deciding factors.
• SanDisk = safe bet: fastest and most consistent across writes/reads, but only worth the premium if you move files a lot.
• Onn/GameStop: rebadged/cheaper options; slower on transfers but fine for in‑game performance and much cheaper.
• Tip: don’t put your most playtime game on the card if load times matter — internal storage is still quicker.

For testing details and a full list of cards, see the original coverage: Engadget microSD Express guide and review Nintendo’s specs if you want technical confirmation: Nintendo Switch 2.

My Verdict: I’m not buying hype—buy the biggest, reputable EX card you can afford and stop obsessing over a few seconds. These cards will get cheaper; if you can wait, do. Are you splurging on SanDisk or hunting stock for the cheapest 1TB you can find?