6 Best microSD Cards for Steam Deck: microSDXC, UHS-I, V30

The Steam Deck is one of the most powerful portable gaming consoles out right now. It’s not too expensive either, considering what it has to offer. However, this is applicable primarily to the base model with just 64GB of eMMC storage. If you’re a gamer, you know that number is paltry. While Valve does offer higher storage variants, they are quite expensive. So, if you want to save some money without compromising on storage, you must get a microSD card for your Steam Deck.

This way, you can pick up the base variant of the console for cheap. And then, you can just pop in an SD card should the need arise. To that end, you can get SD cards from 64GB right up to 1TB for the Steam Deck. So, without any further ado, here are the best microSD cards for the Steam Deck that you can buy.

Before we get to the storage devices though, here are some other articles that may interest you –

• Take a look at the best Steam Deck Accessories to improve your gaming experience.
• Increase the longevity of your console’s display by getting a screen protector for the Steam Deck.
• Do you enjoy gaming on a large screen? Take a look at the best budget gaming TVs to take your gaming experience to the next level!

Note: All the SD cards mentioned on this list can withstand splashes of water or slight external force. While the occasional spill may not do any harm, we’d advise against dunking your device in water as it can damage it. Let’s get to the microSD card recommendations now.

1. Lexar 128GB UHS-I microSDXC Memory Card

Capacity: 128GB | Speed: 160MB/s | Adapter: microSD to SD Card

Lexar 128GB microSDXC Memory Card with Adapter

Buy

Assuming you don’t want to spend too much on extra storage, you can consider the entry-level 128GB SD card from Lexar. It is a UHS-I card with A2, U3, and V30 configurations, which means you’re getting great speeds. As such, the card should work well on a gaming console like the Steam Deck. It’s also quite inexpensive, which is always a welcome sight.

V30 config cards are generally preferred for writing data onto the microSD card at fast speeds. This makes it suitable for gaming which is why we recommend getting it to expand the storage of your Steam Deck. The 128GB config should be sufficient if you only want to play a couple of games at a time. Anything more and we suggest getting an SD card with a higher capacity.

The Lexar 128GB SD card can hit read speeds up to 160MB/s, which is faster than what some pricier cards can achieve as well. The reviews section mentions that the Lexar microSD card gels well with the Steam Deck. As such, buyers haven’t run into any performance bottle-necks as of yet. You also get an adapter in the box that plugs into a standard SD card slot, which is great.

Why should you buy: The Lexar 128GB microSD card is ideal for those on a tight budget.

2. Samsung EVO Select 256GB UHS-I microSD Card

Capacity: 256GB | Speed: 130MB/s | Adapter: microSD to SD Card

Samsung EVO Select 256GB microSD Card

Buy

If you want a voluminous upgrade in storage without breaking the bank, Samsung has you covered. This is a microSD card for the Steam Deck from the Evo select series. This card is also rated with the same V30 configuration and UHS-I interface as the Lexar model. While Samsung mainly markets it as an SD card for the Nintendo Switch, it works great with the Steam Deck too, per the customer reviews.

Samsung’s Evo Select lineup of SD cards offers bountiful storage, albeit isn’t as rapid as some competing products. This 256GB Steam Deck microSD card, for instance, can achieve a maximum speed of 130MB/s. Notably, the speed is a tad slower than what you’d get with the Lexar SD card. That said, you shouldn’t see a noticeable difference in performance when you’re gaming.

The brand also bundles an SD card adapter with the retail packaging, so you can use the card with other devices too. We also feel that 256GB is the sweet spot for additional storage as you can install a decent number of games without burning a hole in your wallet.

Why should you buy: This is a good option for a budget-oriented microSD card with 256GB storage.

3. SanDisk High Endurance 256GB TF Card

Capacity: 256GB | Speed: 100MB/s | Adapter: microSD to USB-A

SanDisk High Endurance 256GB TF Card

Buy

High Endurance SD cards are generally recommended for devices that undergo a lot of stress. For example, dashcams. Since dashcams record footage all the time and are exposed to harsh temperatures, high-endurance SD cards like these come in handy. However, you can also use them in your Steam Deck if you plan on clocking long hours on the console. With the amount of heat generated with extended gaming, the SanDisk High Endurance microSD card can be a good investment.

The SanDisk High Endurance microSDXC card is slightly more expensive than your run-of-the-mill SD card. However, as the name suggests, it is more durable, and hence you don’t have to worry about your Steam Deck’s SD card conking off when you’re in the heat of a battle. However, one thing to note is that this is not a UHS-I card, so you’re getting slightly inferior speeds of up to 100MB/s.

