microSD Cards for Retro Handhelds Guide
The first thing you will want to do with a retro handheld is remove the cheap, unbranded microSD card it ships with and upgrade. Almost every retro handheld needs a microSD card for games, saves and emulator files, and the card you pick affects how fast games load and how safe your saves are. Here are 10 microSD card brands that work well in retro handhelds, from the trusted favorites to budget picks, all sold on Amazon.
Short on time? For most handhelds, buy a 256GB Samsung or SanDisk card. They are the safest, easiest choices.
How much storage do you need?
- 128GB: plenty for 8-bit, 16-bit, Game Boy Advance and most PS1 libraries.
- 256GB: the sweet spot for most people. Covers big PS1 collections, PSP and DS plus extras.
- 512GB: for PS2, GameCube and Dreamcast libraries, which take much more space. Some handhelds list a maximum card size, so check yours before buying.
- 1TB: room for a huge library of everything, with space left over. Confirm your handheld supports a card this large first, since many cap card size.
Speed labels in plain English
- U1 / U3: minimum write speed. U3 is a safe choice for anything.
- A1 / A2: better at running apps. Useful for Android handhelds that load games from the card.
- Class 10: fine for Linux handhelds that mostly run small retro games.
Cards advertise their top speed, but a handheld may not use all of it. A mid-priced card is usually enough.
The 10 best microSD card brands for retro handhelds
Samsung Best Overall
A trusted name with a long record for reliable cards. The EVO Select is the easy value pick, and the PRO Plus is the step up if you want faster loading for bigger games. This is the safe default for almost any handheld.
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SanDisk Best Alternative
The other default choice. SanDisk is the brand most retro handheld guides name first. The Ultra suits older and cheaper handhelds, and the Extreme is the pick for Android handhelds that load large PS2 and GameCube games.
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Lexar Best Value
Often cheaper than Samsung and SanDisk for similar rated speeds. The Lexar Play 1TB is rated for up to 205MB/s reads with V30 and A2 ratings, which makes it a strong pick if you want room for a huge library. Check that your handheld supports a card this large before buying.
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Kingston Reliable Budget Pick
Kingston makes dependable cards at fair prices and is a common recommendation for handhelds and tablets.
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PNY Budget Pick
A low-cost name that often undercuts the big two. Fine for 8-bit and 16-bit libraries, where speed matters less.
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Amazon Basics Cheapest Option
Sold and fulfilled by Amazon, which lowers the risk of getting a fake. A good pick for a stocking-stuffer handheld where you just need storage.
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Silicon Power Budget Large Capacity
A frequent choice when you want a lot of space for little money. Check the listing for the A1 or A2 and U3 labels.
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Transcend Dependable Everyday
A long-running memory brand that focuses on steady performance. Good for older retro systems and Linux handhelds.
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Team Group Good Spare Card
A budget brand that makes useful spare cards for swapping libraries between handhelds.
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Patriot Budget Backup
Another low-cost option for the second slot or a backup copy of your library.
Check price on Amazon →How to avoid fake microSD cards
- Buy cards that are sold and shipped by Amazon, or by the brand's official store.
- Be suspicious of an unusually low price on a large card, especially 512GB and above.
- Check the card as soon as it arrives with a free tool such as H2testw (Windows) or F3 (Mac and Linux), and return it quickly if it fails.
- Keep a backup of your saves. Any card can fail.
Setting up your card
- Most handhelds work with FAT32 or exFAT. If your handheld asks for one, follow its manual.
- Large cards sometimes arrive in exFAT. Check what your handheld supports before copying games over.
- Handhelds with two slots let you use one card for the system and one for games.
Looking for a handheld to put it in? See our Top 10 Retro Handhelds, the buying guide by price, or the Top 5 vertical and horizontal picks.