Phones With Expandable Memory – What Are Your Best Options?

Phones With Expandable Memory – What Are Your Best Options?

Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

A few years ago, high-end phones with expandable memory became a dying breed. However, the feature is still there, even if it’s not as universal as it once was. There are still many great phones with a microSD card slot so you can expand your phone’s storage. These are the best you should know.

Related: These are the very best Android phones out there

The best phones with expandable memory

Editor’s Note: We will regularly update this list of the best phones with expandable memory as new devices are launched.


Sony Xperia 1 III and 5 III

Sony Xperia 1 III software 2

Robert Triggs/Android Authority

Sony’s Xperia 1 III and 5 III come with specs worthy of a high-end title. Aside from being among the best camera phones for video shooters, these are capable phones. Sufficient space is required for all that video material, which is why these are phones with expandable memory.

Related: The best camera phones out there

Additional features include a fingerprint reader, an IP68 rating and even a headphone jack (another rare sight these days!). You also get a lot of processing power and RAM, and the size will depend on the model you choose. You can look directly under the buy button for more information.

Keep in mind that Xperia 1 IV has already been announced but is not yet available in the US. The sale starts on September 1. And while we haven’t tested the device yet, we can safely say that it is a little better than its predecessor.

  • Display: 6.5″ 4K
  • SoC: Snapdragon 888
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • cameras: 12, 12, 12MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 4.500mAh
  • Software: Android 11
  • Display: 6.1-inch Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 888
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • cameras: 12, 12, 12MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 4.500mAh
  • Software: Android 11

Samsung A53

samsung galaxy a53 portrait

Ryan Haines/Android Authority

The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G and A52s 5G were great mid-rangers, but every phone needs to be cycled out. The successor has arrived, predictably named Galaxy A53. This is one of the best phones with a microSD card slot, but it offers a lot more.

You’d be amazed at how much a mid-tier budget device can get you these days. The Samsung Galaxy A53 may have an Exynos 1280, but it also has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 8GB of RAM, a quad-camera setup and a massive 5,000mAh battery.

  • Display: 6.5-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Exynos 1280
  • RAM: 4/6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • cameras: 64, 12, 5 and 5 MP
  • Front camera: 32MP
  • Battery: 5,000 mAh
  • Software: android 12

Moto G Stylus 2022

moto g stylus logo

Ryan Haines/Android Authority

For starters, this phone comes with a large 6.8-inch 1080p display, but that’s not what makes it special. It’s a 90Hz refresh rate panel, which is rare at this super low price. It also comes with 6GB of RAM, and if you need a phone that will last you all day (and then some), you’ll love the 5,000mAh battery. Of course, it also comes with expandable memory.


Motorola Moto G Stylus 2022 Specifications

  • Display: 6.8-inch, FullHD+
  • SoC: MediaTek Helio G88
  • RAM: 6GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • cameras: 50, 8 and 2 MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000 mAh
  • Software: Android 11

Bit X4 Pro

Poco X4 Pro back phone

Hadlee Simons/Android Authority

The Poco X3 Pro is all about blistering performance, but there were a few other sacrifices. The Poco X4 Pro turns things around by offering slightly less performance but significantly improving the overall experience.

The X4 Pro comes with a Snapdragon 695 and a whopping 8GB of RAM. That’s still great for a phone that costs less than $300. Poco makes up for the “lesser” specs with a beautiful OLED display, two-day battery life, a fairly good primary camera, IP53 splash resistance, and excellent dual speakers.

  • Screen: 6.67-inch, FullHD+
  • SoC: snapdragon 695
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 64/128/256GB
  • cameras: 108, 8 and 2 MP
  • front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000 mAh
  • Software:Android 11

Oppo Reno 7 5G

oppo reno 7 pro box contents

Calvin Wankhede/Android Authority

The Oppo Reno 7 is a great budget handset made explicitly for the Indian market. As such, it’s hard to find in the US, but worth a look if you can get your hands on it.

Also: The best phones to get to in India

We like the design and build quality, which is impressive, and you get a very handy notification ring around the camera bump. The main 50MP camera is quite good, and you also get very good performance for what you pay. We wish the screen, secondary cameras and software were better, but you still get expandable memory, which is great to have.

  • Display: 6.43-inch, FullHD+
  • SoC: Mediatek Dimension 900 5G
  • RAM: 8GB
  • Storage: 256GB
  • cameras: 64, 8 and 5 MP
  • Front camera: 32MP
  • Battery: 4.500mAh
  • Software: Android 11

Redmi Note 11

Redmi Note 11 back panel in the hand angular - Phones with expandable memory

Eric Zeman/Android Authority

It’s hard to beat the Redmi Note 11 when it comes to budget devices, making it one of the best phones with expandable memory. It costs well under $200, but has plenty to offer casual users.

You’ll love the solid build quality, great screen, long battery life, and surprisingly good performance for such an affordable device. Specs include a Snapdragon 680 processor, up to 6GB of RAM, a whopping 128GB of storage, and a 6.43-inch 1080p AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It also has a hefty 5,000 mAh battery.

  • Display: 6.43-inch, FullHD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 680
  • RAM: 4/6GB
  • Storage: 64/128GB
  • cameras: 50, 8, 2 and 2 MP
  • Front camera: 13MP
  • Battery: 5,000 mAh
  • Software: Android 11

OnePlus North N200

OnePlus Nord N200 5G rear to the right - Phones with expandable memory

Eric Zeman/Android Authority

In recent years, people have focused on what is important and realized that an affordable handset can also be an excellent device for everyday use. OnePlus made a name for itself with the Nord brand and the OnePlus Nord N200 is one of the best phones with expandable memory.

The specs are modest, but the price is even more modest and will keep your bank account healthy. Not to mention you get a lot for what you pay, and we’re fans of the screen, excellent battery life and capable audio.

  • Display: 6.49-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 480
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 64GB
  • cameras: 13, 2 and 2 MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 5,000 mAh
  • Software: Android 11

OnePlus North CE 2

OnePlus Nord CE 2 back in hand - phones with expandable memory

Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority

If you can spare some extra cash for an upgrade over the Nord N200, the OnePlus Nord CE 2 is something else, and it’s also one of the best phones with expandable memory.

It has a 6.43-inch AMOLED display, a Dimension 900 processor, up to 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The camera system has also been greatly improved. While the 4,500mAh battery is technically smaller, the device can charge 65W, which is very fast.

  • Display: 6.43-inch, FullHD+
  • SoC: Mediatek Dimension 900 5G
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • cameras: 64, 8 and 2 MP
  • Front camera: 16MP
  • Battery: 4.500mAh
  • Software: Android 11

If you have one of the best phones with expandable storage, you should get one of the best microSD cards right now.

Still not convinced by these options? The good news is that many phones come with plenty of storage options. You also need to learn how to make the most of the memory you already have.