PNY Launches Affordable 1TB SD Card for Switch 2

PNY has just rolled out its latest 1TB microSD Express Card for the Switch 2, and it’s already up for grabs online. While other brands launched their 1,000GB cards at around $219.99 last year, this new offering comes in at a more wallet-friendly $199.99.

Although it’s still a bit of an investment—especially when you can find older Switch-compatible cards of that size for as low as $100—saving $20 off the typical MSRP is a nice perk. With M.2 SSD prices soaring into the thousands, it’s refreshing to see one of the first new Switch 2 SD card releases of the year priced more reasonably.

The PNY microSD Express 1TB Card boasts impressive specs, featuring read speeds of up to 890MB/s and write speeds reaching 850MB/s. This means you’ll enjoy a lightning-fast experience with your Switch 2 and your existing digital game library. Plus, it’s built to withstand the rigors of gaming life, being shock, temperature, water, drop, and x-ray proof, and PNY backs it up with a lifetime warranty.

PNY isn’t a newcomer to the Nintendo Switch 2 SD card scene. Prior to this launch, they offered 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB options starting at $45.99. Today marks the debut of their 1TB card, providing more choices for gamers looking to future-proof their handheld.

Like other Express Cards, PNY claims this one is “4.4x faster than standard UHS-I microSDs,” thanks to its impressive read and write speeds. Last year, I tested a 256GB Samsung Switch 2 microSD Express Card, which loaded titles like Mario Kart World in just 22 seconds with its up to 800 MB/s speeds. While advertised speeds don’t always reflect real-world performance, with the PNY card’s capabilities, it should easily handle those 22 seconds and more.

This new PNY card arrives at an ideal moment, as the new year brings a wave of anticipated Switch 2 games. For instance, Pokemon Pokopia is set to launch on March 5, requiring at least 10GB of free space for this cozy life sim that blends Animal Crossing with Pokemon.

While the 256GB built-in storage of the Switch 2 can manage that 10GB, having another 1TB option is a welcome addition for those who need it. Personally, I’ve equipped both my older Switch OLED and Steam Deck OLED with 1TB cards to avoid the hassle of deleting games for new ones, especially with DLC and updates filling up storage quickly.

Currently, I have a 256GB card in my Switch 2, but this PNY version might just persuade me to invest the $199.99. The new PNY 1TB microSD Express Card is available for that price online.