If you shoot a lot of footage or photos with a camera or record audio with a portable dictaphone or microphone, a memory card reader is a must-have to quickly and easily transfer files between devices and save them to your computer. And whether you're editing images or simply creating a backup, a USB memory card adapter is a great piece of kit to have handy.
Many portable consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch, use SD cards as storage too, so you can back up those precious save files as well! We've picked the best external memory card readers available on Amazon and Argos, including portable micro SD card readers and those to back up Compact Flash files. We've included premium picks for professionals as well as budget options for those who just want to move around some old files with ease.
Quick List - Top Memory Card Readers
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When picking a memory card reader, the most important thing is to make sure that it supports your memory card of choice. Some readers specialise in achieving the highest transfer speeds possible for a single type of card, while others have ports for a wide variety of memory card formats.
The most commonly found ports are for SD and microSD cards, which are found in most cameras and smartphones/tablets respectively. If you're using some slightly older, or less widespread hardware, you may require Compact Flash (CF), MixedMediaCard (MMC), or Memory Stick (MS) ports.
Looking for some extra portable storage? Consider a USB flash drive!
Whether you're working with large or small files, you'll want your transfer speeds to be as fast as possible. This comes down to a variety of factors. Often, a memory card reader will advertise speeds of "up to" a certain amount of MB/s (megabytes per second) but these are not a reliable metric.
Transfer speeds rely on the rate at which your memory card reader can transfer files from the card, which is dependent on the type of card, the speed your adapter can transfer this to your device, and even things like the type of hard drive your computer has. For SD cards, both regular and microSD, the most reliable thing to look out for is whether it is UHS-I or the faster UHS-II.
If you're looking to transfer large files from large cards, you'll want to make sure your reader is capable of high transfer speeds, but this is hard to quantify in reality. The general rule of thumb is the more expensive the card reader and the fewer types of ports it carries, the faster the transfer speeds will be.
It's no surprise to see that nearly all memory card readers use the now ubiquitous USB connection to hook up to your computer, but in technical circles, this is actually known as USB-A. This is your classic USB format universally found on computers, laptops, charging stations and modern power sockets. On our list, all USB-A ports are generation 3.0 or above.
With the rise in popularity of USB-C, however, many devices and adapters also include an option to connect using that too. This is especially useful if you have a modern smartphone or tablet with a USB-C port as you'll be able to use your memory card reader in conjunction with those devices as well.
Running out of connections? Pick up a USB hub for some extra ports.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SanDisk MobileMate | ![]() | Transfer Photos and Videos Quickly With This Compact microSD Card Reader | |
2 | Delkin Dual Slot Memory Card Reader | ![]() | An Ultra-Fast and Reliable CF Reader at a Bargain Price | |
3 | ProGrade Digital Card Reader | ![]() | A Top-of-The-Line Card Reader for Professionals Who Use Apple Products | |
4 | Anker 2-in-1 USB Card Reader | ![]() | A Useful, Compact Option That Easily Fits Inside a Pocket or Bag | |
5 | SanDisk ImageMate PRO | ![]() | This Quick and Versatile Option Is Great for Desktop Use | |
6 | UNITEK Card Reader | ![]() | A Sleek, Apple-Inspired Design That’s an Affordable Macbook Companion | |
7 | Beikell Card Reader | ![]() | A Cheap and Cheerful SD Card Reader You Can Attach to Your Keyring | |
8 | Kingston Workflow Station | ![]() | An Ingenious Modular Option That Easily Reads Multiple Cards at Once | |
9 | Zedela 7-in-1 Multi Card Reader | ![]() | A Jack of All Trades With Some Lesser-Known Ports and a Detachable Wire | |
10 | Kingston High Speed Media Reader|FCR-HS4 | ![]() | A Great Option for Those Looking for a Sony MemoryStick-Compatible Reader |
If you're looking for a surprisingly fast and compact memory card reader for a microSD card, then the SanDisk MobileMate represents unbelievable value. This is perfect for quickly swapping files of all sizes between a digital camera, phone, or computer.
