Also, just because a card reader is small and compact doesn't mean it offers you access to all of your computer's ports.Engineered to deliver fast data transfer speeds, the RDF5 card reader features a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface and support for both SDHC/SDXC and microSDHC/SDXC cards. Cables can be easily misplaced, which can later cause a headache. Removable cables are nice, but if you're always on the go, consider a card reader with one that's permanently attached. The fewer the slots, the smaller the reader, which bodes well if you want to keep things light. CF cards are bigger than SD cards and thus require more housing. Skip the CF reader if you don't have an older DSLR, for instance, as it will likely also save you some room. You don't have to buy the card reader with all the slots. USB 3.0 card readers are also backward compatible, so they're worth checking out even if you have an older computer. Here are the best SD card readers we tested, in order:Ī USB-C connector on the left is becoming more common than the more traditional USB 3.0 connector on the right.ĭon't bother with USB 2.0 card readers, as they're generally considered an outdated standard and are much slower than what's out now. The Unitek is a worthy card reader for anyone who needs to get their data off of a memory card. Not only did it hail some of the fastest write speeds from the batch of readers we tested, but it also offers a multitude of connection options. The latter is a type of connection standard that's become more widely used, and many Apple laptops, Chromebooks, and Ultrabooks only come with this kind of port.Īfter calculating speed times for eight of the best SD card readers on the market, we discovered our favorite is the Unitek Y-9324BGY ( available at Amazon). To find the best SD reader for your machine, we tested those that connect either via USB or by way of USB Type-C. They don't just read SD cards some can read microSD cards, CompactFlash (CF) cards, and even Sony’s Memory Stick Pro Duo. And the best way to do that-if you don't already have a card reader embedded into your computer or laptop-is to buy one that connects externally.Ĭard readers come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with all types of connectors.

Have your SD cards been filling up and collecting over the years? If so, you'll eventually want to offload those photos and files.

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