When you have a memory card full of images to transfer to your computer, a card reader is the best, and quickest, way to get them from A to B. The memory card reader is a useful device that connects to the computer's USB port, allowing images, music or video files to be uploaded from, without the need for the camera to be connected to the computer. The latest card readers now also support USB 3.0, as do the latest memory cards, making image transfer quicker as well. Some computers do have built-in memory card readers but generally, they only support one type of card and they can be slower at reading data. Using a memory card reader to move images to your computer will also be quicker than plugging your camera directly into it if your camera isn't compatible with USB 3.0. You obviously don't want to be waiting for hours on end for images to be transferred so speed is important.
Obviously, the faster the memory card reader is at transferring data, the quicker images will be moved from the to your computer which means you'll be editing photos or to grandparents sooner. As well as speed, you want the device to be straightforward to use and multiple card slots are useful as you won't need multiple cables and individual devices for reading different cards. Price is another important consideration as is build quality and size could be something you want to look at should you want to take the reader with you on assignment or if storage space is something you're lacking. Warranties tend to differ, too, so this is always worth checking out before you part with your cash. You shouldn't overlook purchasing a memory card reader that has slots for your camera isn't compatible with either as many other devices will use, such as, which you may want to transfer data from.
To check the latest prices, you can click the green 'buy on Amazon' buttons. It doesn't cost you anything extra when you press our Amazon buttons but by using our Amazon Affiliate links when ordering anything online, you are supporting the site - thank you. If you're not in the UK, clicking on the 'Buy on Amazon USA' button will redirect you to the relevant country site. Quick List Of The Benefits Of A Card Reader:. Convenience - No more reaching behind your computer to fiddle with cables. Speed - With USB 3.0 types, high transfer speeds can be achieved. Compatibility - Most cameras only take one kind of card, some readers can take all different types of memory card. Power - Using a card reader saves your camera's battery Different Types Of Card Readers Available With such a wide range of card readers available, it can be confusing deciding which to buy.
The main types are outlined below. Single Card Readers - These are the most basic of all, allowing you only to use one type of card in them. They are fine if you can never imagine needing to read any other type of card.
Multi-Card Readers - As they can read many types of memory card, these can be very convenient. If you don't think you'll use any more than two of the card types offered by the reader, though, try to find a dual reader and save some money. High-Speed Readers - With the files digital cameras produce becoming larger and larger, the time taken to transfer images to your PC is increasing. If your computer has a USB 3.0 port, there are card readers that will take advantage of the extra speed these connections allow and are particularly effective with fast memory cards, such as Class 10 SDHC. Compact Readers - If you travel a lot and need a reader to take with you, these offer the perfect solution. Though on a normal desktop computer they aren't as convenient as the other readers mentioned. Top-Selling Memory Card Readers To help you out a little further, we've listed some of the best-selling memory card readers currently available.
These are some of the best memory card readers available. Note that a majority of these card readers are sp. Note that a majority of these card readers are specifically for SD and/or CF cards, but there are a few that take several types of cards in addition. Mac OS X 10.2.8 or later; Linux Kernel 2.6.30 or later (USB 2.0 only) The. In fact, I've chosen to use a good USB2 card reader for the SD cards in my 1Ds Mark II at work, but I rarely actually use them because the fast CF card reader is so much better - especially with a Mac Pro. Compact Flash Card Reader for iPad Pro. Discussion in 'iPad Accessories' started by sfnorton7, Jul 27, 2017. Something to consider: I have an older camera that also uses CF. I switched to using an SD card to compact flash adapter like this. Use iPad Pro as Your Mac Mini Display With Luna Display!
They all have different plus points so do consider which type of reader suits your needs before making your purchase. Anker USB 3.0 Card Reader This is the number 1 best-selling memory card reader over on Amazon UK and it's got plenty of tick boxes against its name. For speed, it's USB 3.0 enabled which means transfer speeds sit in the region of 5GB per second (when used with high-speed memory cards such as Class 10 SDHC) but if your computer doesn't support USB 3.0, the card reader is also backward compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1. Another plus point is that this is an 8-in-1 reader which means it's compatible with SDXC, SDHC, SD, MMC, RS-MMC, Micro SDXC, Micro SD and Micro SDHC Cards. It also supports UHS-I cards and another bonus of having multiple card slots is that you can simultaneously read and write on two cards to save yourself the effort of constant unplugging and re-plugging. No drivers are required if you have Windows 8 / 7 / Vista or Mac OS X 10.2 and above and the Anker memory card reader comes with an 18-month warranty.
