Without a doubt, the Mac is one of the star devices of the Cupertino company since it has served many professionals to be the main work tool to carry out all their activities. However, on many occasions, it is necessary to accompany it with certain accessories that are practically essential. Therefore, today we bring you a compilation of the best SD card readers that you can find for your Apple computer.
Important points when choosing an SD card reader
When choosing an SD card reader you have to take into account a series of very important points that will mark the user experience you get when it comes to transferring the files from these cards to your computer or even working directly with them. files located on the SD card. Below we list what those factors are.
- The capacity allowed by the card reader is key, especially for those professionals who work with large amounts of files that, obviously, take up a lot of space.
- The data transfer speed is undoubtedly one of the most important points since usually what a user needs is that the files on the SD card are transferred as quickly as possible to the new location. More important is if the user is working with these files directly located on the SD card.
- Please note the port of your computer . The USB-C port is gaining more and more prominence and many manufacturers are already opting to manufacture card readers with this port, however, there are many users who still work with computers that only have traditional USB3.0 ports. Therefore, when choosing the card reader, opt for an option that is compatible with your equipment.
- ** The type of card ** is also very important when buying a card reader. Make sure the card you are going to use is compatible.
Do you have an old Mac? Use these readers
As we mentioned earlier, many users still use Apple computers with certain years behind them, in part, thanks to the great reliability and durability of Macs. Therefore, when purchasing a card reader they will need a option that is compatible with the USB3.0 port found in older Macs. Below you have several very interesting alternatives.
USB 3.0 card reader
We started this compilation strong, and it is difficult to find a card reader that is capable of offering as many alternatives as this one, offered by the Rocketek brand. It has up to seven different slots, although simultaneously you can only use five of them, that is, you can connect five cards to this reader and be working with all five at the same time . This is a point to take into account since it will undoubtedly make you much more efficient.
These seven slots are compatible with CF / SD / TF / XD / MS / Micro SD cards, CF card, High speed CF (UDMA), SD card, SDXC (up to 2 TB), SDHC, micro SD, micro SDXC, micro SDHC, MS, M2, XD memory cards, that is, with practically any type of card you can imagine. If we talk about data transfer, this reader is capable of supporting SD / Micro SD cards up to 512GB .
Beikell USB 3.0 Card Reader
If it is true that on many occasions it is necessary to have a wide range of slots to be able to use different types of cards, as is the previous alternative. However, it is also very necessary on many occasions to be able to have devices that fulfill a specific function and on top of that are as small as possible. And that’s exactly why this USB 3.0 card reader stands out.
As soon as you see it, it will remind you of the typical pen drive, however, what you can do with it is use it to be able to work with your memory cards. It has high-speed transmission, with transfer speeds that reach up to 5 Gb / s . It is capable of supporting SD, Micro-SD (T-flash), MS, MMC, MSXC, SDXC, SDHC cards and more. In addition, it is fully compatible with both macOS and Windows systems.
UGREEN USB 3.0 SD Card Reader
It would be very strange to talk about accessories for devices from the Cupertino company and not to mention the UGREEN brand, which in this case offers an alternative for all those users who have the need to work with memory cards. It has two ports that you can use simultaneously, so you can use two cards at the same time .
It is compatible with SD, Micro SD, TF, SDXC, SDHC, MMC, RS-MMC, Micro SDXC, Micro SDHC cards and offers a transfer speed of 5 Gb / s . It is fully compatible with Apple computers, as well as devices like the PS4, Xbox, and even Windows systems. Aesthetically, it is outside the line that UGREEN has used to, but it does so to offer a very durable and reliable product.
Do you need a USB-C and USB3.0 reader? Look at these alternatives
Many professionals who work with numerous memory cards on a daily basis, also tend to do so with different computers and that is why on some occasions they may need to have a device that can read their memory cards but which, in addition, also has the possibility of connect to different computers through a USB-C port or a USB3.0 port. For all of them, below we talk about two fantastic options.
USB-C and USB3.0 card reader
Without a doubt, this is an alternative that I think every professional who works with SD cards on a daily basis has to carry with him or her. In addition, it not only provides the opportunity to connect it to both USB-C ports and USB3.0 ports, but due to its size it is ideal to be used together with the iPad. Perfect for all those photographers who work with this equipment and who edit their photographs on it.
