For about two decades, traditional MicroSD card was the selected storage resolution for portable devices such as mobile phones and handheld consoles.
However, the development of storage solutions has led to the development of MicroSD Express, a progress on its predecessor.
While MicroSD cards and MicroSD Express occur the same, their specifications and applications are different. You may be wondering why you haven’t heard of Microsd Express – it’s because technology is not only relatively new, but its adoption has been quite slow.
Microsd Express vs. MicroSD card – the basics
MicroSD Express is an advanced version of MicroSD that uses PCIE and NVME interface corresponding to advanced SSD storage solutions to achieve significantly faster transfer speeds of up to 985 MB/s.
This warehouse format was first released by the SD Association in 2019, and since then several brands have developed maps with guaranteed minimum speeds of 150MB/s, 300mb/s, 450MB/s or 600MB/s, as indicated with the “E” symbol on the map label. However, these cards have not seen broad use until recently, as Nintendo announced plans to use them for expanded storage in the upcoming Switch 2.
On the other hand, a microSD card is a small, removable storage device that has been widely used in smartphones, tablets, cameras and game consoles. The format, originally launched in 2005, has evolved into SDHC, SDXC and SDUC variants with capabilities up to 2 TB.
These cards use SD interface and are classified based on speed. Most consumer units today support UHS-I cards with reading speed up to 100 MB/s. Less common UHS-II and UHS-III cards can reach speeds of up to 300 MB/s and 600 MB/s respectively.
Speed and performance
The obvious advantage of MicroSD Express over MicroSD is transfer rate. Its interfaces enable faster writing speeds, enabling trouble -free recording and faster file transfers. Another important benefit is reduced latency thanks to NVME technology.
Unlike traditional MicroSD cards that depend on older interfaces, MicroSD Express offers lower response times when you access data. This leads to faster system reaction, especially when opening large files, running applications or switching between stored media.
Backward compatibility problems
An important disadvantage of MicroSD Express is its lack of full backward compatibility. If you are using a MicroSD Express card in an older device with a traditional microSD slot, the transfer rate drops to UHS-I levels, which can be disappointing. In addition, devices made for MicroSD Express are exclusive, which means regular MicroSD cards do not work in them.
This compatibility problem is clear with Nintendo Switch 2, which only supports MicroSD Express cards. Users now have to buy new storage solutions, although they have plenty of data on older MicroSD cards from previous switch models. This shift has resulted in frustration among users who expected the backward compatibility to be preserved.
Use cases and adoption
Microsd Express cards are not designed for all use cases. If you mainly save regular photos and videos on mobile phones or cameras, a standard microSD card will do well.
Microsd Express shines in scenarios where high -speed data transfer is critical, where an important example is games.
Games are data -intensive, and faster reading/writing speeds reduce load times, improve performance and make gameplay smoother. This is probably an important reason why Nintendo Switch 2 adopted Microsd Express.
Standard MicroSD cards often struggle with large files, leading to fallen frames or slow transfers when dealing with high data axis, such as 4K or 8K video. This makes MicroSD Express especially valuable for filmmakers and content creators.
Costs and accessibility
That said, getting a Microsd Express card is not easy. Few brands are currently producing them and accessibility may be limited in some regions.
Because technology is still developing and using more advanced components, MicroSD Express cards tend to be more expensive. For example, a 1TB MicroSD Express card from Lexar costs about $ 200, while a standard 1TB microSD card from the same brand is priced under $ 70.
Should you upgrade to MicroSD Express?
Whether to switch to MicroSD Express depends on your needs and device compatibility. If your device requires it, like Nintendo Switch 2, it is necessary to upgrade. However, if your device only supports default MicroSD cards, there is little advantage as speeds drop by almost 90%. That said, if low latency is a priority, it may still be worth considering.
For general users who want affordable storage for smartphones, cameras or other devices, traditional MicroSD cards remain a practical choice. Professionals working with high -speed applications can find MicroSD Express as a valuable investment.
The future of MicroSD Express
Laptops, including laptops, tablets and handheld games PCs, now use high quality hardware and often depend on expandable storage for larger apps and media. For example, some mobile phones and cameras can now record in 8K, which puts a lot of pressure on storage performance.
An 8-minute 8K video can be as big as 20 GB. Hiding this on a regular MicroSD card could take about four minutes, while a MicroSD Express card could do it in about 30 seconds. It is a significant difference that can drive the adoption of MicroSD Express.
Still, the future of MicroSD Express really depends on how many device manufacturers choose to support it. If more consoles, cameras and portable devices integrate the format, prices can come down and the market can be expanded.