Anker USB 3.0 Card Reader Overview:. USB 3.0. 8-in-1 card reader. Simultaneously read and write on two cards.
18-month warranty. Under £10 KiWiBiRD USB 3.0 Super-Speed Card Reader At £5.99, this is another reasonably priced memory card reader that also offers USB 3.0 and support for 8 memory card types (SDXC, SD, MMC, RS-MMC, SDHC, Micro SD, Micro SDXC and Micro SDHC.) It also supports next-gen UHS-I cards and is backwards compatible with USB 2.0.
Card Reader For A Mac
There are 2 memory card slots built in so you can read/write on SD and Micro SD cards at the same time and there's an LED indicator that shows data transfer activity. No software is needed, you just plug and play and it is compatible with PC, Mac, and Smart TVs. The size is worth mentioning as it shares similar dimensions to a USB stick which makes it very portable.
You also get a choice of colours: pink and black should you be picky about the colour of your memory card reader. An 18-month warranty is offered along with 24/7 email support. KiWiBiRD USB 3.0 Super-Speed Card Reader Overview:. USB 3.0. 8-in-1 card reader.
Simultaneously read and write on on SD and Micro SD. 18-month warranty & 24/7 email support. Under £10 WECODO Memory Card Reader With 2-In-1 Connector This is a 2-in-1 reader that fits Apple as well as Android devices. One side of the connector is for Android Micro USB and the other side fits iPhones and iPads. The device is compatible with SD cards only, however, you can use a MicroSD adapter to read MicroSDs (one is actually supplied with the device). JPEG and RAW files along with H.264 and MPEG-4 video formats can be read at speeds of 14-16MBs per second but card sizes must be 64MB and under to be compatible.
To use the reader with an iPhone or iPad, IOS 9.2 or up must be installed and for Android users, 4.2 or up must be installed on your device. As it's small, it's definitely worth having it in your camera bag for times when you want to free up SD card space on the move. WECODO Memory Card Reader With 2-In-1 Connector Overview:.
Compatible with Android and iOS. Reads SD cards. MicroSD card adapter supplied. No notes on warranty offered. Under £15 Rocketek Mini USB 3.0 Memory Card Reader This tiny USB memory card reader features 2 slots and supports a variety of formats including SD, SDXC, SD-HC, MMC, TF, Micro SD, Micro SDXC, Micro SDHC and Mini SD - UHS-I. It's compatible with USB 3.0 so transfer speeds are quicker when used with compatible memory cards and it's also backward compatible with 2.0 and 1.1.
No external power is needed, simply plug and play, and an LED indicator tells you the status of the device so you don't accidentally unplug it when it's in the middle of reading or writing. The Rocketek memory card reader is compatible with Windows 2000/ME/XP/Vista/7/8(32bit/64bit) and MAC OS 10.X or above version. It also comes with free lifetime technical support and 24-month manufacturer's warranty. Rocketek Mini USB 3.0 Memory Card Reader Overview:. Compatible with various card formats. USB 3.0. Two card slots - SD and MicroSD.
Free lifetime technical support and 24-month manufacturer's warranty. Under £10 EC Technology SD Card Reader Designed with 3 card slots, this memory card reader can read and transfer data from / to Micro SD, SD and CF 3 memory cards simultaneously.
It uses the USB 3.0 interface which makes transfer speeds, potentially, 9 times faster than USB 2.0 and it's compatible with microSD/microSDHC/T-Flash, SD/SDHC, mini SD, MMC, MMC Plus, RS-MMC, MMC Mobile, MS, MS Pro, MS Duo and MS Pro Duo. The 20cm data cable will make the reader to access, even when plugged into the back of a PC tower, and the aluminium alloy cover makes it durable. If you need a longer data cable, you can pay an extra pound and you can receive a card reader with a 120cm data cable. Available in rose gold or space grey.
