MicroSD Cards: Some of The Best for Steam Deck

Welcome to a new release! Today we are back to talk about MicroSD Cards, but this time in a more specific way, because, this great selection was made to be used in our Steam Deck. 

Normally, we never think too much about MicroSD Cards, let alone their specifications, as we tend to count on or keep in mind the faster and much denser internal storage of PCs. But now we may find it impressive, a gift from the heavens, considering what can do with the Steam Deck console. They can become the most essential pieces of tech. 

On impulse, it is very likely that you will end up buying the 1 TB SD card. However, if you’ve resisted the temptation because you don’t know which SD Card would be the best, this article will help you find out the best SD Cards for your Steam Deck. 

Best SD Cards for Steam Deck 

A lot of people agree, adding a microSD card is the easiest and the most cost-effective way of increasing your console storage space. Also, almost a negligible difference in launch times between launching games off an SD Card and compared to the built-in SSD. 

Amazon Basics SD Card 

Pros: 

• • Inexpensive and value for money. 
  • Up there with the competition in terms of features. 

Cons: 

• • Read speeds are low. 

As you can read, Amazon produces SD cards, and to be sincere this one has pretty good reviews. It’s available in 128, 256, 512 GB, and 1 TB variants for $15, $25, $54, and $150, respectively. 

For starters, it’s an A2, U3, and UHS-I card with rated speeds of 100 MB/s, which is plenty for a Steam Deck. And the card slightly undercuts the competition with its affordability.   

Samsung PRO Plus 

Pros: 

• • Still inexpensive compared to other options. 
  • Fast Read/Write speeds. 

Cons: 

• • No 1 TB variant 

The PRO Plus comes in three storage variants: 128, 256, and 512 GB for $19, $32, and $68, respectively. The card is of A2 standard (Application Performance Class 2), meaning more IOPS (4100 reads, to be exact), which in turn means snappy performance. 

It’s an excellent option for Steam Deck thanks to its affordable price. This is one of those cards that, despite its low price, doesn’t cut corners. Although, we wish it came in a 1 TB variant. 

Their specifications are more than enough for the console. For starters, being a U3 card, the advertised read and write speeds max out at 160 MB/s and 120 MB/s. 

SanDisk Extreme 

Pros: 

• • Sufficient Read/Write speeds. 
  • Available in a 1 TB variant. 

Cons: 

• • None. 

SanDisk has built a great reputation over the years when it comes to SD cards, and it is a logical thing that has a few great options for Steam Deck users. They have a series focuses on speed, with advertised read and write speeds of up to 190 MB/s and 110 MB/s, respectively, called Extreme. 

The 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB options of this card cost $17, $27, $65, and $149, which is a reasonable price, if you ask me. If I need a 512 GB card, I prefer to go with the Samsung Pro Plus because, at this point, it’s not about the speeds but the price. Nonetheless, the Extreme is an excellent option if you need a 1 TB SD card. 

Samsung EVO Select 

Pros: 

• • Good speeds for the price. 
  • A2, U3, and UHS-I on a budget 
  • Extremely value for money. 

Cons: 

• • No 1 TB variant. 

Being the most well-suited SD card for the Steam Deck on this list. Belongs to class 10, with Read and Write speeds of 130 MB/s and 80 MB/s and runs on the UHS-I bus interface. If you think about it, it is the best value you can get for your money. For the 512 GB variant, you pay $57 and get an A2, U3 card. 

It is one of the recommendations for an asking price of $17, $27, and $56 for 128, 256, and 512 GB variants. Although, we wish there were a 1 TB variant of the card.