Discover Top MicroSD Cards for Your Steam Deck and Gaming Handhelds

When it comes to gaming on the Steam Deck, securing sufficient storage for your games is crucial. This makes choosing one of the best MicroSD cards a top priority. Notably, our top picks include the 1TB Integral Momentum in the UK and the 1TB Lexar Blue in the USA. Below, we've compiled a comprehensive range of options for your consideration.

We present some of the best MicroSD cards tailored for the Steam Deck and other PC handhelds, including the ROG Ally X, with options ranging up to a whopping 2TB! Our selections are grounded on extensive testing and a meticulous review of each card’s specifications and pricing.

We've focused on recommending only A2-rated cards or superior whenever feasible, as these ratings indicate a minimum random read performance level which is essential for minimizing game load times. As a reference, A1 indicates a minimum random read of 1.5K IOPS, whereas A2 demands more than double that at 4K IOPS. Furthermore, we have included the maximum sequential read speed for each card, serving as another performance indicator.

Best MicroSD Cards for Steam Deck - UK

Though global prices for flash storage have surged, resulting in higher costs per gigabyte for MicroSD cards, we’ve managed to uncover some great deals. Lexar remains a solid choice, with PNY and Integral also featuring prominently in the 1TB and 1.5TB categories.

Best MicroSD Cards for Steam Deck - USA

American retailers offer a broader selection of MicroSD cards compared to their UK counterparts, leading to slightly varied recommendations here. The new gold-edged Amazon Basics cards have emerged as reliable performers, while Lexar and SanDisk are highlighted for their higher capacities. Although there are cheaper 2TB options, the SanDisk Extreme is a well-established choice that justifies its price at this storage capacity.

Essential Accessories for Steam Deck

In addition to an SD card and a case (already provided by Valve), what accessory is essential for your Steam Deck? For those looking to utilize the Deck more like a desktop computer, a dock is perfect. It allows for the connection of multiple USB peripherals via a single USB-C port, while also enabling passthrough charging.

The official Deck Dock is priced at £69/$79, but a more affordable option exists from Anker that provides comparable features for just £30/$33. Moreover, if you want to link the Steam Deck (or your laptop) to multiple monitors, versatile docking stations are now available.

Transferring Games to the SD Card on Steam Deck

Once you’ve chosen a MicroSD card for your Steam Deck, moving games is a breeze with just a few menus to navigate. Access the Steam button and open the sliding menu, then select settings. Scroll down to storage, and press the Y button to move software between your internal drive and MicroSD card. You can even set your default install location by selecting the storage options.

Remember, ejecting the MicroSD card will cause the games installed on it to disappear from Steam, but they will reappear when reinserted. This allows for easy management of different game collections on separate cards, or simply opting for a higher capacity card for a more straightforward experience.

If you have any inquiries about MicroSD cards on the Steam Deck that haven’t been addressed, feel free to leave comments or reach out on social media.