I was browsing online looking for a microSD card to buy for my Switch because I am running out of storage due to the wave of awesome games that just landed. I went to check SanDisk’s website to see what they have. Then I found [their “Nintendo Licensed” MicroSD cards.](http://shop.sandisk.com/store/sdiskus/en_US/list/parentCategoryID.11442400/categoryID.4853723300) If you don’t know by looking at it, those prices are completely outrageous!
They are trying to take advantage of the fact that their consumers may not know what a good price of a Micro SD card is. A quick glance online will quickly show you how bad the price gouging is. You can find MicroSD cards with the exact same stats as the 64GB Nintendo Licensed card [for $70 cheaper!](https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-MicroSD-Adapter-MB-MP64GA-AM/dp/B06XX2GL1L) Hell, you can *double* the storage of the 128GB card [for $50 less!](https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/memory-cards/microsdxc-evo-plus-memory-card-w–adapter-256gb–2017-model–mb-mc256ga-am/?cid=pla-ecom-mul-27,000,002)
These are just what I managed to find, but I assure you you could probably find cheaper ones than I did. Always be a cautious consumer!
Edit: changed first link to a better card, and removed the statement saying the 256 card is slower. It’s not. It reaches the same speeds as the Nintendo MicroSD.
by schmidty98
40 Comments
You are right on the money. But i highly doubt someone who is browsing /r/nintendo regularly and sees this, doesnt know how to purchase a SD card for a reasonable price.
But if you just helped a few ones with this, its still good. This prices are.. oh my lord
Thanks for the recommendations!
I am sure there will be some good offers on black Friday.
You’re not making straight comparisons.
The Nintendo/SanDisk card is 100MB/s read, 60MB/s write and is only $50 at Best Buy. The Samsung you linked to is 80MB/s read and 20MB/s write.
The Nintendo-branded card will likely always be more expensive, but you can’t just pick a random card and say it’s cheaper.
It’s U1, but there’s also this Sandisk 128GB for $30 right now (80MB/s read): https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk-ultra-plus-128gb-microsdxc-uhs-i-memory-card/4471009.p
The price gouging is for parents who aren’t tech savvy and just want whatever little card their child needs. It’s not aimed at us. Issue is, they’re actually selling so Nintendo is getting away with this smart, but really scummy move.
on the note of SD cards, people may want to consider how big some Switch games, such as LA Noire will be. Even if you are only buying physical some games have a hefty download too!
Black Friday deals are great too!! I got a 64gb MicroSD card for my 3DS for $10 last year and hoping to get another good deal for my switch this year!
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk-ultra-plus-128gb-microsdxc-uhs-i-memory-card/4471009.p?skuId=4471009
Buy this. $30 for 128GB microSD.
This is a dumb question, but why do people need new micro SD cards? Do not all Switches come with one?
128GB micro SD cards are $30 right now for early Black Friday on Best Buy’s website, jump on them asap
Anyone want to help a canadian find a good deal? :<
Thankfully we have the option of non-proprietary cards at all.
You never go full Vita.
I guarantee there are comments below saying “but I prefer to buy branded products from a company I trust”. Heads up to those people, the product is very much just a standard SanDisk card with a Nintendo logo printed on it, and bumped up by 70$.
I also made a very similar thread warning of this when they were announced and it was promptly kharma bombed and shielded by the Pearl Armored Army.
I try to continually remind people that Nintendo are a corporate business, but it seems people are more interested in seeing them as a magical dream factory.
I am curious as I am looking to buy a switch (I am buying one) but I do have a question regarding these micro SD cards. Do we “need” to have large capacity sd cards? Is it that if I plan on having a lot of games and DLC, I’ll “need” it?
I already bought the licensed Switch SDcard. It has the Switch logo, which looks cool, and I want to support Nintendo products, regardless of price.
You also can’t use a standard usb-c hub dongle on your switch because they chose to make it proprietary and charge $90 for a dock that should be around $15. The pro controller is too expensive, the joycons are too expensive, heck, they’re going to pitch Skyrim as a new release. It’s all expensive.