EC Technology SD Card Reader Overview:. Compatible with various card formats. USB 3.0. Three card slots - SD and MicroSD. No warranty mention.
Just under £10 Kingston MobileLite G4 USB 3.0 Multi Card Reader This card reader from Kingston is USB 3.0 compliant so it can be quick in use and it supports SD, SDHC, SDXC, MicroSD, MicroSDHC and MicroSDXC card types. UHS-I and UHS-II card standards are compatible with this reader and those who can't use USB 3.0 have the option to transfer data via USB 2.0. There is only one card slot but it is compact, making it perfect for travel. The drive, which comes in a black and grey colour theme, has a 2-year warranty and free technical support is also offered. Kingston MobileLite G4 USB 3.0 Multi Card Reader Overview:. Compatible with SD, SDHC, SDXC, MicroSD, MicroSDHC and MicroSDXC. USB 3.0.
1 card slot. 2-year warranty and free technical support.
Under £10 Silicon-Power All-in-One USB 3 Multi-Card Reader The Silcon-Power supports USB 3.0 as well as USB 2.0 and is compatible with the following memory cards: SDHC UHS-I, SDXC UHS-I, UDMA6/UDMA7 CF, MS Pro, XD, M2, MicroSD/SDHC/SDXC. An LED indicator shows card insertion as well as data transfer activity and there are 5 slots featured on the device. Silicon-Power All-in-One USB 3 Multi-Card Overview. Supports multiple memory cards. USB 3.0. 5 card slots. Comes with USB3 cable.
Just over £14 Transcend All-in-1 Multi-Card Reader Transcend are a very reliable name in the digital storage device industry and their supports USB 3.0 as well as USB 2.0 and is compatible with the following memory cards: SDHC UHS-I, SDXC UHS-I, UDMA6/UDMA7 CF and MSXC. An LED indicator shows card insertion as well as data transfer activity and there are 3 slots featured on the device.
The reader comes with a 2-year warranty also offer a free download of their RecoveRx recovery software. Transcend All-in-1 Multi-Card Reader Overview:. Compatible with various memory cards. USB 3.0. 3 card slots. 2-year warranty.
Just over £10 Lexar Professional USB 3.0 Dual Slot Reader Compatible with SD and UDMA memory cards, this reader from Lexar features dual slots and supports USB 3.0. CompactFlash as well SD UHS-I and UHS-II card formats can be read by this device and the pop-up design protects the card slots when it's not in use. The reader is also compatible with standard CF, SD cards and USB 2.0. Concurrent and card-to-card file transfers are also possible. The device is compact so it won't take up too much room and it comes with a five-year warranty which is longer than they warranties for the devices listed so far.
Lexar Professional USB 3.0 Dual Slot Reader Overview:. Compatible with various memory cards. USB 3.0. 2 card slots.
5-year warranty. Just under £30 eSecure High-Speed USB Card Reader The first thing that stands out about this card reader is the price as it's cheap as chips.
At £3.99, it's a bit of a bargain and it's compatible with over 150 different memory cards that are up to 8GB in size. It only uses USB 2.0 so it won't be as quick at transferring data as some of the other devices mentioned but as it's less than £4, you may forgive the slower speeds. Both Windows and Mac owners can use the card reader but there's no mention of a warranty. ESecure High-Speed USB Card Reader Overview:. Compatible with various memory cards.
USB 2.0. 6 card slots. No warranty mentioned. Under £4 Popamazing Portable USB 2.0 Memory Card Reader As you can see from its name, this memory card reader isn't USB 3.0 compatible but it may still be handy for those who aren't using ultra-fast memory cards as of yet. It reads and writes both SD/SDHC and Micro SD/SDHC memory cards but doesn't offer the compatibility levels of some of the memory card readers already mentioned. It's compatible with Windows Vista, Linux, 2000, XP & Windows 7 and Apple Mac and is compact in size which makes it handy for travel. This portable drive is easy to use and still offers a fast and easy way to transfer files between your digital camera/mobile phone and your PC, it's just a little slower than USB 3.0 compatible flash drives.
