Feed aggregator

• Kaspersky observed a threat actor called ToddyCat abusing a bug in ESET's cybersecurity solution
• The group used a now-patched flaw to deploy a piece of malware called TCESB
• Users are advised to patch their systems and monitor for threats

A component of ESET’s endpoint protection solution was being abused to launch stealthy malware on Windows devices.

In an in-depth report, security researchers from Kaspersky said they saw a critical vulnerability in ESET’s command-line scanner being abused to deploy a tool named TCESB.

The vulnerability, now identified as CVE-2024-11859, allowed attackers to hijack the loading process of system libraries by abusing how the ESET scanner usually loads them. Instead of retrieving legitimate libraries from system directories, the scanner would first look in its current working directory, which enabled a classic “bring your own vulnerable driver” approach.

Monitor your credit score with TransUnion starting at $29.95/month

TransUnion is a credit monitoring service that helps you stay on top of your financial health. With real-time alerts, credit score tracking, and identity theft protection, it ensures you never miss important changes. You'll benefit from a customizable online interface with clear insights into your credit profile. Businesses also benefit from TransUnion’s advanced risk assessment tools.

Preferred partner (What does this mean?)View Deal

ToddyCat

The group behind the attack is dubbed ToddyCat. It is an advanced persistent threat (APT) group, first observed in 2021.

It is known for targeting government and military organizations, diplomatic entities, and critical infrastructure. Its targets are mostly located in Asia and Europe, and there are some indications that it might either be Chinese, or China-aligned. This was not confirmed, though.

In this instance, the researchers did not discuss the victims, their industry, or location.

However, it was said that ToddyCat was able to place a malicious variant of version.dll alongside ESET’s scanner, which forced the endpoint protection tool to run the custom malware and thus bypass standard security detection mechanisms.

The TCESB malware is a modified version of an open-source tool named EDRSandBlast, Kaspersky further explained, saying that it includes features that change the OS kernel structures and can disable callbacks (notification routines).

ESET patched the flaw in January 2025 following responsible disclosure. Organizations using this popular endpoint protection solution are urged to update their systems as soon as possible, and closely monitor their endpoints:

"To detect the activity of such tools, it's recommended to monitor systems for installation events involving drivers with known vulnerabilities," Kaspersky said. "It's also worth monitoring events associated with loading Windows kernel debug symbols on devices where debugging of the operating system kernel is not expected."

Via The Hacker News

You might also like

• The growing threat of ransomware for SMBs
• Take a look at our guide to the best authenticator app
• We've rounded up the best password managers

Can the Ibrox roar help the Scottish side overcome tough Spanish opposition?

Ange Postecoglou's Spurs face a tricky test against German opposition in this quarterfinal matchup.

Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS review

Right, strap in everyone, this one’s a real mouthful… the Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS is a single port, USB-C charger that will get the vast majority of modern handsets fighting fit in no time.

Of course, this isn’t going to be the best at juicing up one of the latest MacBooks or Chromebooks, for instance, due to its 25W output. But that’s OK. After all, this model is really for those that just want to charge their phone or wireless headphones on the go, say. And that, reader, is a purpose this model serves well.

I tried charging up my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and it reached 100%, starting from 0% in just under 80 minutes – the kind of speed I’d hope to see from the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers. Of course, this model won’t be able to unlock peak performance on a phone like the Honor Magic 7, which can manage 100W wired charging, but most iPhones and Samsung handsets will be able to fast charge with this Belkin plug.

It’s also worth noting that this charger never got too hot when bringing my phone back to life. That’s thanks to its use of PPS technology, which ensures dynamic power delivery. It's also worth noting that this model only supports 20W charging for iPhone, though you may find that’s plenty for a rapid rejuvenation of power.

Beyond performance, this charger is a bit of a mixed bag, though. Build quality is solid and there’s a nice textured finish to the outer casing, but I still didn’t love this charger’s design. In honesty, it’s a little bit bulky for a 25W charger, especially compared to models like the Anker Nano USB-C 30W or UGreen Nexode Mini 30W.

