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The Steam Deck to date has confirmed to be a beautiful little machine for taking part in video games, however one factor you’ll need is no less than one microSD card for storage, and we thought we’d spherical up the most effective ones to think about.
Now, in case you ended up with the 512GB model of the Steam Deck you’ll have simply sufficient storage for video games you intend to play. 512GB isn’t lots of storage particularly for a way huge video games are today, however in case you’re the kind to juggle your installs when it’s essential make room for one thing, then it would suffice.
In the event you’re like us and don’t wish to cope with that type of trouble, then a microSD card for the Steam Deck is unquestionably the way in which to go. It’s simpler than changing the interior SSD and in case you aren’t positive tips on how to do it, then likelihood is you may need to pay to have somebody do it for you. Making the microSD choice cheaper as effectively.
In brief, for almost all of customers, a microSD card goes to be one of the simplest ways to get extra recreation storage on the Steam Deck. However, which of them do you have to be taking a look at? You shouldn’t simply use any previous microSD card. You may, however you shouldn’t, as you need one with optimum speeds for loading video games. So right here’s our checklist of the most effective microSD playing cards for the Steam Deck that may meet these requirements.
The Greatest microSD playing cards for the Steam Deck
| microSD card | Value | The place To Purchase |
| SanDisk Excessive Professional microSDXC UHS-I (128GB – 1TB) | From $21 | Amazon |
| PNY XLR8 Gaming Class microSDXC UHS-I (128GB – 512GB) | From $14.99 | Amazon |
| Samsung Evo Choose microSDXc UHS-I (512GB) | From $123 | Amazon |
| Lexar microSDXC UHS-I 512GB | $49.99 | Amazon |
| SanDisk Excessive microSDXC UHS-I 1TB | From $164.99 | Amazon, B&H, Newegg |
| Lexar Play microSDXC UHS-I (256GGB – 1TB) | From $29.99 | Amazon, B&H, Newegg, Adorama, Buydig |
| Lexar Skilled 1066x microSDXC UHS-I 512GB | $94.61 | Amazon |
| Samsung Evo Plus microSDXC UHS-I 512GB | $81.68 | Amazon, B&H, Newegg |
SanDisk Excessive Professional microSDXC UHS-I (128GB – 1TB)
- Value: From $21
- The place To Purchase: Amazon
Kicking issues off we’re suggesting the SanDisk Excessive Professional card for a couple of causes. For starters, it comes from Western Digital’s SanDisk model which has been round without end and is a trusted identify in storage merchandise. For one more, the Excessive Professional is one in every of its newer playing cards and is available in a wide range of sizes. Although we wouldn’t recommend something below a 128GB and for our personal functions, we’d in all probability go larger than that. As a result of as famous above, many AAA video games today are insanely giant.
Extra importantly although, this card particularly will provide you with quick learn and write speeds. Which goes to assist with load occasions. Generally you wish to be taking a look at one thing that provides a learn/write pace of round 100MB/s. This card has a learn pace of as much as 170MB/s and a write pace of as much as 90MB/s. So it suits proper in with you need to be on the lookout for.
The one draw back to this card is that the 1TB and even the 512GB are a bit costly. That being stated, there are different choices on this checklist that price much less and will provide you with the identical quantity of storage. For us although, this has carried out rather well throughout our testing to date.
PNY XLR8 Gaming Class microSDXC UHS-I (128GB – 512GB)
- Value: From $14.99
- The place To Purchase: Amazon
That is truly the primary card we began utilizing with the Steam Deck and just like the SanDisk Excessive Professional, it has quick learn and write speeds. It additionally is available in as much as 512GB in dimension. We’ve the 512GB mannequin in our Steam Deck, and it’s been an actual boon for permitting us to put in extra video games.
Since we went with the 256GB model of the Steam Deck, storage started to replenish quick with video games like Elden Ring and Closing Fantasy XIV. So a bigger dimension card was positively wanted. PNY additionally designed this card particularly for use for gaming in units just like the Nintendo Swap, cellular units, and the Steam Deck. That doesn’t imply it will possibly solely be used for these units. However it does assist that PNY had moveable gaming in thoughts when making this product.
