Lexar 256GB microSD Express card for Nintendo Switch 2 drops below £60
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The discounted high-speed memory card uses PCIe and NVMe technology, while remaining backwards compatible with older microSD devices at reduced speeds
Nintendo Switch 2 owners looking to expand their game library can currently save £20 on a high-speed Lexar microSD Express card designed to take advantage of the console’s faster storage standard.
The 256GB Lexar PLAY PRO microSDXC Express Card has dropped to £59.99 at Amazon UK, down from £79.99.
That 25% reduction puts it below £60 and could make it a timely buy for anyone already running short of space after downloading several large games.
Unlike the standard microSD cards used by the original Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED, Nintendo’s latest console requires the newer microSD Express format for expanding game storage. The Lexar PLAY PRO card uses PCIe and NVMe technology to provide substantially higher transfer speeds when inserted into compatible hardware.
Lexar lists read speeds of up to 900MB/s and write speeds of up to 600MB/s on supported microSD Express devices. Actual performance will vary depending on the host device, file type and workload, but those headline figures are around four times faster than the speeds commonly associated with mainstream UHS-I cards.
That extra performance is intended to help games load more quickly, reduce waiting during large downloads and improve responsiveness when accessing data stored on the card. The 256GB Nintendo Switch 2 storage card should provide room for a useful selection of digital titles, although the exact number will depend heavily on the size of each game.
The card is not limited to gaming. When paired with a compatible microSD Express reader or laptop, its faster write performance can help move large videos, photographs and project files more efficiently than a conventional microSD card.
Its V30, U3 and A2 ratings make the Lexar high-speed microSD card suitable for demanding uses including 4K video recording and application storage in compatible equipment. Creators may therefore be able to use it with supported action cameras, drones and portable devices, although they should always check the manufacturer’s approved card specifications first.
Backwards compatibility adds some flexibility. The PLAY PRO can be inserted into existing UHS-I and UHS-II microSD devices, but it will operate at UHS-I speeds rather than delivering its full microSD Express performance. That means owners can reuse it elsewhere, even though much of the speed advantage will only appear in newer compatible hardware.
The 256GB capacity sits between cheaper entry-level cards and the larger models aimed at people building extensive digital libraries. Lexar also offers PLAY PRO cards in capacities reaching 1TB, but spending £59.99 on the discounted version may be easier to justify for buyers who do not yet know how quickly they will fill their Switch 2.
The £59.99 Lexar PLAY PRO microSD Express deal can be viewed on Amazon here, alongside the latest availability and product compatibility information.
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