Also, its prongs slide down, but they’re not fully foldable – something I always like, as it enables me to simply slot the charger into my pocket when out and about, without the fear of being poked in the side.

Pair that with the lack of USB-C cable in the box – at least for the UK variant I tested – and the $19.99 / £17.99 / AU$29.95 feels reasonable rather than cheap. Especially when the models I mentioned above are priced very similarly, but are more compact, attractive and powerful. And, all in all, I can’t help but feel there are better value options available for the money. So, even though the Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS is a steady performer, it can’t quite top the best of the best single-port alternatives.

(Image credit: Future) Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS review: Price & specs

(Image credit: Future) Should I buy the Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS? Buy it if…

You just need a basic phone charger
This Belkin charger isn’t the most mighty or multi-talented. It offers 25W and a single USB-C port, which isn’t going to be enough for some. Having said that, you’re gonna get more than enough power to fast-charge some of the best Samsung phones and best iPhones, so if you don’t need anything fancy, this will still certainly do the trick.

You’ve got a slow USB-A plug and want an upgrade
If you’re fed up with slow charging from your old USB-A fitted phone charger, this alternative from Belkin is sure to take things up a notch. It will almost certainly deliver faster charging speeds – ideal for when you need some extra juice on the go. It’s worth noting, though, that this charger doesn’t come with a USB-C cable, so you’ll need to grab your own elsewhere.

Don't buy it if…

You have a more power-hungry handset
Some modern smartphones are capable of charging at a far higher wattage than 25W. For example, the OnePlus 13 can charge up to 80W, so you’ll be better off using single port charging on a model like the UGreen Uno 100W if you’re looking to access peak performance.

You want a splash of style
This isn’t the most stylish charger out there. Sure, it comes in two colorways, black and white, but still, it has a pretty plain looking aesthetic. Meanwhile, the Anker Nano USB-C 30W comes in more unique colors, has foldable prongs and also a textured exterior.

Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS: Also consider

UGreen Nexode Mini 30W
The UGreen Nexode Mini 30W is among my favorite single-port phone chargers thanks to its attractive, shiny appearance, compact build and foldable prongs. It has a bit more power than this Belkin charger but is no more expensive. There’s no USB-C cable in the box here either, but if we’re talking all-round value, this is a superior alternative. Read our full UGreen Nexode Mini 30W review.

With tariffs on cars, materials and parts threatening to send auto prices up, some shoppers are racing to lock in vehicles at pre-tariff prices. Others plan to drive their current rides into the ground.

(Image credit: Frederic J. Brown)

After announcing social security recipients would be required to appear in-person at office locations, the Trump administration is now backtracking.

(Image credit: Saul Loeb)

• RTX 5090 with 32GB GDDR7 memory is far cheaper than the equivalent AI accelerator from Nvidia
• Several of them can be teamed together to support very large language models
• Crypto mining in the early 2020s caused prices of GPUs to spike, the same is likely to happen with AI

During the early 2020s, cryptomining was a driving force behind a lot of GPU shortages and inflated prices, as high-end graphics cards were snapped up in bulk to mine cryptocurrencies, leading to record pricing across multiple generations of GeForce GPUs.

Nvidia attempted to address the issue by introducing mining limiters, but miners, naturally, found ways to bypass these, and retail prices remained well above the MSRP for long periods.

History could well be about to repeat itself, but this time based around artificial intelligence demand rather than cryptocurrency. Videocardz (via I_Leak_VN) reports that a Vietnamese retailer called Nguyencongpc has started selling barebone AI servers equipped with seven GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards.

Mounting supply pressures

The setup, cooled by air and powered by a 2000W PSU, is designed to handle large AI workloads, including support for large language models.

The RTX 5090, with its 32GB of GDDR7 memory, offers a blend of high performance and relatively low cost compared to Nvidia’s dedicated in-demand AI accelerators.