As for learn and write speeds, you’re taking a look at as much as 100MB/s for learn and as much as 90MB/s for write. Placing it totally on par with the cardboard above. And simply making this top-of-the-line microSD playing cards for the Steam Deck.
Samsung Evo Choose microSDXc UHS-I (256Gb & 512GB)
- Value: From $123
- The place To Purchase: Amazon
Samsung is one other trusted model in reminiscence and storage so naturally we’d recommend the Evo Choose card as an choice. It has the identical learn and write speeds because the PNY XLR8 Gaming class card, however you’re taking a look at over twice the value for it proper now on Amazon. Usually it retails for $69.99 which is barely $10 greater than the 512GB PNY card above.
However all the 512GB fashions appear to be from third-party resellers. Sadly, Samsung’s web site is out of inventory on this one so Amazon might be your finest guess in order for you this explicit card. We’d recommend the PNY although because you’ll spend much less.
That being stated, it’s also possible to choose up the Evo Choose in a 256GB for $29.99 which is fairly inexpensive.
Samsung Evo Choose 256GB & 512GB
Lexar microSDXC UHS-I 512GB
- Value: $49.99
- The place To Purchase: Amazon
One other good choice is that this Lexar card which is available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage sizes. It’s additionally a high-speed card with learn speeds of as much as 100MB/s. The one draw back is that the write speeds are a bit slower at as much as 30MB/s. So compared to any of the opposite playing cards to date, it loses on the market.
Nonetheless, this won’t make that a lot of a distinction to you. And if that’s the case you’ll be able to’t go mistaken right here. We nonetheless assume the PNY is a greater worth although with larger write speeds and the identical quantity of storage for a cheaper price.
However, that is nonetheless top-of-the-line microSD playing cards for the Steam Deck.
SanDisk Excessive microSDXC UHS-I 1TB
In the event you actually favor a SanDisk card however don’t wish to pay as a lot, you then may wish to think about the SanDisk Excessive versus the Excessive Professional. You may choose up this mannequin of microSD card in a 1TB storage dimension for $167.71 on Amazon on the time of writing. Which is a fraction of the $399.99 worth of the Professional mannequin at 1TB.
As for learn and write speeds, you’re taking a look at as much as 160MB/s for learn and as much as 90MB/s for write. So actually, you’re not dropping a lot by not getting the Excessive Professional, and you continue to get a SanDisk card with 1TB of storage for all these video games.
Lexar Play microSDXC UHS-I (256GGB – 1TB)
One other top-of-the-line playing cards is the Lexar Play card, which might are available in as much as 1TB and has learn speeds as much as 150MB/s. And, the 1TB mannequin solely prices $133.99 on the time of writing so this can be a fairly whole lot in comparison with different 1TB playing cards on this checklist. This was additionally designed with gaming in thoughts and works nice in units just like the Nintendo Swap. So naturally it’ll be an important choice for the Steam Deck too.
In the event you don’t want an entire lot of additional house, a 128GB model of this card is barely $16.99. Not dangerous, not dangerous in any respect.
Lexar Skilled 1066x microSDXC UHS-I 512GB
- Value: $94.61
- The place To Purchase: Amazon
One final choice from Lexar is the Skilled 1066x card. This is available in as much as 512GB in dimension and for below $100 you get a fairly first rate card with some quick learn and write speeds. Particularly, learn speeds are as much as 160MB/s and write speeds are as much as 120MB/s.
It’s not the most cost effective 512GB mannequin card on this checklist however it positively has sooner write speeds than another choice on it. So make of that what you’ll.
Samsung Evo Plus microSDXC UHS-I 512GB
Rounding out this checklist is the Samsung Evo Plus in a 512GB mannequin card. It’s out there at a barely cheaper worth than the Lexar card above and it comes from Samsung so it’s a well known model. Learn and write speeds aren’t as quick as a few of the different choices although.
Worth-wise, we’d lean in direction of one of many earlier choices, however that is nonetheless top-of-the-line microSD playing cards for the Steam Deck and it isn’t too costly. Once more although, the 512GB card from PNY is the most cost effective 512GB choice out there that’s on this checklist. And for the mix of learn and write speeds and worth, plus it being a card that was designed for moveable gaming units, we expect it’s a greater choice.
That being stated, all of the playing cards listed ought to work nice for the Steam Deck. So it actually comes right down to what you need.