They’re sold out? Wow
I remember paying $80 for a 4GB Memory stick for the PSP back in the day and feeling super swag.
That isn’t price gouging.
Correction, don’t buy it from Sandisk’s site. The exact same cards are on Amazon for $30 and $75 dollars respectively:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075RH8PTL/ref=s9u_simh_gw_i1
Can you teach an idiot how not to be an idiot though?
You know, googling “Do other MicroSD cards work with Switch”
“Oh they do!”
[deleted]
Its like when people buy external hard drives “for macs” and the markup is like 100 dollars more.
At least they didn’t capitalize on having specific memory cards made only by Nintendo like Sony with it’s PS Vita cards. I got lucky mine came with a 32gb card already
Here in Australia the Nintendo branded one is cheaper than most others I can find from major retailers
From what I’ve heard you really don’t have to buy the top of the line SD cards for the Switch either. You still want a quality brand so it doesn’t crap out on you, but even if you stick with Samsung, or SanDisk you can get by with their medium tier models. The most expensive ones for each GB are going to have the fastest reading speeds, but the Switch itself isn’t actually capable of taking advantage of those faster speeds.
Aren’t there supposed to be bigger sizes coming in the future as well? Or are they out, just not supported yet (future patch)?
Or you can go to Amazon where they are actually sold for much less than the list price on SanDisk’s website
They’ve never been “in stock” there
My concern is who decided such obviously manipulative pricing. It’s not like Nintendo puts any special touch to the MicroSD to make it worth literally anything more than any other.
THE SWITCH DOESN’T SUPPORT U3 SPEED!
The Nintendo Licensed Switch SD Card has U3 speed!
What the fuck were they thinking!?!
The price isn’t actually that outrageous, but the power is overkill.
They should have made the SD Card U1 speed… this would have definitely saved on cost.
Read the Nintendo Switch SD Card FAQ page!
http://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22481/~/microsd-card-faq
There have been multiple tests comparing SD cards with U3 speed to SD cards with U1 speed. Cards with U3 speed are automatically lowered to U1 speed when put in the Switch, and seem to tend to perform milliseconds worse.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-best-microsd-cards-for-switch-loading-time-comparison
I’ve heard about these cards but rarely see them on my searches. You’d have to go out of your way to find them and then buy them. So not sure how helpful this PSA will be for /r/Nintendo
I think these things are put out there for low information buyers.
Nintendo gets their cut, knowing they are selling a quality licensed product, and the OEM gets their cut. This is not at all similar to the situation of another product where you had to buy only officially produced memory cards.
Lol, still cheap compared to vita.
I will, to support Nintendo
How far will 128 gigs stretch strictly for digital games? I’m planning to pick up a Splatoon bundle this weekend and want to future-proof my storage space for next year’s releases (Pokemon, FE & Metroid).
Amazon also has the 200gb card on sale for $75. Would that be a better buy?
Right now at best buy since they have some black Friday deals going on now you can pick up a 128 scan disk micro sdxc uhs for 29.99. Best price I found picked up 2 at my local best buy.
I actually bought a Nintendo Branded 128GB card at walmart for 40 dollars because they messed up where they were hanging. Was pretty pumped.
This is why i’ll wait for the inevitable Switch+ with 100+ GBs of storage and better battery life.
There is a difference but you know you know better the same way I have 100 sd cards I can get that capacity for 1/2 the price or 1/5th. Hell even flash drives. No you get what you paid for it’s not cause it has Nintendo added to it.
I bought a 128gb standard SanDisk card from Amazon for $45 (It’s a UHS-1 card, the max that Switch supports). As a Mac user (soon to return to using Windows 10), I know the “Apple tax” for accessories.
I usually avoid it and buy 3rd party; it’s cheaper and works just the same.
Avoid the Nintendo tax, just buy the standard SanDisk card.