The Role of SD Express in Portable Gameplay - SD Association
Source: https://www.sdcard.org/press/thoughtleadership/the-role-of-sd-express-in-portable-gameplay
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:13
The Role of SD Express in Portable Gameplay - SD Association
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As gaming systems continue to improve, storage remains a priority. The ability to scale storage, enabling more efficient access, data transfers, and faster writing speeds, impacts daily gameplay. Portable and handheld systems are especially affected by memory technology.
Today’s modern gaming needs seamless gameplay on the go, and SD memory cards are a central role in this evolution. SD Express, specifically, enables gaming devices to provide the best experience possible, and its use is seen in some of the most popular, leading handheld consoles today.
Nintendo: The Journey With SD Express
A leader in handheld gaming systems, Nintendo has also continued to evolve and prioritize faster, more efficient storage. The growing demand for higher capacity and quicker data excess has led Nintendo to SD Express.
As games become more complex with their immersive designs, they require larger storage capacity for seamless gaming experiences. The Nintendo Switch™ 2 uses microSD Express for faster access speeds and to ensure that games will run smoothly.
Looking ahead, future iterations of portable game consoles or mobile phones with focus on gaming are well positioned to benefit from SD Express technology, ensuring that players can enjoy expansive digital libraries and high-speed gameplay without limitations.
Steam Deck OLED: Utilizing SD Memory Cards
Founded in 1996, VALVE is another leading name in portable gaming PCs and an adopter of SD memory cards. Their high-performance handheld devices face the same challenges as many other PC-class gaming systems: balancing speed and power with portability.
Designed for high-performance gaming, VALVE devices such as the Steam Deck OLED, introduced in 2023, features a microSD memory card. By leveraging this technology, VALVE is able to deliver on higher storage capacities and faster transfer speeds.
The use of SD Express would offer a substantial leap in bandwidth and efficiency. These portable gaming devices could run even larger game files and reduce load times. For gamers themselves, they would experience smoother gameplay within the compact, handheld format.
ASUS ROG: Bridging Power and Portability
ASUS ROG has long been known for pushing the boundaries of high-performance gaming hardware, and its portable lineup continues this tradition. Devices like the ROG Ally demonstrate how handheld systems can deliver PC-level experiences in a mobile form factor.
By integrating advanced storage technologies, including support for SD Express, ROG handhelds are poised to meet the increasing demands of modern game libraries. The ability to expand storage seamlessly with ultra-fast transfer speeds ensures that gamers have the flexibility to carry and play their favorite titles without compromise.
SD Memory Technology and the Future of Portable Gaming
The rise of SD Express paves a new path in how storage can support next-generation gaming. As portability continues to define the gaming market, SD Express sets a new standard for what gamers can expect from handheld devices.
SD Express is transforming portable gaming by delivering the speed and capacity required for tomorrow’s most demanding experiences. Companies like Nintendo and potentially also VALVE (Steam Deck), and ASUS ROG are at the forefront of this shift, demonstrating how advanced storage technologies can expand what’s possible in handheld systems.
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Yosi Pinto
President, SD Association
Yosi Pinto is a 35-year industry veteran, primarily with SanDisk, and was a key contributor to the first SD Card standard and early SD card controllers. He has also contributed to the evolution of Memory Stick and eMMC standards and holds nearly 150 patents in memory card technologies.
Within the SD Association (SDA), he served as the first Specification Working Group Chair in 2000 and later spent over a decade as Chairman of the Board and Technical Committee Chair. He currently serves as the President of the SD Association.
LinkedIn:
http://il.linkedin.com/in/yosipinto
Sandisk Blog:
https://www.sandisk.com/en-ap/company/newsroom/blogs/2025/an-enduring-legacy-the-the-sd-card-at-25
https://www.sandisk.com/en-ap/company/newsroom/blogs/2025/the-sd-cards-next-chapter-begins-with-sd-express
Recent posts
Calling the Next Generation of Innovators: Inside the 2026 SD Express Student Competition
State of Memory Technology and Trends to Watch in 2026
The Role of SD Express in Portable Gameplay
View all
News & Events
Articles by Our Experts
SD Association News
Student Competition
Upcoming Events
Past Events
What's New
Newsletters
News & Events
News & Events
Articles by Our Experts
SD Association News
Student Competition
Upcoming Events
Past Events
What's New
Newsletters
Articles by Our Experts
As gaming systems continue to improve, storage remains a priority. The ability to scale storage, enabling more efficient access, data transfers, and faster writing speeds, impacts daily gameplay. Portable and handheld systems are especially affected by memory technology.
