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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 512GB | 202.289 | 201.103 | 142.718 | 143.188 |
SanDisk Extreme Pro 200MB/s 256GB | 201.188 | 197.586 | 143.220 | 142.808 |
SanDisk Extreme 180MB/s 256GB | 193.741 | 193.247 | 129.780 | 131.354 |
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 1TB | 180.144 | 179.014 | 103.678 | 103.352 |
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 256GB | 179.461 | 178.399 | 98.340 | 99.472 |
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 64GB | 179.387 | 179.010 | 98.115 | 98.967 |
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 128GB | 179.370 | 176.801 | 97.024 | 98.300 |
Silicon Power Superior UHS-I U3 V30 256GB | 178.890 | 177.175 | 83.606 | 82.543 |
Integral Ultima Pro 180MB/s 256GB | 176.071 | 176.184 | 153.211 | 152.782 |
Kingston Canvas Go! Plus 64GB | 164.356 | 164.199 | 117.605 | 118.246 |
Samsung Pro Plus 160/120 128GB | 160.264 | 160.440 | 121.169 | 122.936 |
Acer SC300 UHS-I 256GB | 158.488 | 158.790 | 114.744 | 112.416 |
Samsung Pro Plus 160/120 256GB | 158.261 | 158.709 | 119.180 | 119.818 |
Lexar Professional 1666x UHS-I 256GB | 157.359 | 157.688 | 120.833 | 120.339 |
Transcend 340S UHS- I U3 V30 A2 256GB | 157.151 | 157.401 | 81.836 | 82.087 |
SanDisk Extreme 150MB/s 64GB | 153.430 | 153.692 | 65.676 | 66.841 |
SanDisk Extreme 150MB/s 128GB | 150.938 | 151.283 | 77.889 | 77.942 |
SanDisk Extreme 150MB 256GB | 150.587 | 151.060 | 76.978 | 77.993 |
SanDisk Extreme Plus 150MB/s 64GB | 150.560 | 150.848 | 62.874 | 64.140 |
SanDisk Extreme Plus 150MB/s 128GB | 148.318 | 150.975 | 76.719 | 77.653 |
Samsung EVO Plus UHS-I 256GB | 133.979 | 134.638 | 117.427 | 115.717 |
Kingston Canvas Select Plus 64GB | 95.579 | 96.446 | 78.674 | 79.953 |
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB | 95.452 | 93.436 | 88.522 | 86.920 |
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB | 95.397 | 92.650 | 79.509 | 77.269 |
Delkin Prime UHS-II V60 64GB | 94.174 | 92.336 | 68.311 | 66.834 |
Verbatim Pro II Plus UHS-II V90 64GB | 93.742 | 90.120 | 82.386 | 86.266 |
Kioxia Exceria Pro UHS-II V90 64GB | 93.107 | 89.502 | 87.140 | 86.648 |
Sony Tough UHS-II 64GB | 92.750 | 90.602 | 74.223 | 86.956 |
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB | 92.692 | 91.282 | 88.606 | 87.029 |
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB | 92.577 | 90.817 | 78.162 | 76.867 |
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev B 128GB | 92.561 | 90.530 | 78.421 | 76.961 |
V7 UHS-I V30 A1 64GB | 92.553 | 90.843 | 67.508 | 68.163 |
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB | 92.545 | 90.617 | 89.087 | 88.313 |
Integral UltimaPro X2 UHS-II V90 64GB | 92.525 | 90.800 | 81.672 | 86.885 |
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB | 92.259 | 90.243 | 84.894 | 81.418 |
Verbatim Pro Plus V30 64GB | 92.235 | 93.513 | 66.187 | 71.105 |
Delkin Power 2000x UHS-II V90 64GB | 92.193 | 90.041 | 78.328 | 78.239 |
PNY Technologies X-PRO 90 UHS-II 64GB | 92.006 | 92.059 | 89.955 | 88.324 |
RitzGear Golden Eagle Express SD 256GB | 91.784 | 88.288 | 91.009 | 88.898 |
Kingston Canvas React Plus 64GB | 91.662 | 90.128 | 89.622 | 88.078 |
Kodak V90 UHS-II 64GB | 91.618 | 89.741 | 89.867 | 87.636 |
Delkin Power UHS-II V90 128GB | 91.613 | 90.061 | 78.244 | 76.944 |
ProGrade 250MB/s UHS-II V90 64GB | 91.590 | 89.683 | 87.871 | 82.791 |
Transcend 500S V30 64GB | 91.448 | 89.917 | 65.950 | 53.339 |
Sabrent Rocket V90 UHS-II 64GB | 91.428 | 90.410 | 88.494 | 87.232 |
Angelbird AV Pro V90 64GB | 91.373 | 89.572 | 88.108 | 86.190 |
Transcend 500S V30 128GB | 91.247 | 88.616 | 63.467 | 65.209 |
Lexar Professional 1667x UHS-II 256GB | 91.121 | 88.373 | 86.689 | 85.102 |
TeamGroup Xtreem UHS-II U3 V60 256GB | 91.106 | 88.078 | 82.303 | 82.598 |
Transcend 500S 64GB Card 2 | 91.102 | 89.703 | 67.123 | 53.821 |
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 32GB | 90.749 | 89.089 | 87.207 | 85.736 |
Delock SD Express 256GB | 90.582 | 88.284 | 91.173 | 88.679 |
Wise Advanced SD-N UHS-II 128GB | 90.505 | 88.991 | 88.446 | 87.246 |
Transcend 700S UHS-II V90 64GB | 89.935 | 88.309 | 86.080 | 85.378 |
ProGrade 200MB/s UHS-II V60 64GB | 89.778 | 87.807 | 85.750 | 85.692 |
Integral UltimaPro X2 260MB/s UHS-II V60 128GB | 89.756 | 88.276 | 87.238 | 85.542 |
Hoodman Steel UHS-II 64GB | 89.741 | 88.461 | 85.821 | 84.306 |
AData Premier One UHS-II V90 256GB | 89.728 | 86.926 | 87.288 | 85.455 |
Angelbird AV Pro V60 64GB | 89.640 | 87.862 | 86.022 | 85.844 |
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 64GB | 89.396 | 88.196 | 87.240 | 86.043 |
Acer SC900 UHS-II 256GB | 89.327 | 87.492 | 63.865 | 86.852 |
Adata Premier One UHS-II V90 64GB | 88.843 | 88.051 | 86.988 | 77.175 |
Compare prices on the SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD reader. The lowest prices are highlighted in the table below.
Card Reader | Connection | Model Number | Prices | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amazon | B&H Photo | Adorama | |||
SanDisk Professional PRO-READER SD and microSD Card Reader | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | SDPR5A8-0000-GBAND | $71.24 | $49.99 |