When several are used in tandem, as is the case with the server Nguyencongpc is selling, they can match or exceed the memory capacity needed for enterprise-level AI applications - without the high price tag of the RTX Pro or H-series products.

While you've got to admire the ingenuity on display here, the knock on will inevitably be mounting supply pressures.

The RTX 5090 is already facing stock issues, and its price has climbed past $3000 in many markets, with some listings close to $4000. This mirrors the RTX 4090's trajectory, which driven by cryptomining, rarely dropped below MSRP and remained in high demand for non-gaming uses.

With modders reportedly exploring ways to increase onboard memory even further, the RTX 5090 could follow the same path as its predecessors - designed for games, but monopolized by entirely different industries.

Nvidia has yet to take steps to prevent system integrators or retailers from redirecting gaming GPUs toward AI markets and if it doesn't, gamers could well once again find themselves unable to purchase the latest graphics hardware at fair prices.

You might also like

• PC with 7 liquid-cooled Nvidia RTX 5090 GPUs has just gone on sale
• The most expensive Nvidia Blackwell offering is getting a huge price cut
• GeForce RTX 5090 with 96GB of GDDR7 RAM? No, it's the RTX 6000 Blackwell

Get ready for a great night's sleep with one of our favorite white noise machines.

This feature is only for paid members, however.

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian has said the company looks poised to go from strength to strength as the global demand for more AI technology continues unabated.

Fresh from hosting the opening keynote at the company's Google Cloud Next 25 in Las Vegas, Kurian told a media Q&A session attended by TechRadar Pro about the latest challenges facing the business, as well as its myriad of successes.

"(AI) is simplifying technology itself," Kurian said in the session, "You have the same technology that runs Google, available to every small business...by simplifying the technology, you bring it to everybody."

"Extremely dynamic" tariff situation

"If you look at the highest level of what we're trying to do - it's relatively simple," Kurian noted, highlighting how Google Cloud has expanded its global footprint to cover 42 regions across the world, with more to come soon.

"Our success is reflected not by what we do, but what customers and partners do with our technology," he added.

"We are very well-positioned due to the breadth of our portfolio - but also because of the differentiation in what we're doing with AI."

(Image credit: Future / Mike Moore)

Asked about the possible effects of US tariffs on business around the world, Kurian replied with a smile that the tariff discussion is "an extremely dynamic one", and that Google Cloud has been through many cycles like this (most recently in the Covid crisis) and that he was confident the company will be able to navigate this period too.

"There's many, many things we do as a technology provider - we are working as a global company, within a geopolitical context, and our solution to that is to work with governments to adapt our technology to government regulations, so that customers can use it in different markets."

Kurian was also asked about how Google Cloud plans to deal with the rising energy costs caused by the growth in demand for AI.

Stating the company has done "a lot of work" over the past two years to "hugely reduce" the cost of training and inferencing of models, he noted the company will continue to optimize the cost of serving models while improving quality.

Kurian added Google Cloud has more than seven times the water-cooled AI systems as the rest of the world combined, and was also working on implementing nuclear power and sustainable energy sources such as hydroelectric and solar.

"For us, it's really important that people see AI as being a technology that can also drive both efficiency in the consumption of energy, and also created new forms of energy because of the investments that we are making."

You might also like

• "The opportunity with AI is as big as it gets" - Google CEO Sundar Pichai pledges $75 billion cloud, AI spending spree
• Alphabet CEO says more than a quarter of new code at Google is AI-generated
• Check out the best AI writers around today

So far there haven’t been many Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 colors leaks, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have an idea of what to expect, as Samsung tends to return to certain shades time and again.

Below then, you’ll find the colors we’ve so far heard rumored for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, along with some others that we think are likely to be offered.

Make sure to check back soon too, as we’ll be sure to update this article any time we hear anything new about Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 colors.

Black

A leaked image of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (Image credit: @OnLeaks / Android Headlines)

The one Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 color leak we’ve seen so far takes the form of renders shared by Android Headlines, that show the phone in black.

