After getting their hands on a Nintendo Switch, many players quickly encounter a headache: insufficient internal storage! After downloading *The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom*, trying to install *Ring Fit Adventure* immediately results in a "storage space insufficient" message. This is especially true for players who like to hoard digital games; the 32GB or 64GB of internal storage is quickly filled up. Should you buy a memory card for your Switch? How do you choose one without making a mistake?

Why does the Switch's internal storage fill up so quickly?

The Switch's internal storage is genuinely insufficient. Currently, the mainstream models come in two versions: 32GB and 64GB. While this seems like a lot, after deducting system usage, the actual usable space is significantly reduced—the 32GB model only has about 25GB usable space, and the 64GB model has about 55GB. However, even a single AAA title on the Switch can easily take up tens of gigabytes of storage: *The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom* is about 14GB, *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe* is around 7GB, and *Splatoon 3* is nearly 10GB. Downloading just two or three of these AAA titles will fill up the internal storage.

More importantly, Switch game saves, updates, and DLC all take up storage space. Even if you buy physical game cartridges, many games require some data to be transferred to the console to play. Over time, storage space will only become increasingly scarce. Therefore, for players who love downloading digital versions and like to install multiple games simultaneously, upgrading storage is practically a necessity.

Switch Memory Card: A Portable Storage Expansion Tool

The Switch memory card is essentially a specially designed micro SD card (also known as a TF card), about the size of a postage stamp. It simply inserts into the card slot on the side of the Switch console, just like inserting a memory card into a mobile phone. Its function is straightforward: to expand the Switch's storage, allowing you to store more games, save files, screenshots, and videos—essentially adding an "external storage" to your Switch. However, not all memory cards are compatible with the Switch.

The Switch requires UHS-I compliant SD cards, SDHC cards, or SDXC cards. UHS-II compliant cards won't work and won't utilize the high-speed performance. Ution-Best's dedicated memory cards for Switch players strictly adhere to official standards, whether for the Switch OLED or Switch consoles. Both the Lite and regular Switch are compatible, and we've tested them multiple times on actual devices to ensure stable read and write speeds and no issues with game loading and data transfer.

Do you really need a Switch memory card?
Actually, not all Switch players need to buy a memory card. It mainly depends on your usage:
• No need to buy one: If you only buy physical game cartridges, rarely download digital versions, don't save screenshots or record videos much, and only play 1-2 games in rotation, then 32GB or 64GB of built-in storage is generally sufficient, and you don't need to spend extra money on a memory card for now;
• Must buy one: If you plan to download digital games and buy DLC; frequently save game screenshots and record game videos; like to install several games at the same time and delete them when you don't want to play them anymore—in this case, you definitely need a memory card, otherwise, playing will be very cramped, and the experience will be much worse.

How to choose the capacity?

Memory cards for the Switch are available in capacities ranging from 32GB to 1TB. The size you choose depends on your storage plans. How many games? Based on actual user experience, U-Network has divided the storage into three tiers, so you can choose the one that suits you best:
1. Light Gamers (1-3 digital games): 64GB or 128GB is sufficient. 64GB offers approximately 59GB of usable space, enough for 2-3 small to medium-sized games; 128GB offers around 119GB of usable space, enough for 4-6 mainstream AAA titles, perfectly adequate for daily play, and offers the best value.

2. Moderate Gamers (4-8 digital games): 256GB is more suitable. The actual usable storage is approximately 238GB, enough to install several AAA titles, some smaller games, and a large number of screenshots and videos, eliminating the need to constantly worry about clearing storage space.

3. Heavy gamers (8 or more digital games/collectors): Directly choose 512GB or 1TB. 512GB offers approximately 476GB of usable storage, and 1TB offers around 931GB, suitable for gamers who love to collect digital games and frequently record 4K game videos, completely eliminating storage anxiety.

Ution-Best Switch-Dedicated Memory Cards: More Precise Compatibility, Greater Peace of Mind For Switch players, choosing a memory card isn't just about the capacity; a reliable brand is also crucial. Ution-best's Switch-dedicated memory cards are specifically optimized for this purpose, ensuring greater peace of mind:

First, they offer excellent compatibility, working with all Switch models. No additional setup is required; the Switch automatically recognizes them—plug and play.

Second, they boast high speeds, with read speeds reaching up to 100MB/s and write speeds no less than 30MB/s. Loading games and transferring screenshots and videos is smooth, without any lag or stuttering. In the case of delays, the quality is reliable. We use original A-grade flash memory chips and have passed waterproof, shockproof, and anti-magnetic tests, so you don't have to worry about data loss even with long-term use. We also offer a 3-year warranty, ensuring after-sales support.

Actually, memory cards aren't a must-buy accessory for the Switch, but for most gamers who love downloading games and pursue a good experience, they are indeed essential. Choosing the right capacity and a reliable brand can significantly improve the Switch user experience. If you're still unsure which capacity to choose, or want to know the detailed specifications of U-Crystal Switch-specific memory cards, contact us for a professional answer.