For many smartphone users, having the best Android phone with expandable storage is a must. Whether you take a lot of photos and videos, store a huge music library, or store important files on your device, a MicroSD slot can provide the flexibility and convenience you need.
You can choose an Android phone with a MicroSD slot from the comparison chart above, but read on to learn more about the benefits of expandable storage and what to look for when choosing a phone.
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Android Phones with Expandable Storage in 2025
1. Sony Xperia 1 VI
If you’re looking for a high-end Android phone with expandable memory, you’re going to be spoilt for choice, and this is one of the best you can find right now. The Sony Xperia 1 VI is the best Sony flagship we’ve had in years, but it’s very expensive and hasn’t been officially released in the US.
However, if you live in the UK, you’ll need to pay at least £1,299, or €1,399 if you live in the EU. If you can import it to the US, expect it to be compatible with only a handful of carriers. Still, if you’re willing to pay the price, the Xperia 1 VI offers a great reward.
The biggest change over the Xperia 1 V is right up front. The new model’s display has been downgraded from the previous model’s 4K resolution to 1080p. That might be disappointing to some, but it’s a noticeable improvement in terms of brightness and aspect ratio.
The phone’s telephoto camera has also seen a major upgrade, and the display tweaks have helped improve battery life dramatically.
2. CMF Phone 1
Expandable storage has been mostly confined to budget phones over the past few years, which usually means boring design along with disappointing performance, but with the Nothing CMF Phone 1, you get microSD expansion on a phone with a gorgeous, unique design, great camera, solid performance, and a gorgeous AMOLED display.
With the MediaTek Dimensity 730 SoC, you might think performance would be lacking, but it does deliver with minimal lag and solid gaming performance. It’s not the fastest chip out there, but it’s plenty powerful enough for everyday use.
The 50MP main camera on the back and the 16MP front-facing camera both punch above their weight, with responsive apps and good overall quality. The battery is a massive 5,000mAh with fast 33W charging.
The phone is also set to get two Android updates along with three years of security updates, which is solid for this price range.
One thing to keep in mind, especially if you’re in the US, is that while this phone isn’t really designed for the Big Three carriers, it does work on T-Mobile if you don’t mind dropping connections here and there.
The problem is that this phone doesn’t support all the bands commonly used in North America and is more geared towards the European market. Still, if you’re looking for something unique and have T-Mobile as your carrier, the CMF Phone 1 is an impressive device.
3. Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
The Galaxy A55 5G was recently released in March and is Samsung’s mid-range A-series line. There is a hybrid SIM card slot, which allows you to use the space reserved for the second SIM card as a memory card. However, you cannot insert the second SIM card and the SD card at the same time.
The memory card slot supports the Micro Secure Digital eXtended Capacity (microSDXC) card type. These cards can store large amounts of data, from 32GB to 2TB. They are ideal for storing high-resolution photos, 4K videos, and large game libraries on your phone.
Regardless of the memory card, you can buy the phone in various storage variants. There is space from 128GB to 256GB. However, it is not yet released in the US. However, you can order it from major retailers such as Amazon.
4. OnePlus Nord N30 5G
The Nord N30 5G is another phone that uses a shared microSDXC card slot and only offers a 128GB storage option. It also has a 6.7-inch LCD display, but it’s panda glass grade. Panda Glass doesn’t quite match Corning’s Gorilla Glass, but it does offer good performance in terms of transparency and impact resistance.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 695 5G processor is powered by eight cores for general tasks and two Kryo 660 Gold cores clocked at 2.2GHz for demanding tasks. There are also six Kryo 660 Silver cores clocked at 1.7GHz for much lighter tasks and improved battery efficiency.
5. Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)
The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) is a popular budget phone that boasts solid performance, thanks to its Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC and 8GB of RAM.
The phone features a stunning AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, making it great for outdoor viewing. The phone comes with a 5,000mAh battery pack that can be charged up to 30W wired and 15W wirelessly.
The camera system is also solid, with a 50MP main shooter and a 13MP ultra-wide camera. You can take some great photos in good lighting, but be careful about storage.
It’s available with 128GB or 256GB of storage, so expanding this phone with a microSD card will be a must for some users. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack, so you might want some storage for your favorite music and data.
This phone ships with Android 14 and its performance is solid, but Motorola is only planning to provide a single Android version update for this phone. It’s a bit disappointing that Motorola is sticking with one, when Samsung and Google offer much longer support.
Still, if you’re okay with the older OS, this is a great phone to offer on other carriers with its strong 5G band support.
6. Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
If you like Samsung phones but find them too expensive, the company also makes some great budget devices. The Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is just $400 and comes with a microSD card slot.
It’s not a bad phone for the price. Specs include an Exynos 1380 processor, 6-12GB of RAM, a 5,000mAh battery, and a 6.6-inch 120Hz screen with Full HD+ resolution.
The Galaxy A25 5G replaces the Galaxy A24, which never made it to the US, and slots into the middle of Samsung’s budget-friendly A series. It offers a sleek 6.5-inch AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate, its own Exynos 1280 chipset, and a triple-camera system with a 50MP primary sensor. Oh, and it still has a headphone jack!
If you really want to save money, Samsung is now selling the Galaxy A15 5G for just $200. It packs a less powerful MediaTek Dimensity 6100+, up to 8GB of RAM, a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate, and a 5,000mAh battery.
Of course, it also helps that there’s a microSD card slot. And it’s still one of the cheapest phones you can get for your money.
7. Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2024)
Now, if you really want to save money and still want one of the best phones with a microSD card slot, you can’t ignore the Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2024). At $300, it’s not bad for the price.
Performance isn’t amazing, but the MediaTek Dimensity 7020 and 8GB of RAM are more than enough for casual use. The less resource-intensive components also mean long battery life. There’s a massive 5,000mAh battery, which can be charged at up to 30W.
The display is also pretty good for the price. It’s a mix of a 1080p panel and a 120Hz refresh rate. Not to mention that you’ll also get to enjoy stereo speakers. Overall, this is one of the best phones with expandable storage for your budget.
The Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2024) is the top-tier of Motorola’s budget lineup, replacing the 2023 device of the same name. This device is the first to feature MediaTek’s Dimensity 7020 chipset, which includes upgrades like NFC support, 30W wired charging, and 15W wireless charging.
Conclusion
With an Android phone that has a MicroSD slot, you get the flexibility and convenience of expanding your storage when you need it. Take a look at the comparison chart above to see which Android phones are popular for their MicroSD slot availability.
Consider factors like MicroSD slot compatibility, storage capacity and flexibility, file management features, performance considerations, and design to find the best Android phone for your storage expansion needs.
Expandable storage allows you to store more files, media, and apps on your device, ensuring you have enough space for all your needs.