It’s unclear whether this is actually a shade the publication has heard will be offered, or just one it chose to use for the renders, but either way, we’d say some form of black is very likely, as every single Z Fold model so far has been sold in a black shade.

The exact shade of black differs, but some version of black will almost certainly be offered for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

White

A Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 in White (Image credit: Samsung)

White is another shade we expect the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 to be sold in, as while no leaks yet point to a white option, the last few models have come in either white or a white-adjacent shade, be that beige or cream.

On top of which, white is simply a very popular and common smartphone shade, so while we’re less confident of this than black, we’d think there’s a good chance the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be sold in a white or off-white shade.

Silver / gray

A Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 in Silver Shadow (Image credit: Samsung)

As with white, silver and gray are both popular smartphone shades – particularly silver, so while neither have been mentioned for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 yet there’s a good chance one of them will be offered.

We’re lumping them together here because they’re somewhat similar, and they’re both shades that Samsung has often sold Z Fold models in – including ‘Silver Shadow’ for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, a shade that’s basically a cross between silver and gray.

And because they’re so similar, it’s probably unlikely that Samsung will offer both a silver and a gray shade.

Blue

A Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 in Navy (Image credit: Samsung)

Blue is a shade we’re less confident in than any of the colors above, simply because it’s a bit more unusual to see phones in blue. And as with everything except black, we also haven’t seen any rumors pointing to a blue Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 yet.

But Samsung does seem to have a thing for blue, particularly in its Z Fold series. Last year there was navy blue, and the year before that there were actually two different blue shades.

So, while we wouldn’t be at all surprised if there isn’t a blue option for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, we’d say there are reasonable odds that there will be.

A mystery shade

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (Image credit: Future)

In recent years, Samsung’s numbered Galaxy Z Fold phones have been sold in five different shades, but as the numerically accomplished of you will no doubt have noticed, we’ve only mentioned four above. So even if all of those shades do make an appearance (and that’s a big ‘if'), we’d expect to see at least one more too.

What that will be though is anyone’s guess right now, but we’ll update this article once we have a clearer idea.

You might also like

• Best Samsung phones: top Galaxy handsets ranked
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge: latest news, rumors, and everything we know so far
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: latest news, rumors, and everything we’ve heard so far

A toaster oven is a great addition to any kitchen -- but which should you choose? Our experts found the models with the best features and cooking performance.

The design giant hopes to make coding and spreadsheets less scary with generative AI.

• Amazon wants to add 80 new sites to its existing 600 US facilities
• The plans could cost the company an estimated $15 billion
• Trump’s tariffs have impacted certain orders

Amazon is reportedly planning to invest a staggering $15 billion across no less than 80 new logistics facilities across the US in a bid to better serve both cities and rural areas.

A report from Bloomberg claims the company is planning to develop new delivery hubs, with some being large fulfillment centers equipped with state-of-the-art robots.

Amazon is now inviting capital partners to submit proposals in what’s seen as welcome news amid ongoing tariff-induced economic uncertainty.

Amazon wants to spend $15bn on 80 US logistics facilities

When the world moved to remote and online habits during the pandemic, Amazon was believed to have overspent on retail infrastructure and staffing, leading to multiple rounds of layoffs. Between November 2022 and March 2023, Amazon laid off around 27,000 workers.

Although its ecommerce business continues to grow, recent investments have largely focused on cloud and AI technologies, so it’s reassuring to see that the online retail giant is hasn’t given up on what it’s known best for by consumers.

Speaking about the company’s fourth-quarter and year-end results, Jassy noted Amazon had delivered its “fastest speeds ever” for Prime in 2024, with a 65% year-over-year increase in US orders delivered on the same day or overnight, thanks largely to its expansive network of logistics facilities and transportation resources.

The company now has around 600 fulfillment centers in the US alone, but no timeline has been shared for the addition of another 80.

