Samsung microSD Cards: EVO, P9 Express or PRO Endurance?

Best for
Original Switch owners wanting big storage

The Samsung EVO Plus 512GB microSDXC Memory Card is the fastest UHS-I card in this group, rated for read and write speeds up to 160 MB/s. Samsung notes that the figure is based on testing the 512GB capacity with a Samsung adapter, and that speeds vary by capacity. It carries U3, Class 10, A2 and V30 ratings, which cover 4K UHD video recording and quick app loading.

The listing names the original Nintendo Switch among compatible devices, along with DSLR cameras, PCs, action cams and drones. It includes an SD adapter, and Samsung lists six types of protection, covering everything from water to extreme temperatures, with a 10-year limited warranty. One bullet mistakenly calls the card “EVO Select,” a copy error from the sister product.

This suits original Switch owners and camera users who want a large, fast UHS-I card. It is not a microSD Express card, so for Switch 2 game storage, the P9 Express is the correct pick.

• 512GB, up to 160 MB/s
• U3, A2, V30, UHS-I
• SD adapter included
• 10-year limited warranty

Best for
Switch 2 players starting smaller

Best for
Switch 2 players with large libraries

The Samsung P9 Express microSDXC Express Memory Card 512GB is Samsung’s microSD Express card for the Switch 2. It lists sequential read speeds up to 800 MB/s, which Samsung says gets you into your game up to 4x faster than its standard UHS-I cards. That read figure is measured on a PCIe test board, so real-world load times depend on the console and the game.

Dynamic Thermal Guard is designed to reduce overheating during long sessions, which matters for fast cards that run warm in a handheld. The card is backward compatible with UHS-I devices, including tablets, drones and cameras, although in those devices it runs at UHS-I speeds. Samsung Magician software adds authenticity verification and health monitoring. Samsung lists six types of protection and a 3-year limited warranty, shorter than the EVO cards’ 10 years. The listing does not specify write speed.

This is the pick for Switch 2 players who buy lots of large games and DLC. If your library is modest, the 256GB version does the same job with less space.

Best for
Phones and tablets needing solid everyday storage

The SAMSUNG EVO Select Micro SD-Memory-Card 256GB (MB-ME256KA/AM) is the everyday UHS-I card. It is rated up to 130 MB/s with U3, Class 10, A2 and V30 ratings, so it handles app storage and 4K video. The listing names Android smartphones, tablets and the Nintendo Switch as target devices, and includes an adapter.

Samsung lists water, temperature, X-ray, magnet, drop and wear-out protection for the card itself, not the adapter, and backs it with a 10-year limited warranty. It is offered from 64GB to 512GB, and Samsung notes that the 64GB version is U1 rated while larger sizes are U3.

This suits phone and tablet users, and original Switch players who do not need the EVO Plus’s extra speed or capacity. The A2 rating is the useful detail for phones, because it targets faster app launches when apps live on the card.

The Samsung P9 Express microSDXC Express Memory Card 256GB shares its features with the 512GB model: microSD Express, reads up to 800 MB/s, Dynamic Thermal Guard, Switch 2 compatibility, backward compatibility with UHS-I devices, six-proof protection, Magician support and a 3-year limited warranty.

The spec sheet adds a confusing “media speed” of 100-200 MB/s next to the 800 MB/s read speed. Samsung’s footnote says the 800 MB/s figure was measured on the 512GB model, so the 256GB version may differ, and the listing does not clarify.

This suits Switch 2 players who mostly play a handful of titles. Large modern games fill 256GB quickly, so if you buy often, the 512GB card saves you from juggling installs.

Best for
Dashcams and home security cameras

The Samsung PRO Endurance 128GB microSDXC Memory Card is built for a different job: continuous recording in CCTV systems, dashcams and body cams. Samsung rates the 128GB model for up to 70,080 hours of recording, and the 256GB model for up to 140,160 hours. The listing mentions a warranty of up to 5 years, which depends on capacity.

Speeds are read up to 100 MB/s and write up to 40 MB/s, with V30 and FHD and 4K recording support. It is rated to operate from -25 to 85 degrees Celsius and lists protection against magnets, X-rays, water, drops and wear-out. An adapter is included. The listing occasionally calls it an SSD, which is a copy error.

This belongs in a dashcam or security camera, not a game console. Its write speed and endurance focus suit constant recording rather than fast game loads.