Pricey storage upgrades for Nintendo Switch 2: The advantages and disadvantages of microSD Express
The Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been officially announced today. Besides the 120Hz 1080p display, the dock with its active fan and 4K HDR support and new multiplayer features, the memory card reader is one of the most significant upgrades. While the first-generation Nintendo Switch was limited to UHS-I SD cards with data rates of up to 104 MB/s, the Switch 2 supports microSD Express.
The biggest advantage is speed. Even the slowest SD Express standard utilizes PCIe 3.0 x1 and provides data rates of up to 985 MB/s, which can lead to significantly shorter loading times. However, this change also has two significant disadvantages for Nintendo Switch 2 buyers. First of all, the memory card from an old Nintendo Switch cannot be used in the new console. And second, storage expansions of the new handheld are going to be much more costly.
For example, a 512 GB UHS-I memory card, which is compatible with the original Nintendo Switch, can be found for $39 on Amazon. On the other hand, the same manufacturer charges a whopping $59 for a 256GB microSD Express card, while 512GB would cost at least $99.
Since it’s reasonable to assume that Nintendo Switch 2 games will take up significantly more storage due to the console's higher resolution and better graphics, high memory card prices could mean that gamers will have to delete games more often in order to make space for new titles. That said, Nintendo's game cartridges allow gamers to buy and play titles without installing them first, unlike the PlayStation 5 and other consoles.
Source(s)