Today’s modern gaming needs seamless gameplay on the go, and SD memory cards are a central role in this evolution. SD Express, specifically, enables gaming devices to provide the best experience possible, and its use is seen in some of the most popular, leading handheld consoles today.
Nintendo: The Journey With SD Express
A leader in handheld gaming systems, Nintendo has also continued to evolve and prioritize faster, more efficient storage. The growing demand for higher capacity and quicker data excess has led Nintendo to SD Express.
As games become more complex with their immersive designs, they require larger storage capacity for seamless gaming experiences. The Nintendo Switch™ 2 uses microSD Express for faster access speeds and to ensure that games will run smoothly.
Looking ahead, future iterations of portable game consoles or mobile phones with focus on gaming are well positioned to benefit from SD Express technology, ensuring that players can enjoy expansive digital libraries and high-speed gameplay without limitations.
Steam Deck OLED: Utilizing SD Memory Cards
Founded in 1996, VALVE is another leading name in portable gaming PCs and an adopter of SD memory cards. Their high-performance handheld devices face the same challenges as many other PC-class gaming systems: balancing speed and power with portability.
Designed for high-performance gaming, VALVE devices such as the Steam Deck OLED, introduced in 2023, features a microSD memory card. By leveraging this technology, VALVE is able to deliver on higher storage capacities and faster transfer speeds.
The use of SD Express would offer a substantial leap in bandwidth and efficiency. These portable gaming devices could run even larger game files and reduce load times. For gamers themselves, they would experience smoother gameplay within the compact, handheld format.
ASUS ROG: Bridging Power and Portability
ASUS ROG has long been known for pushing the boundaries of high-performance gaming hardware, and its portable lineup continues this tradition. Devices like the ROG Ally demonstrate how handheld systems can deliver PC-level experiences in a mobile form factor.
By integrating advanced storage technologies, including support for SD Express, ROG handhelds are poised to meet the increasing demands of modern game libraries. The ability to expand storage seamlessly with ultra-fast transfer speeds ensures that gamers have the flexibility to carry and play their favorite titles without compromise.
SD Memory Technology and the Future of Portable Gaming
The rise of SD Express paves a new path in how storage can support next-generation gaming. As portability continues to define the gaming market, SD Express sets a new standard for what gamers can expect from handheld devices.
SD Express is transforming portable gaming by delivering the speed and capacity required for tomorrow’s most demanding experiences. Companies like Nintendo and potentially also VALVE (Steam Deck), and ASUS ROG are at the forefront of this shift, demonstrating how advanced storage technologies can expand what’s possible in handheld systems.
Back to top
Recent posts
Yosi Pinto
President, SD Association
Yosi Pinto is a 35-year industry veteran, primarily with SanDisk, and was a key contributor to the first SD Card standard and early SD card controllers. He has also contributed to the evolution of Memory Stick and eMMC standards and holds nearly 150 patents in memory card technologies.
Within the SD Association (SDA), he served as the first Specification Working Group Chair in 2000 and later spent over a decade as Chairman of the Board and Technical Committee Chair. He currently serves as the President of the SD Association.
LinkedIn:
http://il.linkedin.com/in/yosipinto
Sandisk Blog:
https://www.sandisk.com/en-ap/company/newsroom/blogs/2025/an-enduring-legacy-the-the-sd-card-at-25
https://www.sandisk.com/en-ap/company/newsroom/blogs/2025/the-sd-cards-next-chapter-begins-with-sd-express
Recent posts
Calling the Next Generation of Innovators: Inside the 2026 SD Express Student Competition
State of Memory Technology and Trends to Watch in 2026
The Role of SD Express in Portable Gameplay
View all