Amazon cuts the price of PNY’s high-speed 256GB microSD Express card to $49.99, providing Switch 2 owners with an essential upgrade for faster game loading and expanded storage using the new standard.
Amazon is selling PNY’s 256GB microSD Express card for $49.99, trimming it from the usual $60 and leaving it close to its lowest recorded price. For Nintendo Switch 2 owners, the deal is notable because the console uses the newer microSD Express standard rather than older microSD formats, which means ordinary cards are not suitable for expanded game storage.
According to Nintendo’s official support information, the Switch 2 is compatible only with microSD Express cards. Nintendo also warns that cards previously used in an original Switch will not work in the same way for digital games or save data on the new console, underlining the need for the updated standard. PNY says its card is built for next-generation gaming devices and can be used in microSD Express host devices, including the Switch 2.
PNY rates the card at up to 890MB/s read speed and up to 550MB/s write speed, figures that place it well above standard UHS-I cards. The company says the product is designed to support faster loading and less waiting between downloads and game launches, while also offering protection against shocks, magnets, water, humidity, X-rays and extreme temperatures. A lifetime warranty is included, along with access to Photo Recovery software.
The 256GB model is positioned as a practical middle ground for players who want to double the Switch 2’s built-in storage without paying for a higher-capacity option. PNY also has a 128GB version on discount at $39.99, which 9to5Toys says is back at its lowest price this year. Tom’s Hardware noted in its coverage of the card’s launch that the product line is aimed squarely at portable gaming devices where speed and heat management matter more than raw capacity alone.
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