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The best Android phones with expandable memory

Internal storage is simply not enough for some users.
By
February 10, 2024
Sony Xperia 1 V
MSRP: $1,399.99
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Positives
Excellent battery life
Great build
Improved cameras
Solid performance
Price cut over previous gen
Negatives
No update commitment
Older display tech
Mediocre charging
Still expensive
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
MSRP: $449.99
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Positives
Galaxy S23-inspired design
Color-rich, fluid display
Strong primary camera
Solid everyday performance
Good battery life
Excellent update commitment
Negatives
Prone to extreme camera saturation
Cheap plastic frame
No wireless charging
No 4K/60fps video
Motorola Moto G 5G (2023)
MSRP: $249.00
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Positives
Crisp 120Hz refresh rate
Solid main camera
Great battery life
Loud stereo speakers
Significant price drop
Negatives
Weak update commitment
Limited camera flexibility
Poor video settings
Only HD+ display
No NFC
Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
MSRP: $299.99
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Positives
Excellent stereo speakers
Class-leading software commitment
Solid primary camera
Sharp 120Hz display
Negatives
Plastic build feels cheap
Inconsistent fingerprint reader
Low-res macro camera
No water or dust rating
Samsung Galaxy A15
MSRP: $200.00
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Positives
Vibrant display
IP67 water resistance
Decent battery life
Comfortable size
Stylish purple color
Negatives
Slow power-on time
Inaccurate swipe texting
No telephoto lens
Slightly oversaturated images
Sony Xperia 10 V
MSRP: €449.00
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Positives
Affordable for Sony phones
Good specs
Nice display
Large 5,000mAh battery
Good camera capabilities
Negatives
Not officially available in the USA
Still pricier than comparable phones

A few years ago, high-end phones with expandable memory started becoming a dying breed. However, the feature is still around, even if it’s not as universal as it once was. Many great phones still include a microSD card slot, allowing you to expand your phone’s storage. Here are the best ones you should know about.

The best phones with expandable memory

Editor’s note: As new devices launch, we will regularly update this list of the best phones with expandable memory.


Sony Xperia 1 V

Sony Xperia 1 V back angled
Harley Maranan / Android Authority

Those looking for a high-end Android phone with expandable memory will have very few choices, and this is the best one you can find right now. You better be ready to pay a hefty price for the Sony Xperia 1 V, too. The price starts at $1,400.

This is a fantastic handset if you can get past the high price tag. For starters, it is one of the very few phones with a 4K display. It has an OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, too. If you care for battery life, this phone also excels at it. We were able to make the phone last for up to two days with light use. That time got reduced to about a full day with heavy usage.

Of course, performance is nothing to scoff at, as it comes with a high-end processor and plenty of RAM. Not to mention, the cameras are outstanding, especially if you want to use your smartphone for video.

However, if you feel like the Xperia 1 V is a bit too expensive, the Xperia 5 V ($799.94 at Amazon) might be more to your liking. It’s still not cheap at €1,000, and it’s not officially available in the USA. Still, it is a very capable device with very few sacrifices compared to the 1 V. Here’s our Sony Xperia 5 V review if you want to learn more about it.

Sony Xperia 1 VSony Xperia 1 V
AA Recommended
Sony Xperia 1 V
Excellent battery life • Great build • Improved cameras
MSRP: $1,399.99
A classic, refined.
Sony continues to deliver powerful portable cameras that also happen to be smartphones. The Xperia 1 V rocks top hardware, powerful cameras, and the ability to connect to Sony DSLR cameras to enhance your shooting experience.

Xperia 1 V specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch 4K
  • SoC: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Storage: 256/512GB
  • Cameras: 48, 12, and 12MP
  • Front camera: 12MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 12

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G homescreen - Phones with expandable memory
Robert Triggs / Android Authority

Samsung is becoming a solid contender in the mid-tier market, offering devices with features you would otherwise only find in expensive devices. The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G has a 120Hz display, a pretty good Exynos 1380 processor, plenty of RAM/storage, and a nice 5,000mAh battery.

The design is pretty nice, too, as it looks very much like the Galaxy S23 series. Of course, this is a more affordable device with a $450 price point, so the construction isn’t as good. It also lacks wireless charging. Otherwise, we liked the primary camera, and it has a really good battery life. Not to mention the update commitment, which consists of four years of Android versions, along with five years of security updates.

This is definitely one of the best phones with expandable memory if you are looking for optimal bang per buck.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5GSamsung Galaxy A54 5G
AA Recommended
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Galaxy S23-inspired design • Color-rich, fluid display • Excellent update commitment
MSRP: $449.99
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G packs a Galaxy S23-like experience into an affordable shell
The Galaxy A54 5G bridges the gap between Samsung's mid-range phones to its flagships. It rocks a premium design with a flexible camera setup and one of the best software commitments in the Android game, all while hanging onto its affordable $449 price tag for yet another generation.