Popamazing Portable USB 2.0 Memory Card Reader Overview:. USB 2.0. SD/SDHC & MicroSD / SDHC compatible. No warranty mentioned. Under £10 SanDisk Extreme PRO SD UHS-II USB-C Card Reader/Writer A super-fast SD card reader with a USB-C connector that works with UHS-II cards and is backwards-compatible with other SD cards. It features a flexible design that won’t block your other ports and delivers simple plug-and-play functionality.
SanDisk Extreme PRO SD UHS-II USB-C Card Reader/Writer Overview:. USB 2.0. 8-in-1 card reader. A super-fast SD card reader with a USB-C connector.
Backwards-compatible with other SD cards. Under £17.99 Nobebird Memory Card Adapter This memory card adapter can read memory cards up to 128GB but it isn't USB 3.0 compatible. However, it may still be handy for those who aren't using ultra-fast memory cards as of yet. It can read a variety of memory card types and is compact so is ideal for travel, too. Nobebird Memory Card Adapter Overview:.
USB 2.0. Compatible with a variety of memory cards. Supports memory cards up to 128GB. Portable.
Under $7.00 Want to know more? The only trouble I have ever had withi bCF/b/i card readers is the design & degree of tight spec that they are manufactured to. I am pretty cautious in the way I insert cards never using force.
By definition the longer the channel before the card engages the pins the less likely is it to be off center with the possibility of bending the pins.Over the years It has happened three times that there has been a slight miss-alignment thereby ruining the reader. The last time I bought a card I searched and found only one card reader which answered the problem a buiDelkin /i/u/bDual card reader - the CF card virtually disappears before engaging the pins the long slot is well engineered and holds the card true and ibSTRAIGHT/b/i Not one of the reviews I have read on various cards has ever mention the problem of bending pins and the solution!
Daft I call it! The only trouble I have ever had with CF card readers is the design & degree of tight spec that they are manufactured to.
I am pretty cautious in the way I insert cards never using force. By definition the longer the channel before the card engages the pins the less likely is it to be off center with the possibility of bending the pins.Over the years It has happened three times that there has been a slight miss-alignment thereby ruining the reader. The last time I bought a card I searched and found only one card reader which answered the problem a Delkin Dual card reader - the CF card virtually disappears before engaging the pins the long slot is well engineered and holds the card true and STRAIGHT Not one of the reviews I have read on various cards has ever mention the problem of bending pins and the solution! Daft I call it!
Show More The lack of an SD card slot on the 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro is an inconvenience for photographers of all stripes who shoot with cameras other than the iPhone. The answer—as with everything else that needs to connect to the USB-C–only MacBook Pro—is an external USB-C SD card reader. But which one? As you would expect, third parties have rushed to create adapters for everything, including memory card readers.
And to no one’s surprise, the quality, specifications, and prices are all over the map. We tested five adapters that stood out among the field based on online reviews, word of mouth, and design. All of the adapters read and write to SD cards, and we tested one model that also accepts larger CompactFlash (CF) cards still used by some high-end cameras. Choosing which reader is best for you depends a lot on what you need and how much you’re willing to spend. For most people, that could turn out to be one of the least expensive of the bunch. Before you view the picks, you may want to consult our to understand the stew of acronyms and jargon the industry uses to describe memory card storage and speed.
Best card reader for speed Click the product name to read the full review. The is pricey ($49 on, and unlike the other adapters we tested, it has just a single SD card slot—no microSD, CF, or USB-A ports to extend its versatility. But it’s fast. On one hand, the speed is due to its UHS-II compatibility, transferring up to a theoretical 312 MBps from UHS-II memory cards that include a second row of contacts from which to read data. In our real-world tests, we recorded an average throughput of 195.45 MBps for photos and 267.67 MBps for video; the latter’s increase is due to the reduced amount of overhead needed to copy 9 files versus 684 files. That said, even when copying from more common UHS-I cards, which top out at a theoretical speed of 104 MBps, the SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II USB-C Reader bested the other adapters we tested.
It copied our suite of photos at a rate of 86.68 MBps and video at 101 MBps. We also liked the fairly compact design, with its bendy neck and minimal footprint, although the angle of the case where you insert the SD card makes extracting a card less elegant than needed. But if you’re shooting with a camera that works with UHS-II cards and you need the fastest copy turnaround, the cost is worth it.