It is compatible with SDXC, SDHC, SD, MMC, RS-MMC, Micro SDXC, Micro SD, Micro SDHC cards, as well as versions prior to USB2.0 and USB 1.1 . It provides the possibility of simultaneously reading and writing on two cards , something that will undoubtedly increase efficiency when working with this reader.
UGREEN SD and Micro SD Card Reader
Once again, the UGREEN brand appears in this compilation, and as we have already mentioned, it is a company that offers users fantastic accessories to use with the devices of the Cupertino company. In the same way that it happened with the previous option, this reader gives you the possibility to connect it both to computers with USB-C ports and to computers with USB3.0 ports.
It has two slots, to connect two cards at the same time, since it gives the possibility of working with both simultaneously. It supports SD, SDHC, SDXC, Micro SD, Micro SDHC, Micro SDXC cards, etc. In addition, it supports capacities up to 512GB . Of course, this reader can be used both with Apple equipment and with equipment from other manufacturers that run on different operating systems.
SD card readers for USB-C ports
The USB-C port is the new standard, therefore, manufacturers put all their efforts to put the best options on the table for users. In addition, Apple was one of the earliest companies in this regard and included this port in its equipment, forcing many users to purchase a card reader like the ones shown below.
UGREEN USB C Card Reader
Again we go with another alternative that the UGREEN brand provides, in this case with an aesthetic very similar to the typical USB-C HUB. First of all, what should be noted about this card reader is the braided cable it has, which provides extra durability and reliability when using this accessory. It has two slots that are compatible with SD, SDHC, SDXC, Micro SD, Micro SDHC, Micro SDXC cards, that is, the common cards.
Regarding file transfer, this alternative can reach up to 5Gbps , ideal for use with your Mac or even with your iPad, since many photography professionals use this device to work. But beware, it is also compatible with Android and Windows devices.
Nonda USB-C Card Reader
This Nonda brand card reader has two slots that you can use to connect two different cards and work with both simultaneously, something that undoubtedly speeds up many processes and will make you more efficient when working. One of the highlights of this reader is its size, which makes it very portable and comfortable to use.
You can use SD, SDHC, SDXC, micro SD, micro SDHC, micro SDXC cards, all with a super fast data transmission speed reaching up to 110 mb / s . Of course, this card reader does not need a driver or additional software to be able to use it. It is also fully compatible with Apple devices, as well as Android and Windows.
Uni USB-C Card Reader
An alternative very similar to the one we have discussed previously is this one from Uni, which provides a card reader with two slots to be able to work simultaneously with two cards. These can be SD, SDHC, SDXC, MicroSD (TF), MicroSDHC, Micro SDXC, that is, the usual types that you usually work with.
The connection of this card reader is very fast and reliable, supporting memory card capacities of up to 2TB and providing a file transfer of up to 6 Gb / s . It is fully compatible with Apple devices, both with the different Mac models that support USB-C and with the iPad that have this port.
Lention USB-C Card Reader
We increased the size of the card reader with this one from the LENTION brand, but we also increased the number of cards that you can connect to this device, of course, you can use all three simultaneously. Of course, the aesthetics of this card reader may not be the most attractive that we have seen in this compilation.
It is capable of offering a transfer speed of up to 95MB / s , which will help many professionals to be much more efficient in the time they have to invest in transferring files. It should also be mentioned that this reader supports memory cards up to 256GB in size .
SATECHI Aluminum Card Reader
One of the most popular brands in terms of accessories for Apple products is Satechi, and it is because of the enormous quality offered by the materials with which it manufactures its devices, offering the user very premium options. This card reader is certainly no exception, as it is made of high-quality aluminum.
Apart from its finishes, which are totally in line with the aesthetics of Apple laptops, this card reader has an ideal size so that you can always travel with your computer. It has two slots where you can connect all kinds of cards. But beware, it is not only compatible with devices from the Cupertino company, it is also compatible with Android and Windows devices.
Which one are we left with?
As usual in this type of compilation, from the editorial team of La Manzana Mordida we want to tell you which are our favorite options from each of the categories in which we have divided these products. First of all, for all those users who have USB3.0 ports, the alternative that has caught our attention the most is the one offered by Rocketek due to the large number of options that it puts on the table for the user.
If what you need is a device that can be used with both USB3.0 and USB-C ports, the one that we believe is the best option is UGREEN , since aesthetically it seems the most attractive. Finally, in terms of USB-C card readers, the one that we stand out above the rest is the Satechi one due to how compact it is and how aesthetically careful it is.