I Found The Perfect Card Reader That Has It All - It Even Doubles As A Storage Box

1 day ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

It handles each commonly utilized retention paper presently successful use
It tin grip information transportation speeds up to 10Gbps, truthful moving large files is effortless
The paper scholar besides doubles arsenic a retention paper holder, keeping cards that are not presently successful usage safe.

There are millions upon millions of group taking photos and videos connected their phones and sharing them connected societal media who will ne'er request a paper reader. But if you're a master photographer, videographer, aliases drone operator, a paper scholar is apt portion of your kit. And since this is thing that straight touches your data, I'm a instrumentality of getting a decent one.

An astonishing spot of kit

Over nan past fewer weeks, I've been utilizing nan Freewell Pro Reader, a operation paper scholar and retention box, and it's turned retired to beryllium an astonishing spot of kit.

The Pro Reader really lives up to its name, tin of reference CF Express A and CF Express B, UHS-I and UHS-II SD cards, and SDXC and SDHC microSD cards. That covers each retention paper you're going to find successful use, from drones to mirrorless cameras to high-end video cameras.

Also: How to take nan correct microSD paper - and what each those numbers and letters mean

All nan retention formats you're going to request are covered.

The Pro Reader has a built-in USB-C cablegram and uses USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2, which let transportation speeds up to 10Gbps, truthful you're not near twiddling your thumbs for excessively long.

Storage container for up to 13 cards

Another cool characteristic of nan Pro Reader setup is that it besides acts arsenic a retention container for cards, tin of holding 1 CF Express Type A and 1 CF Express Type B card, 3 SD cards, six microSD cards, and 2 nano SIM cards for compartment phones.

That's a full of 13 cards.

Also: The champion microSD cards you tin buy

There's besides a SIM-eject tool, which tin beryllium useful for world travelers still switching SIM cards successful devices.

The paper reader/holder is housed successful a touch aluminum and solid outer ammunition that protects nan scholar -- and your precious retention cards -- from nonaccomplishment aliases damage. The outer clips connected securely, and there's a carabiner loop connected 1 extremity for attaching nan Pro Reader to thing for illustration a backpack aliases camera bag.

The paper scholar comes pinch a carabiner and a USB-C to USB-A adapter.

The portion is alternatively bulky (roughly 5 x 2 x 1 inches) and dense (a 3rd of a pound) but thing that was a deal-breaker for me.

ZDNET's buying proposal

Card readers autumn into 2 categories: inexpensive aliases expensive.

At $99, nan Freewell Pro Reader is decidedly not astatine nan inexpensive end. But it's a pro spot of kit, acknowledgment to its expertise to activity pinch a scope of retention media, its performance, and nan truth that it tin beryllium location to a fistful of cards.

Looking for nan adjacent champion product? Get master reviews and editor favorites pinch ZDNET Recommends.

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