Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card: review
The Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card has been my Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express card of choice since it arrived at TechRadar Gaming HQ a few months ago.
As the very first 1TB microSD Express model to hit the market, it’s one of your few options if, like me, you need loads of storage for an absolutely mega Nintendo Switch 2 game library. Pair this fact with its solid results in benchmarks and brilliant performance in real-world use, and you have the ultimate upgrade for Nintendo’s latest console - provided you can afford it.
At $58.98 / £59.45 / AU$119.34, the 256GB version of the Lexar Play Pro Micro SD Express Card is almost bang on the price of its biggest competition, the officially licensed SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2. Lexar also smartly offers a slightly more affordable 128GB edition, so those with very modest storage needs can save a little cash.
The star of the show is that aforementioned 1TB variant, though, which comes in at a much more premium $199.99 / £199.99 price. In my eyess this is very fair for what you get, especially when you factor in the strong 831.97MB/s read speed it achieved in my benchmarks.
This is very close to the 900MB/s read speed claimed by the manufacturer, with the difference easily attributable to differing testing conditions. The card fared much worse when it comes to write speed, however, reaching 310.03MB/s, which is just over half of the claimed 600MB/s.
Sure, some other cards do reach higher speeds (much higher, when it comes to write speed), like the aforementioned SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 or competing PNY microSD Express Card, but you’d be hard-pressed to notice any tangible difference in the real world.
I experienced no issues at all with missed frames, slow-to-load assets, or noticeably elevated load times in any of the titles that I’ve played using this card, which ranged all the way from graphically demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition to less intense adventures such as Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster.
Nothing quite compares to the freedom of knowing that you won’t have to fiddle around to find space in order to install each new game that you get, and, for that, the Lexar Play Pro MicroSD Express Card comes emphatically recommended.
Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card: Price and specs
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Price | $58.98 / £59.45 / AU$119.34 (256GB) |
Capacity | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
Quoted read speed | 900MB/s |
Quoted write speed | 600MB/s |
Benchmarked read speed | 831.97MB/s |
Benchmarked write speed | 310.03MB/s |
Should I buy the Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card?
Buy it if...
You need a mega storage boost
If you’re after a 1TB Nintendo Switch 2 storage expansion, your options are pretty limited. Lexar is one of the few manufacturers offering a 1TB option; it performs decently and is reasonably priced, so it should be a top choice if that’s what you're after.
You have the budget
If you’re happy to spend a fair chunk on a Nintendo Switch 2 accessory, then the 1TB Lexar Micro SD Express Card should be your pick. The hefty capacity will likely keep your storage met for years, so think of it as a long-term investment.
Don't buy it if...
You need the absolute fastest card
The only problem with the Lexar Micro SD Express Card is its underwhelming write speed in my benchmarks. It’s slower than some of the competition, though the strong read speed means that this doesn’t really impact general use.
Also consider
Want to compare the Lexar Micro SD Express Card to its biggest competition? Here are two strong alternatives to weigh up.
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| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card | SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 | PNY microSD Express Card |
Price | $58.98 / £59.45 / AU$119.34 (256GB) | $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$79.95 | $59.99 / £59.99 / around AU$100 (256GB) |
Capacity | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB | 128GB / 256GB |
Quoted read speed | 900MB/s | 880MB/s | 890MB/s |
Quoted write speed | 600MB/s | 650MB/s | 550MB/s |
Benchmarked read speed | 831.97MB/s | 894.4MB/s | 893.74MB/s |
Benchmarked write speed | 310.03MB/s | 674.1MB/s | 713.42MB/s |
SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2
This officially licensed card from SanDisk outperforms the Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card and comes in at a similar price. You are limited to a 256GB capacity, though.
Read our full SanDisk microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 review
PNY microSD Express Card
The PNY MicroSD Express Card is thus far the fastest microSD Express card that I’ve tested. It's the option to pick if you’re after the highest speeds, but again, there’s no 1TB option.
Stay tuned for our full PNY microSD Express Card review
How I tested the Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card
- Used for multiple months
- Tested against other microSD Express cards
- Subjected to standardized benchmark tests
As I previously mentioned, the Lexar Play Pro microSD Express Card has been my personal Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express card of choice since it arrived a few months ago. In my time with the card, I’ve used it almost daily with my own Nintendo Switch 2, constantly evaluating its performance in a wide range of games.
I also benchmarked the card against the competition in a series of standardized tests, recording and comparing the results directly. I measured the sequential read and write speed of each card using a standardized benchmark via CrystalDiskMark in its default flash memory settings.
To do this, I relied on the Lexar Play Pro MicroSD Express Card Reader, which features an active cooling fan. This was provided by Lexar alongside the Lexar Micro SD Express Card for the purpose of this review.
First reviewed November 2025
English (US) ·