The MobileMate claims to hit impressive speeds of up to 170MB/s and while you're unlikely to see those numbers outside of controlled settings, the quick speeds reported are simply fantastic at this price point. This is something that everyone who has a smartphone with a microSD card should own just in case.
Supporting the fastest types of both SD and CF simultaneously, the Delkin Dual Slot Memory Card Reader is perfect for transferring large files quickly while on a budget. In its price bracket, this is probably the fastest memory card reader you'll find on the market today.
The USB cable is attached via a hardwire, meaning that you won't have to worry about misplacing the wire, and it even comes with a hinged protective cover so you won't lose that either! A great option for budding photographers and filmmakers.
If you're a professional looking for the fastest card reader on the planet, this offering from ProGrade is it. Not only does it have adapters for USB-A and USB-C, but the top-of-the-line, ultra-fast Thunderbolt 3 connection too.
This is the best option for professional photographers who work with Apple products and are happy to invest in a premium product. It's great when working on the road thanks to a magnetic connection that keeps it attached to your MacBook.
While it's can't compete with premium card readers in terms of speed for professionals, the 2-in-1 USB Card Reader from Anker is one of the most useful options around for the average person. With slots for both SD and microSD, this is perfect for saving or printing photos taken on a smartphone or digital camera.
At such a low price, it's affordable to everyone and the small form factor means it can easily slip into a pocket, laptop bag, or digital camera case. It even has an 18-month warranty if you're worried about reliability!
If you're looking for a card reader primarily for office or home use, the SanDisk ImageMate PRO is our top recommendation when working at a desk. Coming with ultra-fast ports for SD, microSD, and CF formats, it boasts speeds not too far off some top-end options.
Where it really shines is the build quality as it truly feels like a premium product at a reasonable price point. For all-around work purposes, this is the best option for the price and we're confident the results won't leave you disappointed.
This small and sleek Card Reader from UNITEK is clearly designed with Apple products in mind but at a more affordable price point than official accessories. It comes with a USB-C, Thunderbolt 3 connection that's fully compatible with MacBooks.
This just misses out on our top 5 due to the fact that it only has a USB-C type cable; while it is quite fast, it may not be compatible with many older laptops and computers. It's also not the fastest SD option out there with a UHS-I port.
The Beikell Card Reader isn't going to win any awards for its speeds, but if you're looking for the cheapest reader to use in conjunction with SD and microSD cards, then you can't go wrong with this portable option that easily attaches to your keychain.
If you're transferring or backing up smaller files, then this will do the job just fine, but you may find your patience wearing thin if you're working with Gigabytes rather than Megabytes. Still, for the price, this is well worth picking up to have just in case.
In a professional environment, speed and ease of use make all the difference, and this ingenious offering helps take the hassle of wires and swapping out multiple cards from the equation. With space for four modular units, you can work with multiple cards at once and tailor the readers to your specific needs.
It will be affected by the number of simultaneous cards being read at once, and while additional modular units are available, they come at a premium cost. If you're starting up an office or business, however, these are well worth the investment.
Featuring the not-often-found RS-MMC port alongside the usual, and not so usual, suspects, this 7-in-1 Multi Card Reader from Zedela certainly has some positive attributes. We especially like the detachable USB wire, allowing you to fit different connections if you desire.
This is a great buy if you're looking for some of the lesser-known ports, but for those who aren't, there are far faster and far cheaper options available. This is very much a jack of all trades but a master of none.
This Kingston card reader is another good choice for those seeking something to read a lesser-known format, specifically Sony's MemoryStick (MS) format. It also supports SD, microSD, and CF formats.
Just like the MS format, this card reader is a little older than other models on our list. Plus, although it claims to support UHS-II cards, reported speeds are far lower than what you would expect for an ultra-fast reader. Still, if you want the MS compatibility, this is a very good price and a versatile option indeed.
No. 1: SanDisk|MobileMate
No. 2: Delkin|Dual Slot Memory Card Reader
No. 3: ProGrade|Digital Card Reader
No. 4: Anker|2-in-1 USB Card Reader
No. 5: SanDisk|ImageMate PRO
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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