PNY has officially announced the release of its new microSD Express memory card lineup, built on the SD 7.1 specification. These cards are among the first to adopt the PCIe Gen3 x1 interface for microSD form factors, offering significantly faster data transfer rates compared to conventional UHS-I cards. The company confirmed the launch date as May 21, local time.
The new series debuts with two storage capacities: 128GB and 256 GB. Both models support sequential read speeds of up to 890 MB/s and write speeds of up to 750 MB/s. These speeds are made possible by leveraging the PCIe interface, which allows for higher bandwidth compared to the traditional SD card interface.
PNY also announced that the microSD Express cards are fully backward compatible with UHS-I devices. This makes them suitable for a wide range of current and future products. Notably, the cards are also positioned as compatible with the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console, offering users a potential solution for expanding storage without compromising on speed.
The cards are certified under several performance classifications: UHS Speed Class 3 (U3), Application Performance Class 1 (A1), and Video Speed Class 30 (V30). These ratings make them suitable for 4K video recording, mobile app usage, and high-performance tasks across a variety of consumer electronics.
Thermal management is another focus in this series. PNY states the cards feature adaptive thermal control technology designed to maintain consistent performance and protect internal components during extended use or under heavy workloads.
Durability and protection features are also included as standard. According to PNY, the cards offer resistance against magnetic interference, shock, extreme temperatures, water exposure, accidental drops, X-rays, general wear, and humidity. These safeguards make the cards viable for outdoor, travel, and professional use where environmental conditions may be less controlled.
Pricing has been set at $44.99 for the 128GB model and $55.99 for the 256GB model. Both versions are covered by a limited lifetime warranty.
With this launch, PNY joins a small group of manufacturers beginning to adopt the microSD Express standard, which has been gradually gaining traction since the SD Association introduced it. As demand for faster removable storage grows alongside advancements in mobile gaming, photography, and portable computing, microSD Express cards like these may offer a compelling option for users who require compact, high-speed storage.
