Top MicroSD Cards for the Asus ROG Ally

When you stack it against the Steam Deck and many other handheld devices, the Asus ROG Ally really stands out with its impressive performance. The introduction of the ROG Ally X in 2024 takes things up a notch with its robust enhancements—a sharper screen and ergonomic improvements make it a compelling choice. Plus, the entire ROG Ally lineup includes a UHS-II microSD card slot. This feature is a game-changer, enabling faster read and write speeds compared to the UHS-I standard you’ll find in devices like the Steam Deck, the Nintendo Switch, and others. So, if you’ve got the right card, expect significantly quicker downloads.

Now, taking a cue from Lexar, the UHS-II standard ramps up transfer speeds to a peak of 312 MB/s, which is three times faster than the 104 MB/s offered by UHS-I. But here’s the catch—despite the widespread use of microSD cards, UHS-II options are few and far between. Major storage brands like Samsung and SanDisk haven’t yet ventured into the UHS-II microSD market. The existing UHS-II cards are pricier than what you’re probably accustomed to, and they don’t even hit the full speed potential of the UHS-II interface.

If you’re up for a little DIY action that doesn’t impact your warranty, consider investing in an M.2 SSD for the ROG Ally. This investment usually pays off with better value and faster storage performance compared to microSD cards. However, if you’re leaning towards something simpler and don’t mind spending a bit extra for speed, we’ve highlighted some readily available models below.

For those who are just after more storage and aren’t too concerned about having the latest speeds, you’ll find plenty of high-capacity microSD options from brands like SanDisk, Samsung, and Lexar. These can offer up to 1.5 TB of additional storage for your handheld, providing a solid boost to what your device can hold.