Despite a positive outlook, it’s clear that Amazon isn’t immune from the ongoing trade war, having reportedly canceled numerous orders from China and other Asian countries over tariffs.

Amazon told us that the projects being discussed aren't finalized, but they are still ideas that are up for consideration.

Steve Kelly, a spokesperson for Amazon, noted: "Meetings like this with our capital partners are routine and part of the normal due diligence process, as we consider potential, future projects."

The company also confirmed some figures to us – Amazon supports nearly five million jobs across the US, having invested over $244 billion into the nation in 2023 alone.

You might also like

• We’ve listed the best payment gateways for any business
• Amazon just overtook Walmart in revenue for the first time
• Take your shop online with the best shopping cart software options

Consumer prices in March were up 2.4% from a year ago — a smaller annual increase than forecasters had expected. While President Trump has suspended many of his new tariffs, import taxes that remain could push prices higher in the months to come.

(Image credit: Jim Watson)

• Nintendo has now clarified that Switch 2 Edition cartridges will feature the full game and upgrades
• There's still some uncertainty regarding DLC
• My Nintendo Store customer service representatives have said Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition "will not include the paid DLCs"

Nintendo has confirmed that Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will contain the full game and upgrades on the cartridge, but there's still uncertainty surrounding some downloadable content (DLC).

Last week, a Nintendo customer service representative caused some confusion among fans following the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct by informing one player that Switch 2 Edition games will be original Switch cartridges with a download code attached.

Nintendo has now clarified that this is not the case and that enhanced games, like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, will feature the full game and upgrades on the Switch 2 Edition cartridge.

In a statement to Vooks, a Nintendo spokesperson said, "Physical versions of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will include the original Nintendo Switch game and its upgrade pack all on the same game card (i.e. they are exclusively Nintendo Switch 2 game cards, with no download code). Alternatively, some publishers may release Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games as download codes in physical packaging, with no game card."

Although we have confirmation on this aspect, there's still uncertainty surrounding DLC, specifically when it comes to Breath of the Wild and its expansion pass.

As reported by GoNintendo, a My Nintendo Store customer service representative stated that the Breath of the Wild's Switch 2 Edition "is not going to include the Expansion Pass content", which includes The Master Trials and The Champion's Ballad.

Another user on Reddit also shared a message from a different My Nintendo Store representative, which claimed something similar.

"This game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - My Nintendo Store will not include the paid DLCs. If you purchase the Switch 2 version in physical, it will arrive in the corresponding game box," the message read.

We still don't have official confirmation from Nintendo, but it seems that, like with the Switch version, players will need to purchase the DLC packs again to play them on Switch 2.

It's also unclear if this applies to all Switch 2 Edition games with DLC.

The Nintendo Switch 2 officially launches on June 5, 2025, and will cost $449.99 / £395.99 or $499.99 / £429.99 for a Mario Kart World bundle.

Pre-orders are now live in the UK, but Nintendo has announced that US pre-orders and Canada pre-orders have been delayed to "to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions."

You might also like...

• Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live: latest UK stock updates as My Nintendo Store's pre-order date arrives, while US pre-orders remain delayed
• Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch: comparing price, specs, design, features and more
• Nintendo says its divisive Game-Key Cards will help 'future-proof' the Switch 2

J&J recently lost a bid to settle lawsuits that claimed its talc powder products, including baby powder, caused cancer. Author Gardiner Harris says the company's defense "is beginning to crumble."

The inconsistent Red Devils travel to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais for this quarterfinal clash.

• Nvidia's unannounced RTX 5060 Ti has a benchmark leak revealing its performance leap over the RTX 4060 Ti
• It is reportedly up to 14% faster using the Vulkan graphics rendering API
• It's expected to be cheaper than its predecessor but may face inflation considering the current GPU market trend

We're still awaiting an official announcement of Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti GPU, which has had several rumors and leaks crop up recently. However, a new leak has given us fresh insight into expectations regarding its performance.

