5 Android phones with a micro SD card slot that you can buy in 2024

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Android phone with storage settings
Adnan Ahmed/SlashGear

From advertised as mobile phones that allow you to connect to the internet, to now advanced AI features and impressive camera performance, smartphones have come a long way. In the pursuit of sleek and high-quality designs with glass backs and foldable screens, some sacrifices had to be made. Most notably, we had to say goodbye to removable batteries and the 3.5 millimeter headphone jack. Another experience that many may have forgotten was the ability to insert an SD card and expand your phone’s storage in an instant.

Services such as iCloud And Google One have emerged as solutions to deal with low phone storage and allow users to upload photos, videos and other documents to the cloud. Despite how seamless cloud storage has become, you still have to pay a subscription fee every month or year to access your items.

While it’s true that almost most smartphones released in recent years have ditched the micro SD card slot in favor of higher internal capacities, there are still a few options that suit those who need expandable storage. Based on expert reviews, we have prepared a list of current generation smartphones with micro SD card support that you can buy. A slightly more detailed methodology can be found at the end of this lecture.

Sony Xperia 1 V: a truly premium offering

While Sony rarely tops smartphone lists or buying guides anymore, the Xperia range of devices has consistently offered top-notch hardware for a few years now and has carved out a niche aimed at the camera-centric crowd. For a flagship retail price of $1,399, the Sony Xperia 1 V ticks all the boxes, and then some.

Not only do you get a microSDXC slot, but also a 3.5 millimeter headphone jack. Combine that with the phone’s large 6.5-inch 4K 120Hz OLED screen, and you’ll realize that nothing else comes close to being such a complete media powerhouse. In terms of specs, the.

Although the newer Xperia 1 VI also has a micro SD card slot, the device is unfortunately not available for the US market. Despite being a generation older, the Sony Xperia 1 V offers features that are less common with most other smartphones. As researched in Tom’s Guide reviewThose who appreciate manual controls when clicking photos or recording videos will immediately feel comfortable with the Xperia 1 V’s dedicated shutter button and the Photography Pro app.

Samsung Galaxy A35: a well-rounded option

We’ve seen a few over the years the best and worst Samsung smartphonesand it’s thanks to the company’s willingness to expand to almost any price point that there’s a Samsung phone for everyone. For $399, the Galaxy A35 represents the higher budget range of Samsung’s smartphones. Although it cuts corners in areas like performance, camera quality and screen resolution, it benefits from a micro SD card slot that is missing even in the expensive, high-end foldables that Samsung produces.

Apart from expandable storage and a physical SIM card slot, you can do that too use an eSIM with the Galaxy A35. According to CNET reviewthe Galaxy A35 has a capable set of cameras that can capture both indoor and outdoor adventures in good detail. There’s a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED screen on the front that refreshes at 120Hz, which is plenty of screen real estate to enjoy movies or play games. Although it is devoid of others Galaxy AI featuresyou’ll get it Circle to search on the Galaxy A35.

Samsung promises up to four generations of OS updates, which, given its recent track record, adds an extra layer of reliability. You also get an IP67 water and dust certification, which is often a rarity among budget-oriented smartphones. While the Galaxy A35 only comes in a 128GB storage variant, a micro SD card can add expandability up to 1TB.

Moto G Stylus 5G: for the note takers

While there is a market for third parties stylus pens for Android devicesNothing comes close to the Galaxy Note and Ultra series phones that offer this built-in functionality. The Moto G Stylus 5G from Motorola brings this experience down to an affordable $399 – a fraction of what the Galaxy S24 Ultra would cost you.

More importantly, the Moto G Stylus 5G supports expandable storage via a micro SD card slot, allowing you to go beyond the standard 256GB of internal storage.. If you decide to store media on your SD card, the Moto G Stylus’ 6.7-inch FHD+ display and Dolby Atmos audio should make for an enjoyable movie-watching experience.

In SlashGear reviewwe had no trouble playing significantly advanced games like “Genshin Impact” on the Moto G Stylus 5G, and the 120Hz refresh rate can come in handy when running less demanding titles. The device has a decent pair of cameras that hold their own against other phones in this segment, and even compare well with older flagship devices. Overall, the Moto G Stylus is a solid option if you’re looking for a phone with stylus support and expandable storage up to 2TB.

CMF Phone 1: Refreshingly different

End of 2023 Nothing launched its sub-brandcalled CMF, and has since released a handful of devices ranging from wireless earbuds to GaN chargers. The CMF phone 1 features the same playful design as the other products in the company’s catalog. At a starting price of $239 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant, the CMF Phone 1 comes in three different colors with a swappable back cover and a mechanism to attach different accessories such as a lanyard or a stand.

The phone has a 120Hz 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 2,000 nits and is backed by a 5,000mAh battery. Like its older siblings, the CMF Phone 1 runs Nothing OS, which features a largely minimal user interface without bloatware. More importantly, the device comes with the option to expand storage up to 2TB via a micro SD card slot.

It’s worth noting that the CMF Phone 1 is officially sold as part of the Nothing Beta Program. While you can buy the device directly through Amazon, 5G support in the US is very limited, as explained in Review from Android Central of the same. Still, the CMF Phone 1 is a breath of fresh air in this sea of identical-looking smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy A15: Expandable storage on a budget

When we said Samsung caters to all budgets, we weren’t kidding. For $199, the Galaxy A15 costs a fifth of most high-end flagships you can buy, including Samsung’s Galaxy S24Ultra. While you’ll compromise on performance, camera quality and other features, the Galaxy A15 is a perfectly capable entry-level Android smartphone. Ironically, support for expandable storage via the micro SD card slot is a tick most expensive phones skimp on.

You can still enjoy the content on the phone’s 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen that refreshes at a respectable 90Hz. Android Authority review of the Galaxy A15 touts its 5,000 mAh battery that lasts two days between charges. While performance may lag compared to other phones, Samsung’s OneUI skin on top of Android has improved significantly in recent years.

The Galaxy A15 has a triple camera setup at the back, with room for a wide, ultra-wide and a macro sensor. The phone has a predominantly plastic build, with noticeable bezels all around, but still manages to fit a fingerprint scanner on its side for quick and secure authentication. Like the Galaxy A35, Samsung promises up to four years of OS updates and five years of security patches.

How these phones were chosen

Inserting a microSD card into a phone
Wisely/Getty

The picks on this list were made based on expert reviews from trusted publications such as Android Authority, CNET, Android Central, and Tom’s Guides. All the phones mentioned here were released in the recent past and should benefit from timely Android updates from their manufacturers. We also made sure there was a healthy variety of options on this list – from the high-quality internals of the Sony Xperia 1 V to the essential features offered by the affordable Samsung Galaxy A15.

Devices like the Moto G Stylus 5G and CMF Phone 1 also bring certain unique aspects such as a stylus or interchangeable back covers. You can buy some best microSD cards for your Android phone also for not a lot of money. MMost of these phones come with a dedicated micro SD card slot, while some opt for a shared SIM slot. Either way, it won’t take more than a minute to insert an SD card and enjoy expanded storage on your phone.