Finding Android phones in 2026 that still give you a microSD card slot is getting harder, even for power users who care about local storage. Yet a handful of manufacturers continue to support expandable memory for people who want to carry 4K video libraries, lossless music, or offline maps without paying steep premiums for internal storage. I look at five specific models that keep the slot alive and explain why each one still matters.
Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025)
The Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025) is one of the clearest examples that midrange Android hardware can still pair solid specs with a microSD slot. As Feb Android fans are reminded, this phone targets people who want expandable storage alongside a big display and a 32MP selfie camera. That combination makes it appealing for social media creators who shoot a lot of vertical video and need cheap, swappable cards instead of constantly juggling cloud uploads.
Another report singles out the Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025) as a go to choice for anyone who explicitly wants an Android phone with expandable storage, stressing that The Moto caters to users who store apps, games, and media locally. For buyers, that means they can start with a modest internal configuration and then plug in a large microSD card instead of paying more upfront for storage they might not immediately use.
Sony Xperia 1 VI
The Premium Choice for expandable storage in 2026 is the Sony Xperia 1 VI, which combines a flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with a microSDXC slot. A detailed guide on the cost efficiency of microSD highlights how adding 512GB via card is far cheaper than jumping to a higher internal tier, and the Xperia line is cited as supporting up to 1.5TB. That capacity puts it in rare company for anyone archiving 4K or even 8K footage on device.
Another overview of expandable storage phones describes how The Premium Choice Sony Xperia 1 VI keeps the microSD slot even as many rivals drop it, reinforcing that Sony still treats creators as a priority. By pairing Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 performance with a card slot, the phone lets photographers and filmmakers offload huge projects onto microSD while keeping internal storage free for apps and system files, which is a practical advantage for professionals.
Samsung Galaxy A26 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A26 5G appears in comparisons that look at this model versus Other Phones with Expandable Storage 2026, which confirms that Samsung still offers a microSD slot in at least part of its lineup. A guide that contrasts Samsung Galaxy devices with Other Phones focused on Expandable Storage and even abbreviates the category as Expandable St, underscoring that this feature is central to the discussion. For budget conscious buyers, that means the A26 5G can act as a flexible media hub.
Because the Samsung Galaxy A26 5G targets users who want 5G connectivity and expandable memory in one package, it stands out in a segment where many brands lock storage at 128GB or 256GB. For families sharing one device or students who rely on offline video lectures, the ability to rotate microSD cards keeps the phone usable for years, instead of forcing an early upgrade when space runs out.
moto g (2026) PANTONE Slipstream
The 2026 moto g in the PANTONE Slipstream finish is another reminder that Motorola still sees value in expandable storage on affordable Android phones. Product material highlights how users can “Do more, faster” with 5G speed, RAM, Boost, and a powerful processor so everything from downloads to multitasking feels effortless, and that performance profile pairs naturally with a microSD slot for storing large apps and downloads. A listing that calls out RAM Boost shows the device is tuned for heavy multitaskers who also tend to fill storage quickly.
For people who stream and cache media in apps like Spotify, Netflix, and Pocket Casts, the combination of 5G and expandable storage means the moto g can double as a portable entertainment drive. I see this as especially useful for travelers who want offline playlists and downloaded shows on a card they can move between phone and tablet, keeping internal storage focused on the operating system and everyday apps.
Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025) carrier variant
A separate look at the same Motorola Moto G Stylus (2025) notes that some configurations ship with 128GB of internal storage, which can feel tight once you add games and high resolution photos. That review points out that 128GB might not be enough for some people, then immediately highlights the microSD slot as the fix, explaining that 128GB might not sufficient even though you still get solid mid level specs on this device. In other words, the slot is not a bonus, it is essential.
That same logic appears in broader rundowns of the best phones with expandable storage, where guides on Privacy Keep and physical control of your data argue that microSD cards let you move sensitive files offline. For carrier locked versions of the Moto G Stylus (2025), the card slot lets users separate work documents, travel photos, or encrypted backups onto removable media, which can then be stored or destroyed independently of the phone itself.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
