Nintendo Switch 2 Leak Reveals Massive Storage Upgrade

Summary

• The Nintendo Switch 2 may support microSD Express cards, according to newly leaked GameStop SKUs.
• The microSD Express standard offers over 900% faster transfer speeds compared to the UHS-I interface supported by the current Switch.
• microSD Express cards can reach capacities up to 128TB, while UHS-I cards cap at 2TB.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is rumored to support microSD Express cards, hinting at significant storage technology improvements over its predecessor. This information comes from several newly surfaced SKUs believed to be for accessories of the upcoming console.

Rumors suggest that the Switch 2 entered mass production towards the end of 2024, possibly as early as late September. This timeline is supported by numerous leaks about the console's hardware that started appearing online in the last quarter of 2024.

In early January 2025, several GameStop SKUs, believed to be for unannounced Switch 2 accessories, were leaked. Reddit user Opposite-Chemistry96 shared product labels that mention three "Switch 2 Exp Micro SD Card" options with capacities ranging from 256GB to 512GB, indicating the use of the microSD Express standard.

Nintendo Switch 2 May Offer 900% Faster microSD Transfer Speeds

The current Nintendo Switch supports UHS-I microSD cards, which have a theoretical maximum transfer speed of around 104 MB per second, though top products typically achieve about 95 MB/s. In contrast, microSD Express cards can reach transfer speeds of approximately 985 MB/s, a 900% improvement. This boost is due to the use of the NVMe protocol, which allows for highly parallel data transfer similar to that of the fastest modern SSDs.

UHS-I vs microSD Express Standard

A significant advantage of microSD Express cards over UHS-I cards is their maximum capacity. While UHS-I cards top out at 2TB, microSD Express cards can support up to 128TB, a 6,300% increase. According to the leaked GameStop inventory, the 256GB Switch 2 cards are priced at $49.99, and the 512GB card at $84.99.

Additionally, Opposite-Chemistry96 found SKUs for a Switch 2 carrying case and two "deluxe" cases, priced at $19.99 and $29.99, respectively. These are likely unofficial Switch 2 accessories, consistent with the types of products that have been leaking online for months. Nintendo has stated it will officially reveal its next console before the end of its current fiscal year, which concludes on March 31, 2025.