As highlighted by Wccftech, a new Geekbench 6 leak indicates that the RTX 5060 Ti is up to 14% faster than its predecessor, the RTX 4060 Ti. These benchmarks were done in both OpenCL and Vulkan: the latter is a popular graphics rendering API used across several games, and the upcoming Blackwell GPU scored an impressive 140,147 points using it.

As evident in the benchmark results, the RTX 4060 Ti scored 122,534 points in Vulkan, making its successor 13% faster - and while this may not be a significant margin, the new GPU is purported to be the cheaper option with both 16GB and 8GB models.

It's also worth noting that all RTX 5000 series GPUs have the advantage of Nvidia’s new Multi-Frame Generation over the previous gen, granting a better frame interpolation (additional AI-generated frames in between original rendered frames) experience. It certainly isn't perfect, especially with recent driver complications, but the feature will come in handy for gamers once all is back in shape again.

The rumored 16GB VRAM capacity may be a baffling one: the RTX 5070 (which is the higher tier GPU) offers 12GB of VRAM with a 192-bit memory bus, while the RTX 5060 Ti, is expected to have 16GB of VRAM with a 128-bit memory bus. It's total speculation, but the VRAM differences could be due to the memory bus differences, with the RTX 5070's 192-bit memory bus having much better memory bandwidth and therefore being able to manage with only 12GB of VRAM.

However, none of these rumors will change the fact that the GPU market is arguably in its worst state ever. So, even if the RTX 5060 Ti ends up cheaper than its predecessor, there's no guarantee it will stay at retail price.

(Image credit: Nvidia) None of this will be relevant, if the RTX 5060 Ti can't stay at launch price

Regardless of its potential performance leap over its previous gen counterpart, the price of the RTX 5060 Ti will be the dealbreaker for many budget gamers: I'm not only referring to its launch price - and I'm hoping the rumored $429 / around £330 / around AU$687 is accurate - but the price of third-party partner cards sold across multiple retailers.

Both Nvidia’s and AMD's new GPU lineups have been met with heavy scrutiny, as nearly none of these GPUs are available to purchase at retail price. This had been happening long before Trump's latest tariffs came into effect, due to low stock and high demand - so the chances of this trend continuing with the RTX 5060 Ti are very high.

It may turn out to be far worse if Nvidia doesn't have a reference card planned for the new GPU: the RTX 5070 Ti notably doesn't have a Founders Edition model, which are cards that are designed and sold directly from Team Green, and it means consumers must rely on third-party retailers selling third-party models. A repeat of this is a potentially dangerous move in a GPU climate where scalpers and inflation are at their worst.

We're supposedly a few weeks away from an official reveal and launch, so we may have our answers sooner rather than later… I just hope Nvidia doesn’t blow this one, because PC gamers are sorely in need of some sensibly-priced solutions.

You may also like...

• We now have midrange GPUs launching at almost $1000 - PowerColor takes the Radeon RX 9070 XT to an absurd price point, and it's an ill omen of times to come
• This trick could allow you to upgrade an AMD RX 9070 GPU to be an RX 9070 XT for free, in theory – but I’d seriously advise against it
• Nvidia RTX 5060 series shipping leak reveals the same memory bus as last-gen - but it's not as bad as you may think

For about two decades, traditional microSD cards were the storage solution of choice for portable devices like mobile phones and handheld consoles.

However, the evolution of storage solutions has led to the development of microSD Express, an advancement over its predecessor.

While microSD cards and microSD Express appear the same, their specifications and applications differ. You may be wondering why you haven’t heard about microSD Express – that’s because the technology is not only relatively new, but its adoption has been quite slow.

microSD Express vs microSD card – the basics

microSD Express is an advanced version of microSD that uses PCIe and NVMe interfaces similar to high-end SSD storage solutions to achieve significantly faster transfer speeds of up to 985MB/s.

