Best USB-C Card Readers for Mac iMore 2020

USB-C is becoming the new standard connector and Apple is jumping on board in a big way. All the new Mac laptops (both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro) only have Thunderbolt 3 (a.k.a. USB-C) ports, and that has left a lot of people scrambling for dongles, including card readers. Whether you just bought a new Apple product that only supports USB-C or you're doing a little future-proofing, here's a list of our favorite USB-C card readers for Mac.

Compact and affordable: Cable Matters USB 3.1 type-C dual slot card reader

Staff pick

With no need to install any drivers, and a handy LED indicator light, the Cable Matters USB 3.1 type-C dual-slot card reader is as simple and straightforward as it gets. Due to the lack of Compact Flash slot, the Cable Matters USB 3.1 type-C dual-slot card reader is smaller than other readers, making it even easier to carry around!

Great for photographers: IOGEAR USB-C 3-Slot card reader

Just like the name suggests, the IOGEAR USB-C 3-slot card reader can accommodate three different types of cards; SD, microSD, and Compact Flash. No drivers, updates, or software need to be installed to use the IOGEAR USB-C 3-slot card reader, making it easy to use with all your devices at will.

Legacy tech compatible: Transcend USB 3.1 Dual Card reader

If you have an older laptop that has a USB-A port, you can always pick up the Transcend USB 3.1 Dual Card reader. Whether you use micro SD cards of regular-sized SD cards, you can plug this right into a USB-A port — no cable required.

$8 at Amazon

Super fast read speed: SanDisk Extreme PRO SD UHS-II

If you are constantly transferring big files and need fast read and write speeds, the SanDisk Extreme PRO SD UHS-II can achieve a 500MB/s data transfer speeds. The downside is this reader only supports SD cards or microSD cards that have an SD card adapter.

An entire hub: Satechi Multi-port adapter

Satechi's multi-port adapter doesn't support high-speed data transfer or dual-4K displays. But it does have just about everything else you'd need to run your peripherals with your MacBook Pro. Things like SD and microSD card readers, 4K HDMI, Gigabit, and three USB-A ports.

Portable versatility: Twelve South StayGo

This eight-port hub makes it super easy to transfer photos, video, audio recordings, and more from an SD or microSD card to your Mac. It's also got three USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a USB-C power delivery port.

All-in-one solutions are more versatile

When it comes to getting the most out of a single USB-C port on your Mac, you're going to want as many connections as possible, which is we suggest getting the Cable Matters USB 3.1 type-C dual-slot card reader. It has both an SD and microSD card slot, so you don't need to fool around with microSD card adapters, and it's very affordable. It really is the best buy for most people.

If you're a photographer and you have cameras that use Compact Flash cards, you're probably going to want IOGEAR USB-C 3-Slot card reader to ensure you can get all your photos regardless of what camera you use.

Lastly, if speed is of the utmost importance to you and you don't mind having to use a micro SD card adapter, the SanDisk Extreme PRO SD UHS-II is the faster card reader around!

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