SanDisk SD UHS-I Card Reader, Black

Product Information

Many card readers now connect to your computer using a USB-C plug, but adapters are readily available to convert to normal USB.

CFexpress card readers aren’t all that common, or in this case, cheap. Doubly frustrating, as Sony doesn't even include an SD slot to at least give you a little extra versatility (XQD compatibility is included, though that's due to XQD cards being physically interchangeable with CFexpress Type B). UHS-II SD cards are faster, and all the readers here are compatible. UHS-I card readers will read UHS-II cards, just slower.This card reader sports the classic combo of SD and CompactFlash slots, both being the fastest of their type - UHS-II, and UDMA 7. You can use both simultaneously, and the case’s design means a card of each type can be stored inside the reader, protected by a hinged rubber door that closes around them. Speed wise, we could only extract a max video read speed of 223MB/s and 198MB/s write rate from our UHS-II SD card - not awful, but some way shot of some other readers we've tested. Image transfer performance is worse still, with 152MB/s read and 98MB/s write speeds being slower than average. While you may think of SD cards in their traditional format, there are also a number of variations that the bog-standard SD card readers may not take. Usually, you’re looking for the option to slot in the standard SD card as well as the micro SD variant due to being the most commonly used. However, you may also want functionality for TF cards and CF cards so having a device that does it all could be the way to go Portability Looking at the design, we can see that it is compact with dimensions of 55mm(L) X 68mm(W) X 15mm(H) therefore allowing you to carry it around without any worries. However, what it does come with is a pesky cable, slightly frustrating as most compact SD card readers have the USB plug built into the body of the device. On the other hand though, a cable could be handy if you want the SD card reader on your desk rather than plugged directly into your machine for ease of access, especially if you’re interchanging your cards.

On top of that, it uses a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C interface. And it comes with both USB Type-C and USB Type-A connectors. They work together to deliver astonishing data transfer speeds of up to 1250 Mbps.

In the past, most computers had built-in SD card readers. But now, it’s increasingly common (especially in laptops) to omit them. Because of this, we have seen a rise in the popularity of portable card readers. And mobile memory card readers are usually much faster than built-in ones.

Lexar, usually known for their printing devices, also produces a number of memory card related devices that are stellar both in build quality and functionality. The Lexar Professional SD card reader details two slots for a standard SD card and CF memory cards, a little different than the rest of our selections, especially as it doesn’t include that micro SD functionality. The biggest departure from the rest of the SD card readers we’ve shown up to now is the design. The Lexar variant sports a popup-like design for hiding those slots away when not in use, potentially helping them avoid the dust that will surely accumulate over time. This and the design as a whole makes it slightly more cumbersome than a lot of SD card readers but not hugely affecting its portability. On the other hand, it does use a USB cable for connecting it to your machine, again, with pros and cons depending on your setup and how much you’re using it on the go. If you buy a product through one of our referral links we will earn a commission (without costing you anything).

Things To Consider

At least the USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) interface is speedy, equating to a maximum transfer speed of 1250 megabytes per second. However, even this is still some way short of the 1700+MB/s read speed that the best CFexpress cards can manage. even this can't let the fastest CFexpress Type B cards run at max speed. 5 things to look for in a card reader Everyone will free up valuable extra time by using this card reader. But it is particularly helpful for travel, event, sports, and outdoor photographers. The experts at ProGrade made this camera card reader portable and durable. Its rugged body is extra tough. And thanks to the metal mounting plate, it can be attached to a laptop or a cinema camera.