Best USB-C Card Readers for Mac 2022

MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro (Image credit: Rene Ritchie/iMore)

USB-C is becoming the new standard connector and Apple is jumping on board in a big way. All the Mac laptops (both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro) only have Thunderbolt 3 (aka USB-C) ports, and that has left a lot of people scrambling for dongles, including card readers. The best USB-C card readers for Mac will let you connect your SD cards, microSD, and in some cases, even Compact Flash card to your Mac, so you can transfer files and photos with ease. While a USB-C card reader won't necessarily give you all the options that the best USB-C hubs for Mac can, they are typically less expensive. 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 the best USB-C card readers for Mac.

All-in-one solutions are more versatile

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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 and that's what the best USB-C card readers for Mac will do for you. As long as your USB-C ports aren't dead, you can plug the best USB-C card readers into any port USB-C on your Mac and enjoy the benefits.

Our top pick is 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!

Luke Filipowicz
Staff Writer

Luke Filipowicz has been a writer at iMore, covering Apple for nearly a decade now. He writes a lot about Apple Watch and iPad but covers the iPhone and Mac as well. He often describes himself as an "Apple user on a budget" and firmly believes that great technology can be affordable if you know where to look. Luke also heads up the iMore Show — a weekly podcast focusing on Apple news, rumors, and products but likes to have some fun along the way. 


Luke knows he spends more time on Twitter than he probably should, so feel free to follow him or give him a shout on social media @LukeFilipowicz.