Best value for UHS-II cards Mentioned in this article. If you’re willing to give up a few seconds and don’t want to pay a premium for speed, the is nearly as fast as the SanDisk Extreme Pro when copying from UHS-II cards and costs just $17. In our testing, we found an average throughput of 179.36 MBps for photos and 221.89 MBps when transferring video files. The Verbatim reader is a little more bulky, and sports a short cable for the USB-C plug, but it also features slots for SD and Micro SD cards. Best combination of price and performance Click the product name to read the full review. What if, like most current photographers, you’re not yet capturing to UHS-II cards?
For an adapter that has a great combination of price and perforamnce, we like the Cable Matters USB 3.1 Type-C Dual Slot Card Reader ($12 on ). We expected to run into tradeoffs at this price, but the Cable Matters adapter was almost as fast as the SanDisk adapter. Our photos transferred at 82.17 MBps, while videos zipped along at 95.6 MBps.
The adapter has dedicated SD and microSD card slots that can be used simultaneously, and a discrete LED to indicate the adapter is getting power. With dimensions of just 2.8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches and a 6-inch cable, it doesn’t add bulk to any bag. If you don’t need UHS-II compatibility, the Cable Matters USB 3.1 Type-C Dual Slot Card Reader is the one to get. Other readers we tested For CompactFlash cards, we tested the ($19.99 MSRP; $16 on ), a card reader with slots for SD, microSD, and CF. Speeds were perfectly acceptable: a rate of 77.25 MBps for our photos test and 89.47 MBps for the videos coming from the SD card, and 87.5 MBps for photos and a surprising 121.7 MBps for videos coming from our test CF card.
We weren’t fans of the bulky design, and found that we weren’t able to read more than one inserted card at a time; for instance, inserting an SD card and then mounting a CF card would force-eject both cards from the Mac. We also tested the HooToo Shuttle 3 Port USB Type C hub ($60; available on ), a mini hub that includes an SD card reader. It’s not exactly in the same class as the others, since it adds three USB 3.0 Type A ports, an HDMI port, and a power input port for pass-along charging. But photographers looking to reduce the number of USB-C adapters will find it to be perfectly respectable for SD card transfers, with throughput of 76.33 MBps for photos and 84.97 MBps for videos. In an effort to find the smallest card reader for people with limited space, we tested the ($24.99 MSRP; $15 on ). It was the slowest device we tested, but still comparable to the others, copying photos at 74.1 MBps and videos at 87 MBps.
It was the smallest and most compact option, but still not enough to sway us away from the Cable Matters adapter. To read the full reviews of each product we tested, scroll to the (or click that link).
Click the product name, and then click the “Read the full review” link that appears. How we tested We copied two sets of photos and videos from a SanDisk Extreme Pro SDXC card rated at 95 megabytes per second (MBps). For photos, we timed three transfers of 12.9GB of JPEG and raw images (684 files) and averaged the results. For video transfer, we copied 31GB (9 files) from the same card. We also copied the same files using a SanDisk Extreme Pro SDHC UHS-II card rated at 280 MBps to test the difference that UHS II compatibility affords.
And for the CF reader, we used a SanDisk Extreme CF card rated at 120 MBps (UDMA 7) to copy 7.7GB of JPEGS (402 files), since that card’s capacity maxed out at 16GB. IDG Megabytes per second (MBps). Longer bars/larger numbers are faster.
Click to enlarge. All of the testing was done on a 2016 MacBook Pro with TouchBar equipped with a 2.7GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.
We used the Image Capture utility to facilitate the transfer of photos, and copied the video files using the Finder. Bottom line If you really need the top speeds afforded by UHS-II cards and devices that read them, we recommend the SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II USB-C Reader. For everyone else, however, our favorite USB-C memory card reader is the Cable Matters USB 3.1 Type-C Dual Slot Card Reader. It’s fast, small, and inexpensive—the attributes you want so you can spend your time and money on capturing photos. To read the full reviews of each product we tested, click the product name in the list below, and then click the “Read the full review” link that appears.