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SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader

SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader

Introduction

SanDisk released its PRO-DOCK 4 station in mid-2021 as a solution for professional media management to offload data in multiple formats from multiple cards, simultaneously. The PRO-DOCK 4 supports up to four individual readers, but the readers also operate separately without the dock. Initially for SD cards, SanDisk introduced a multi-reader that supports SD, microSD and CompactFlash cards. More recently, Sandisk added a specialized SD and microSD Reader handles only UHS-I SD and UHS-I microSD cards. Comparing the two, the new SD Reader comes in at a lower price point, but lacks CompatFlash and does not have SD UHS-II support.

The PRO SD and microSD reader supports SanDisk's QuickFlow technology, which uses DDR200 mode to accelerate speeds beyond the 104MB/s limit of SDR104. While QuickFlow is a trademark, the technology behind it (DDR200) is not proprietary and UHS-I cards from other brands offer similar accelerated speeds. Quite often the cards and readers are not cross-compatible and require their matching reader to reach the higher read and write speeds. More recently readers have been more cross-compatible. Performance we be addressed later in this article.

SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader back with USB cable

The SD and microSD reader supports USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbit/s) and also works with Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 according to SanDisk. Operating system compatibility includes macOS 10.13+ and Windows 10+. The reader is covered by a 3-year limited warranty. The reader tested is model SDPR5A8-0000-GBAND with UPC 718037891972. The reader is made in Taiwan.

SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader side

The outer case is made from extruded aluminum with plastic ends. A hinged metal bezel on the front of the reader helps to remove it from the dock. A card access light is located the front of the reader. Small rubber feet are located at the bottom corners of the reader and nest into recess at the top of other PRO readers allow multiple readers to stack neatly without the dock.

SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader back

There is a write lock switch on the back of the reader to prevent data from accidentally being erased. The card reader measures 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.75 inches (115 x 60 x 19mm) without the USB cable. A 1.5-foot USB-C cable is included with the reader.

SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader inside SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader inside bottom

Inside the reader a Genesys Logic GL3231 controller that can operate two SD cards simultaneously and supports UHS-I as well as DDR200 to support UHS-I speeds beyond SDR104. An Asmedia ASM1543 chip handles switching to support the reversible USB-C connector.

Performance

The SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader was tested using UHS-I and UHS-II SD cards. The reader does not support UHS-II mode, which is unexpected given the professional nature and high price point of this reader. The reader does handle UHS-I including DDR200 and provides compatibility across many brands of SD cards for accelerated speed.

In benchmark testing the reader reached 202 MB/s sequential read and 153 MB/s sequential write. UHS-I cards that support DDR200 reached the highest speed, including those of other brands including Silicon Power, Kingston, Samsung, Acer, Lexar, Integral, and Transcend. Since UHS-II is not supported, the UHS-II cards were left using UHS-I mode SDR104 and topped out around 95MB/s read and 90MB/s write at best.

Reader: SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader
Benchmark: CrystalDiskMark 8.0.4 x64
Program settings: 1000 MB, 5 passes, random test data
Operating system: Windows 11 Pro
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 UD AX DDR4
Processor: Intel Core i5 @ 3.30GHz
RAM: 32GB DDR4 3200

SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader
Card Benchmarks
Sequential
Read
1M Q=8
(MB/s)
Sequential
Read
1M Q=1
(MB/s)
Sequential
Write
1M Q=8
(MB/s)
Sequential
Write
1M Q=1
(MB/s)
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 512GB202.289201.103142.718143.188
SanDisk Extreme Pro 200MB/s 256GB201.188197.586143.220142.808
SanDisk Extreme 180MB/s 256GB193.741193.247129.780131.354
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 1TB180.144179.014103.678103.352
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 256GB179.461178.39998.34099.472
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 64GB179.387179.01098.11598.967
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 128GB179.370176.80197.02498.300
Silicon Power Superior UHS-I U3 V30 256GB178.890177.17583.60682.543
Integral Ultima Pro 180MB/s 256GB176.071176.184153.211152.782
Kingston Canvas Go! Plus 64GB164.356164.199117.605118.246
Samsung Pro Plus 160/120 128GB160.264160.440121.169122.936
Acer SC300 UHS-I 256GB158.488158.790114.744112.416
Samsung Pro Plus 160/120 256GB158.261158.709119.180119.818
Lexar Professional 1666x UHS-I 256GB157.359157.688120.833120.339
Transcend 340S UHS- I U3 V30 A2 256GB157.151157.40181.83682.087
SanDisk Extreme 150MB/s 64GB153.430153.69265.67666.841
SanDisk Extreme 150MB/s 128GB150.938151.28377.88977.942
SanDisk Extreme 150MB 256GB150.587151.06076.97877.993
SanDisk Extreme Plus 150MB/s 64GB150.560150.84862.87464.140
SanDisk Extreme Plus 150MB/s 128GB148.318150.97576.71977.653
Samsung EVO Plus UHS-I 256GB133.979134.638117.427115.717
Kingston Canvas Select Plus 64GB95.57996.44678.67479.953
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB95.45293.43688.52286.920
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB95.39792.65079.50977.269
Delkin Prime UHS-II V60 64GB94.17492.33668.31166.834
Verbatim Pro II Plus UHS-II V90 64GB93.74290.12082.38686.266
Kioxia Exceria Pro UHS-II V90 64GB93.10789.50287.14086.648
Sony Tough UHS-II 64GB92.75090.60274.22386.956
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB92.69291.28288.60687.029
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB92.57790.81778.16276.867
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev B 128GB92.56190.53078.42176.961
V7 UHS-I V30 A1 64GB92.55390.84367.50868.163
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB92.54590.61789.08788.313
Integral UltimaPro X2 UHS-II V90 64GB92.52590.80081.67286.885
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB92.25990.24384.89481.418
Verbatim Pro Plus V30 64GB92.23593.51366.18771.105
Delkin Power 2000x UHS-II V90 64GB92.19390.04178.32878.239
PNY Technologies X-PRO 90 UHS-II 64GB92.00692.05989.95588.324
RitzGear Golden Eagle Express SD 256GB91.78488.28891.00988.898
Kingston Canvas React Plus 64GB91.66290.12889.62288.078
Kodak V90 UHS-II 64GB91.61889.74189.86787.636
Delkin Power UHS-II V90 128GB91.61390.06178.24476.944
ProGrade 250MB/s UHS-II V90 64GB91.59089.68387.87182.791
Transcend 500S V30 64GB91.44889.91765.95053.339
Sabrent Rocket V90 UHS-II 64GB91.42890.41088.49487.232
Angelbird AV Pro V90 64GB91.37389.57288.10886.190
Transcend 500S V30 128GB91.24788.61663.46765.209
Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II 256GB91.12188.37386.68985.102
TeamGroup Xtreem UHS-II U3 V60 256GB91.10688.07882.30382.598
Transcend 500S 64GB Card 291.10289.70367.12353.821
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 32GB90.74989.08987.20785.736
Delock SD Express 256GB90.58288.28491.17388.679
Wise Advanced SD-N UHS-II 128GB90.50588.99188.44687.246
Transcend 700S UHS-II V90 64GB89.93588.30986.08085.378
ProGrade 200MB/s UHS-II V60 64GB89.77887.80785.75085.692
Integral UltimaPro X2 260MB/s UHS-II V60 128GB89.75688.27687.23885.542
Hoodman Steel UHS-II 64GB89.74188.46185.82184.306
AData Premier One UHS-II V90 256GB89.72886.92687.28885.455
Angelbird AV Pro V60 64GB89.64087.86286.02285.844
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 64GB89.39688.19687.24086.043
Acer SC900 UHS-II 256GB89.32787.49263.86586.852
Adata Premier One UHS-II V90 64GB88.84388.05186.98877.175

Packaging

SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader package SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader package back

Compare prices on the SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD reader. The lowest prices are highlighted in the table below.

Card ReaderConnectionModel NumberPrices
AmazonB&H PhotoAdorama
SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card ReaderUSB 3.2 Gen 1SDPR5A8-0000-GBAND$71.24$49.99