Review: UGREEN USB-C SD Card Reader

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A few months back Amazon sent me the UGREEN USB-C SD Card Reader to test and review and I have to say it’s a great product. I’m currently using this carder to replace an old USB 2.0 Card that has been my trusty image/video file transfer tool for years. Over the last few years, I’ve tried out a few other readers and they have been just ok. The UGREEN one is fast, low profile, and easy to store in my travel bag. (There’s a grey one that is slightly different over at UGREEN.com you might want to look at.)

Features:

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Features taken directly from the Amazon Sales Page.

• Upgraded 170MB/S Transfer Speed: With data transfer speeds of up to 170MB/S, the SD Card Reader USB C can enjoy lightspeed sharing files with friends/colleagues, 2 cards work 170MB/s simultaneously save a lot of time and improve your work efficiency. Note: memory card needs to support 170MB/S transfers
• Plug and Play: No need to use a PC. UGREEN USB C Micro SD Card Reader can be plug&play for USB C smartphones/iPads/laptops, Compatible with popular devices like iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max, iPad Pro/Air/Mini, MacBook Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23/S22/S21/S20/Note 20/Note 10 series, etc
• Ideal for iPhone 15/16 : The SD Card Reader USB C fits perfectly into the USB C interface of iPhone 15 Pro/15 Pro Max, which can ensure stable 5Gbps transferring HD images or 8K videos anytime anywhere
• Strong Compatibility: The Digital Camera Adapter iPhone 15/16 compatible with SD/ MicroSD, SDHC/ MicroSDHC, SDXC/ MicroSDXC cards from Camera. Support 2TB capacity transfer, don’t worry about large files not being transferred
• Technological & Portable Design: Built-in SmartChip GL3231 for high data transmission security. This USB C SD Card Reader features High-grade ABS material that is lighter than regular aluminum cases. lt slides easily in any pocket, making it the best practical tool for photographers, travelers, or anyone who needs quick access to files on the go
• Note: Specially designed for USB C-port devices, not compatible with iPhone 14/13/12

The Review

I don’t travel as much as I used to but one of the tools, I always found helpful is the SD card reader. It made it easy for me to be able to back my SD cards at the end of the day/shoot directly to a portable hard drive. Sometimes it’s to start working on the images at others is just to back them up. As I mentioned before I was using an old 2.0 model that was reliable but very slow. The newer ones I have tried have been disappointing until I found the UGREEN USB-C SD Card Reader.

First Impressions

The reader came in a nice professional package and displayed perfectly as I was opening it. Upon inspection, I found the device to be made of glossy plastic with matte grey reinforced rubber wire that met the USB-C end perfectly. It was built to last.

It comes with a Micro-SD slot and an SD Slot. Both work great.

Connectivity

Connecting to my laptop or to a USB-C docking station via one of the USB ports had an instant connection. Always found either SD card. I didn’t try to connect both. Since I normally use SD Cards. My Micros are used in dash cams, security cameras, and now my GoPro Hero 12.

File Transfer

I only use it to transfer photos and video files and both are lighting fast. It only takes a few minutes to move a large set of photos or videos. From what I can tell it moves as fast as the SD card and the computer allows the files to transfer.

Final Thoughts

Many docking stations come with an SD card reader but, many manufacturers are starting to remove card readers from the laptop especially those that are designed to be lightweight, thin as possible, or budget builds. But most new computers come with at least one USB-C/Thunderbolt port. If you need to move a lot of files to your laptop the UGREE USB-C SD Card Reader is a good and reliable option for you. Try one out for yourself.