Galaxy A54 5G specs:

  • Display: 6.4-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Exynos 1380
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 50, 12, and 5MP
  • Front camera: 32MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 13

Motorola Moto G 5G (2023)

motorola moto g 5g 2023 flat hero - Budget camera phones
Ryan Haines / Android Authority

Now, if you really want to save, and still want one of the best phones with expandable storage, you can’t ignore the Motorola Moto G 5G (2023). It has a low $250 price, and it isn’t half bad for that price.

Performance won’t be amazing, but the Snapdragon 480 Plus and 4GB of RAM are sufficient for casual usage. Not to mention, the less resource-intensive components make for great battery life. Combined with a sizeable 5,000mAh battery, we were able to reach two days of juice on a single charge easily.

The display is pretty nice for what you pay, too. It may only have a 720p panel, but mixed with a 120Hz refresh rate, it looks and feels pretty nice. Not to mention you will also enjoy the loud stereo speakers. Overall, this is one of the best phones with expandable storage on a budget.

If you want a slight upgrade, you should also take a look at the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G 2023 ($299 at Amazon). The only reason we didn’t add it here is because it costs more. At $400, we don’t feel it adds much more value to the equation, dollar per dollar. It’s still a great device, though, and you get the added benefit of an included stylus.

Motorola Moto G 5G (2023)Motorola Moto G 5G (2023)
Motorola Moto G 5G (2023)
Crisp 120Hz refresh rate • Great battery life • Significant price drop
MSRP: $249.00
Moto G for less.
The Motorola Moto G 5G (2023) delivers a $150 price cut that brings new value to the budget device. With near-stock Android, a solid primary camera, and two-day battery life, the Moto G 5G (2023) is easy to recommend as a starter smartphone.

Moto G 5G (2023) specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 480 Plus
  • RAM: 4GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Cameras: 48 and 2MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 13

Samsung Galaxy A25 5G

Samsung Galaxy A25 stock photo front and back

If you like Samsung phones, but feel like they can be a bit too pricey, the company also makes some great budget devices. The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G only costs $300.

It’s not a bad phone for the price, either. Specs include an Exynos 1280 processor, 6-8GB of RAM, a 5,000mAh battery, and a 6.5-inch 120Hz screen with a Full HD+ resolution.

Samsung Galaxy A25 5GSamsung Galaxy A25 5G
Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
Excellent stereo speakers • Class-leading software commitment • Sharp 120Hz display
MSRP: $299.99
Good budget buy.
The Galaxy A25 5G sits right in the middle of Samsung's budget-friendly A series, replacing a Galaxy A24 that never made its way to the United States. It offers a smooth, 6.5-inch AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate, an in-house Exynos 1280 chipset, and a triple camera system captained by a 50MP primary sensor. Oh, and it still has a headphone jack!
See price at Amazon
Samsung Galaxy A25

Galaxy A25 5G specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Exynos 1280
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 50, 8, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 13MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 14

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G

Samsung Galaxy A15 5G

Now, if you really want to save, Samsung also offers the Galaxy A15 5G for just $200. It comes with 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 it comes with a microSD card slot. And it’s definitely one of the most affordable phones that’s still worth your cash.

Samsung Galaxy A15Samsung Galaxy A15
Samsung Galaxy A15
Vibrant display • IP67 water resistance • Decent battery life
MSRP: $200.00

Galaxy A15 5G specs:

  • Display: 6.5-inch, FHD+
  • SoC: MediaTek Dimensity 6100+
  • RAM: 4/6/8GB
  • Storage: 128/256GB
  • Cameras: 50, 5, and 2MP
  • Front camera: 13MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 14

Sony Xperia 10 V

Sony Xperia 10 V - Phones with expandable memory

We were about to leave the Sony Xperia 10 V out of this list because it isn’t available in the USA. We know plenty of you are in other markets, though. And since our choices of phones with expandable memory are getting very limited, this phone is still a good option.

Sony devices tend to be very expensive, but the Xperia 10 V starts at €449 in Europe, and you can usually find it imported in the USA for about $400. It isn’t as nicely built and premium as other Sony handsets, but you get a nice phone for that money.

The Snapdragon 695 and 6-8GB of RAM should be enough for most casual users. The cameras are pretty good, a 5,000mAh battery provides plenty of juice, and it still has an excellent OLED display.

Sony Xperia 10 VSony Xperia 10 V
Sony Xperia 10 V
MSRP: €449.00

Xperia 10 V specs:

  • Display: 6.1-inch, Full HD+
  • SoC: Snapdragon 695
  • RAM: 6/8GB
  • Storage: 128GB
  • Cameras: 48, 8, and 8MP
  • Front camera: 8MP
  • Battery: 5,000mAh
  • Software: Android 13

If you got one of the best phones with expandable storage, you now need to buy one of the best microSD cards. Are you still not convinced by these options? The good news is that many phones come with lots of storage options. It would help if you also learned how to make the most out of the memory you already have.