There are millions upon millions of people taking photos and videos on their phones and sharing them on social media who will never need a card reader. But if you’re a professional photographer, videographer, or drone operator, a card reader is likely part of your kit. And since this is something that directly touches your data, I’m a fan of getting a decent one.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been using the Freewell Pro Reader, a combination card reader and storage box, and it’s turned out to be an amazing bit of kit.
The Pro Reader really lives up to its name, capable of reading CF Express A and CF Express B, UHS-I and UHS-II SD cards, and SDXC and SDHC microSD cards. That covers every storage card you’re going to find in use, from drones to mirrorless cameras to high-end video cameras.
Also: How to choose the right microSD card – and what all those numbers and letters mean
All the storage formats you’re going to need are covered.
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The Pro Reader has a built-in USB-C cable and uses USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2, which allow transfer speeds up to 10Gbps, so you’re not left twiddling your thumbs for too long.
Storage box for up to 13 cards
Another cool feature of the Pro Reader setup is that it also acts as a storage box for cards, capable of holding one CF Express Type A and one CF Express Type B card, three SD cards, six microSD cards, and two nano SIM cards for cell phones.
A bunch of card storage slots.
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That’s a total of 13 cards.
Also: The best microSD cards you can buy
There’s also a SIM-eject tool, which can be handy for international travelers still switching SIM cards in devices.
The card reader/holder is housed in a touch aluminum and glass outer shell that protects the reader — and your precious storage cards — from loss or damage. The outer clips on securely, and there’s a carabiner loop on one end for attaching the Pro Reader to something like a backpack or camera bag.
The card reader comes with a carabiner and a USB-C to USB-A adapter.
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The unit is rather bulky (roughly 5 x 2 x 1 inches) and heavy (a third of a pound) but nothing that was a deal-breaker for me.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Card readers fall into two categories: cheap or expensive.
At $99, the Freewell Pro Reader is definitely not at the cheap end. But it’s a pro bit of kit, thanks to its ability to work with a range of storage media, its performance, and the fact that it can be home to a handful of cards.
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