Best Phones with Expandable Storage
Shako Memon
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For the best phones with expandable storage, a good microSD card is all you need to store as much data as you need on your device. With a decent memory card, you can also store apps on external storage.
Let’s take a look at the best phones with expandable storage. This can be a life-saving option, and it can save you from paying too much for a phone that will struggle to handle all the apps and media files you may accumulate over the years of use.
Ultimately, when it comes to buying your next phone, you need to think about the future, not just for your pocket but also for the environment.
Many great phones still include a microSD card slot, allowing you to expand your phone’s storage. Here are the best phones you should know about.
Best Phones with Expandable Storage
1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G is rich in memory options on its own. At least 128GB with 8GB of RAM is a good starting point for those with basic needs. The phone supports microSDXC, allowing you to expand the native storage up to 1 terabyte.
Aesthetically, the phone features a bright and vibrant 6.67-inch AMOLED display that is pleasing to the eye. It has a refresh rate of 120Hz and a maximum brightness of 1300.
There is a 16MP punch-hole style selfie camera, and a capable triple-camera system on the back. It features a high-resolution 200MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS). There is also an ultra-wide sensor for capturing wider scenes and a macro sensor for close-up shots.
2. Sony Xperia 1 V
Memory card expansion and the 3.5mm headphone jack have all but disappeared from high-end Androids. Fortunately, Sony doesn’t seem to care what the rest of the industry is doing and has released the Xperia 1 V with both.
The phone comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, which has been common in flagships in 2025, but is still powerful enough for all the apps you’ll find on the App Store. It has 12GB of RAM and comes with 256GB of built-in storage.
Available in green or black, this is a stylish phone with three cameras on the back. There’s a 48MP primary camera, a 12MP telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultra-wide camera for backup. Another rarity on this phone is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
A headphone jack isn’t necessarily a cheap feature, and many of the best Sony headphones have used wires, so it’s nice that Sony has kept it.
The software support on this phone could be better, but it’s already been updated to Android 14. Sony's phones are often aimed at creators, and there's also a USB-C 3.2 port that supports 5Gbps speeds if you want to grab high-quality video from a memory card in a hurry.
3. OnePlus Nord N30 5G
Like many of the best budget Android phones, the OnePlus Nord N30 5G is powered by a 6nm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset. You can add more storage in a snap by inserting a microSD card into the slot. It’s an old feature, but it’s a great one.
The Nord N30 5G has a lot of cool features, but the coolest one is the 50W SUPERVOOC charging. That’s a really fast charging speed that you won’t find on other phones with expandable storage.
The 108MP camera sounds amazing, but it’s actually more of a buzzword. Our tests show that the photo quality could be better. However, you’ll love the fast 6.27-inch 120Hz IPS LCD display.
OnePlus promises just one OS update for this model, but it guarantees three years of security updates. With Android 15 coming soon, the Nord N30 won’t get anything beyond Android 14. Still, this phone will still be worth buying in 2025.
4. Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
Samsung is becoming a solid contender in the mid-range market, offering a device with features you'd normally only find on its more expensive devices. The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G has a 120Hz Super AMOLED display, a pretty good Exynos 1480 processor, plenty of RAM/storage, and a nice 5,000mAh battery.
The design is also pretty good, looking very similar to the Galaxy S24 series. Of course, this is a budget device at ￡439, so the build quality isn't all that great.
There's also no wireless charging. Other than that, it's a pretty decent phone. Not to mention the update promise of four years of Android releases and five years of security updates.
This is definitely one of the best phones with expandable memory, featuring a microSD card slot. Not only that, it offers the best performance for the price.
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5. Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2024)
The Moto G Power phone gives you more reasons to buy a memory card than the Galaxy A55 5G phone. It only comes with 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.
Like the previously mentioned phones, it supports microSDXC cards, but there is a dedicated slot for it. There is no need to use a second SIM card or expand the storage.
Aside from the memory, the phone has a 6.7-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. It also uses Mediatek’s Dimensity 7020 processor and Imagination Technologies’ IMG BXM-8-256 GPU.
6. Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G is a great choice if you’re looking for a phone with expandable storage. The Galaxy A25 measures 6.5 inches wide and offers a FHD+ Super AMOLED panel with an impressive 120Hz refresh rate.
Now, this is pretty much a budget device, but it has enough goodies to elevate it above its weight. For instance, the Samsung phone is alive with a massive 5,000mAh cell. It also has a headphone jack and a 50MP primary camera, but it falls short of the photography capabilities of the Galaxy S series Samsung phones.
It uses the Exynos 1280 chipset from the previous Galaxy A53 5G, which is fine for everyday use and light multitasking, but stutters during intensive gaming sessions. Still, if you’re on a tight budget and absolutely must-have Samsung, the A25 5G is a solid choice.
FAQs
What is an expandable storage phone?
An expandable storage phone is a smartphone that gives you the flexibility to increase your storage capacity using an external memory card. This feature allows users to store more photos, videos, apps, and files without worrying about running out of space.
Expandable storage allows you to easily upgrade your phone’s storage capacity as needed, making it a convenient option for those who need ample storage for their digital content.
Does Apple offer expandable storage?
Apple has always taken a different approach to operating. Not only has it never offered a ‘traditional’ expandable storage option by incorporating an SD card port, it also allows users to purchase storage plans starting at 50GB for ￡0.99 per month.
iCloud gives you the flexibility to choose a device with lower storage capacity. Instead of paying a premium for an iPhone with 512GB of internal storage, iCloud offers you the option to store your data remotely.
As you can imagine, this significantly reduces the initial cost of purchasing a new device, ultimately making it a more pocket-friendly option. Traditional expandable storage is usually limited by the amount of space you can physically store on a microSD card or other storage device.
What are the benefits of an expandable storage phone?
A phone with expandable storage offers several advantages. Firstly, it gives you the freedom to expand your storage capacity without having to replace the entire device.
Secondly, it allows users to store a lot of data on their phone, such as their music library, movies, and documents. Expandable storage can also be a cost-effective solution compared to buying a phone with higher internal storage.
There are a variety of expandable storage phones available, allowing users to choose the one that best suits their needs and budget.
How to Choose the Right Expandable Storage Phone?
When choosing an expandable storage phone, consider factors such as the internal storage capacity of the phone, the maximum external storage capacity supported, and compatibility with different types of memory cards.
It is also essential to check the overall performance of the phone, camera quality, battery life, and other features that suit your preferences. Popular brands such as Samsung, Redmi, Tecno, and I Kall offer a variety of expandable storage phones to meet the needs of different users.
Take a look at the various options available at Croma and find the expandable storage phone that is perfect for you.
Conclusion
As you can see, expandable storage options are very important not only in terms of finances but also to ensure that you do not run out of space to store photos, apps, and videos, especially during important seasons/anniversaries. It provides an option to store unwanted large files on the internal storage capacity of the mobile phone.
While consumers are still looking for mobile phones with expandable storage, this option seems to be becoming increasingly rare, especially in the high-end segment.
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