This storage format was first released by the SD Association in 2019, and since then, several brands have developed cards with guaranteed minimum speeds of 150MB/s, 300MB/s, 450MB/s, or 600MB/s, as indicated by the “E” symbol on the card label. These cards, however, have not seen wide usage until recently, when Nintendo announced plans to use them for expanded storage in the upcoming Switch 2.

On the other hand, a microSD card is a small, removable storage device that has been widely used in smartphones, tablets, cameras, and gaming consoles. Originally launched in 2005, the format has evolved into SDHC, SDXC, and SDUC variants, with capacities up to 2TB.

These cards use the SD interface and are classified based on speed. Most consumer devices today support UHS-I cards, with read speeds up to 100MB/s. Less common UHS-II and UHS-III cards can reach speeds of up to 300MB/s and 600MB/s, respectively.

Speed and performance

The obvious advantage of microSD Express over microSD is transfer speed. Its interfaces enable faster write speeds, allowing for seamless recording and quicker file transfers. Another key benefit is reduced latency, thanks to NVMe technology.

Unlike traditional microSD cards, which rely on older interfaces, microSD Express offers lower response times when accessing data. This leads to faster system responsiveness, especially when opening large files, running applications, or switching between stored media.

Backward compatibility concerns

One major drawback of microSD Express is its lack of full backward compatibility. If you use a microSD Express card in an older device with a traditional microSD slot, the transfer speed drops to UHS-I levels, which can be disappointing. In addition, devices made for microSD Express are exclusive, meaning regular microSD cards will not work in them.

This compatibility issue is clear with the Nintendo Switch 2, which only supports microSD Express cards. Users now need to purchase new storage solutions, even if they have plenty of data on older microSD cards from previous Switch models. This shift has caused frustration among users who expected backward compatibility to be preserved.

Use cases and adoption

microSD Express cards are not designed for all use cases. If you mainly store regular photos and videos on mobile phones or cameras, a standard microSD card will do just fine.

microSD Express shines in scenarios where high-speed data transfer is critical, with one key example being gaming.

Games are data-intensive, and faster read/write speeds reduce load times, improve performance, and make gameplay smoother. This is likely a key reason why the Nintendo Switch 2 adopted microSD Express.

Standard microSD cards often struggle with large files, leading to dropped frames or slow transfers when dealing with high data rates, such as 4K or 8K video. This makes microSD Express especially valuable for filmmakers and content creators.

Cost and availability

That all said, getting a microSD Express card isn’t easy. Few brands currently produce them, and availability may be limited in some regions.

Also, because the technology is still developing and uses more advanced components, microSD Express cards tend to be more expensive. For example, a 1TB microSD Express card from Lexar costs around $200, while a standard 1TB microSD card from the same brand is priced under $70.

Should you upgrade to microSD Express?

Whether to switch to microSD Express depends on your needs and device compatibility. If your device requires it, like the Nintendo Switch 2, then upgrading is necessary. But if your device only supports standard microSD cards, there’s little benefit, as speeds will drop by almost 90%. That said, if low latency is a priority, it may still be worth considering.

For general users who want affordable storage for smartphones, cameras, or other devices, traditional microSD cards remain a practical choice. Professionals working with high-speed applications, may find microSD Express to be a worthwhile investment.

Future of microSD Express

Portable computing devices, including laptops, tablets, and handheld gaming PCs, now use high-grade hardware and often rely on expandable storage for larger apps and media. For example, some mobile phones and cameras can now record in 8K, which puts a lot of pressure on storage performance.

A one-minute 8K video can be as large as 20GB. Saving this to a regular microSD card could take around four minutes, while a microSD Express card could do it in about 30 seconds. That is a significant difference that could drive the adoption of microSD Express.

Still, the future of microSD Express really depends on how many device manufacturers choose to support it. If more consoles, cameras, and portable devices integrate the format, prices may come down and the market could expand.

You may also like

• We've rounded up the best microSD cards around
• And these are the largest microSD cards you can buy
• China spent billions building far too many data centers