Consider getting this particular SD card only if you also plan on removing and reinserting the card repeatedly into the Steam Deck. Further, the card makes a good buy for those living in regions with extreme temperatures. Else, you’d be better off with any other microSD card on this list as they will offer faster speeds. One advantage of this version though is that SanDisk bundles in a USB-A SD card reader so if your computer doesn’t have an SD card slot, you don’t have to buy an additional adapter.

Why should you buy: A good option if you meddle with the SD card often and swap it in and out of different devices.

4. Samsung Pro Plus 512GB UHS-I microSDXC Card

Capacity: 512GB | Speed: 160MB/s | Adapter: microSD to SD Card

Samsung Pro Plus 512GB microSDXC Card

Buy

Here’s another Samsung microSD card for the Steam Deck. The Pro Plus version is faster than the Evo version we saw earlier, which means you’re going to get better performance out of this storage device. The rest of the config remains the same, though. You get the goodness of the A2, V30, U3, and UHS-I interfaces. This is an extremely reliable card that you can be sure will last you years to come.

The biggest highlight of the Samsung Pro Plus microSD card for the Steam Deck is that users in the reviews section have mentioned that the speeds they’re getting are exactly what Samsung has claimed. Read speeds can hit up to 160MB/s, which is great for a gaming console. Since it is a Class 10-rated SD card, you can also use it with your mobile phone to shoot 4K videos if you ever plan on doing that.

This SD card also bumps up the storage to 512GB, and at this point, we’re talking about PC-level storage on a gaming console. Most people should be more than content with this capacity, even with several games on board. If you also plan on storing movies, songs, and other media files on your Steam Deck, you should splurge for a 512GB card like this one.

Why should you buy: A reliable, yet affordable 512GB microSD card that has good speeds.

5. SanDisk Extreme 512GB microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card

Capacity: 512GB | Speed: 190MB/s | Adapter: microSD to SD Card

SanDisk Extreme 512GB microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card

Buy

Alright, the SanDisk Extreme is the absolute best SD card for the Steam Deck. Among all the Steam Deck-supported microSD cards, this one has the fastest speeds and the best reviews. Of course, it ticks all the right checkboxes — UHS-I, V30, and A2 configurations along with best-in-class read speeds of up to 190MB/s. You’re getting 512GB of storage which should be sufficient for most users. It is slightly expensive, but you’re getting great speeds and reliability.

There’s not much to say about the SanDisk Extreme microSD card. It’s one of the best memory cards for the Steam Deck. The same is corroborated not just by the card’s spec sheet, but also by the reviews on Amazon. In fact, the card has garnered over 30,000 reviews — most of which are positive.

If you wish to expand your Steam Deck’s storage and want to store a lot of files in there, we would recommend you pick this one up — provided your budget allows for it. Considering other SD cards with this capacity, we would say this is the best 512GB SD card for the Steam Deck. You also get a microSD to SD card adapter in the box.

Why should you buy: One of the best SD cards for the Steam Deck in terms of speed and reliability.

6. SanDisk Ultra 1TB UHS-I Class 10 microSD Card

Capacity: 1TB | Speed: 150MB/s | Adapter: microSD to SD Card

SanDisk Ultra 1TB UHS-I Class 10 microSD Card

Buy

It wasn’t easy, but the SanDisk Ultra 1TB microSD card has one-upped most of the competing products on the list. We say this, as the microSD card is one of the most affordable high-speed SD cards that you can get with 1TB of storage. The speeds are adequately high, with read speeds hitting up to 150MB/s. While it’s no SanDisk Extreme, you won’t ideally see a big difference in real-life usage.

Here’s a 1TB microSD card for the Steam Deck if you’re a hardcore gamer and want to store and play multiple games at once. If you decide to get the base storage variant of the Steam Deck along with a 1TB SD card, it will still turn out to be cheaper than even the 512GB version. This is a UHS-I card as well with an A1 config as opposed to the superior A2 config on the SanDisk Extreme.

The SanDisk Extreme is also available in the 1TB config making it the best 1TB microSD card for the Steam Deck. However, it’s considerably more expensive, which is why we recommend getting the SanDisk Ultra instead. The reviews say there are no compatibility issues with the Steam Deck at all despite the high storage capacity. So you can easily pick this one up to hoard your files.

Why should you buy: Lots of games to play and files to store? You can go all-in on this 1TB option without breaking the bank.

FAQs for Best microSD Cards for Steam Deck

Never Run Out of Storage

Pick up any of these SD cards for the Steam Deck depending on your usage and budget. Rest assured, these microSD cards will ensure you don’t run out of storage on your Steam Deck at a fraction of the cost of the console’s higher storage variants.