Best Phones With MicroSD Card Support in 2024

Slim is king, these days. Many manufacturers compete to make the most lightweight phones for your convenience. They’re more portable, and let's face it, more elegant. Unfortunately, their design means the sacrifice of many features, including MicroSD card slots.

In their place, there's a steady increase in base storage capacities for phones. You can now get up to 512GB or one terabyte. Because there's more built-in storage to keep files in, there's little need for expansion. However, most Android phones with this perk are expensive. If you want an affordable phone with a memory card slot, here are the best five options.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G

On its own, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G is generous with memory options. The least you can find on it is 128GB with 8GB RAM, which is a good starting point for people with basic needs. The phone supports microSDXC, giving you the choice of expanding the base storage up to one terabyte.

Aesthetically, the phone has a bright and vivid 6.67-inch AMOLED display that looks pleasing. Its refresh rate is 120Hz refresh and the brightness reaches up to 1300. There's a 16MP punch hole-style selfie camera, while a capable triple-camera system rests on the back. It features a high-resolution 200MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). There's also an ultrawide sensor for capturing wider scenes and a macro sensor for close-up shots.

Samsung Galaxy A55 5G

The Galaxy A55 5G recently launched in March and comes from Samsung’s midrange A series line. It has a hybrid SIM card slot where you can use the space reserved for a second SIM card for your memory card instead. However, you can't have the second SIM card and SD card inserted simultaneously.

The memory card slot supports Micro Secure Digital eXtended Capacity (microSDXC) card types. Such cards can hold large data from 32GB to 2TB.  They're ideal for storing high-resolution photos, 4K videos, and big game libraries on your phone.

Regardless of the memory card, you can buy the phone in different storage variations. It ranges from 128GB to 256GB space. However, it's not coming to the USA just yet. But you can order it from major retailers like Amazon.

Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2024)

The Moto G Power phone gives you more reasons to buy a memory card than the Galaxy A55 5G phone does. It only comes in one model with 128GB storage and 8GB RAM. Like the previously mentioned phone, it supports microSDXC cards, but it has a dedicated slot. You don't have to choose between using a second SIM card or expanding storage.  

Memory aside, the phone has an LCD display that's 6.7-inches in size with 1080 x 2400 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. It also uses Mediatek’s Dimensity 7020 processor and IMG BXM-8-256 GPU from Imagination Technologies. 

OnePlus Nord N30 5G

The Nord N30 5G is another phone that uses a shared microSDXC card slot and comes with only a 128GB storage option. It also has a 6.7-inch LCD display, but it's a panda glass grade. Panda glass is nowhere near Corning’s Gorilla glasses, but it performs well in transparency and impact resistance. 

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 695 5G processor powers it with eight cores for handling normal tasks and two Kryo 660 Gold cores clocked at 2.2 GHz for demanding tasks. There are also six Kryo 660 Silver cores clocked at 1.7 GHz for much lighter tasks and improving battery efficiency. 

Oppo Reno11 5G

Video enthusiasts will appreciate the resolution options on this beauty. You can record in stunning 4K at 30fps, or slow things down 720p at 240fps and 960fps. No matter what you're filming, electronic and optical stabilization keeps your videos smooth and steady.

The phone supports microSDXC cards but comes in different storage variations. They peak at 256GB with 12GB RAM and it uses the Universal Flash Storage (UFS) 2.2 technology. With it, apps launch quicker, files open and transfer faster, and the overall device performance feels snappier.

Choosing the right memory card

Whether or not you choose any phone from this list, it can't be overstated that you need to buy the right memory card for your phone. Otherwise, you'll experience slow transfers with heavy files — or worse, it won't work. Check whether your phone has a MicroSDXC or MicroSDHC. Then buy the matching memory card. Samsung, SanDisk, and Kingston are among the most reputable brands to shop from.

Memory cards also have different speed classes. That is, how fast you can write data to the card. Class 10 memory cards have a 10MB/s write speed and are good for storing photos and music. The UHS-I (U1) class also runs at 10MB/s write speed, but they use a different bus interface that's faster. There are other classes, but the bottom line is to know what exactly you need for a memory card, match it with the slot on your phone, and know its speed class. 

If you need it for 4K video recording, a UHS-I (U3) speed class or higher card will do. Your memory card’s speed class is usually imprinted on it. But if you have doubts, use a card reader or software to confirm. With this information, we believe you have everything you need to buy the ideal phone with memory card expansion.