p.1 #1 · MacBook Pro SD card reader is really slow, is there a faster external reader?
I now am in the curious situation of using two really different laptops for photo processing, a Dell XPS 17 that runs Windows for home and a 14" MacBook Pro for travel. I have had some buyer's regret with regard to the newer machine, the Mac, as going back and forth between operating systems is a bit more of a headache than I had anticipated, and with the Mac I do miss having a touch screen sometimes. But the Apple laptop is fast and is a wonderful machine in most ways.
One thing about the Macbook Pro that irks me is that transferring photo files via the built-in SD card reader is significantly slower than is the same process on my Dell XPS. The downloading process is s-l-o-w. I have done a few web searches and I guess this is a feature, not a bug, at least for now. I am wondering if other Macbook Pro users have gone to using an add-on sd card reader that is hopefully faster in downloading photos to the computer. Can someone recommend such a card reader, one that might transfer photos faster than the built-in card slot?
p.1 #3 · MacBook Pro SD card reader is really slow, is there a faster external reader?
You should tell us specific SD cards you are using and speed you get as well speed you expect, so we could help
I recommend you to copy all files from SD to computer and format maybe 3 times SD card in camera, copy files again to this card and check if speed increase
You could check speed by going to: Launchpad > Activity Monitor > Disc > At the bottom you should see DATA READ/sec:
p.1 #5 · MacBook Pro SD card reader is really slow, is there a faster external reader?
PIOK wrote:
You should tell us specific SD cards you are using and speed you get as well speed you expect, so we could help
I recommend you to copy all files from SD to computer and format maybe 3 times SD card in camera, copy files again to this card and check if speed increase
You could check speed by going to: Launchpad > Activity Monitor > Disc > At the bottom you should see DATA READ/sec:
For reference:
I transferred 44.38 GB data from a Sony G 128GB R300/W299 SD card to 16" MBP M1 Max desktop. Using the Data read/sec and Data written/sec from the Activity monitor I saw:
MBP internal SD card slot:
Transfer speeds reached up to Read 296s and Write 317s
MBP with Sony CFE/SD MRW-S1 card reader:
Transfer speeds reached up to Read 297s and Write 337s
P.S. Does anyone know if there is a way to measure the same with iPadOS other than manually timing the data transfer ?
p.1 #6 · MacBook Pro SD card reader is really slow, is there a faster external reader?
I appreciate the replies, but I confess my reaction is, "Paralysis by overanalysis!" I use recent, fairly fast SD cards (e.g. Wyse, "128gb, 285 mb/sec"), and when I have inserted them into my Dell laptop(s) the transfer of files is really fast. When I do the same for the Mac Powerbook Pro it's much, much slower. Sorry to remain in the "qualitative" realm here. I don't see any reason I would need to do a "test" to verify to myself that indeed, the transfer IS significantly slower than with the Dell. Also, after doing a web search on the subject I understand this is a commonly perceived issue with these machines, one that supposedly will be resolved by a future software or firmware upgrade. I also understand that if I just get the Apple SD to USB-C adapter the transfer rate will be faster. I appreciate the ProGrade suggestion, as well. Their combination CFExpress type B/SD read seems very popular, but I already have a Sony combination XQD/CFExpress reader so I am looking for just an SD card reader.
p.1 #7 · MacBook Pro SD card reader is really slow, is there a faster external reader?
Hi GrandNagus50
I was not aware of the issue. In searching online I saw a lot of similar complaints.
I also saw that with the most recent releases of the OS (Monterey) version 12.2 and beyond the issue has gone away for most folks.
What version of Monterey are you using with these results.
I am on OS 12.3.1 with a 16 inch MacBook Pro and with BlackMagic's Disk Speed test program I see read speeds of ~250 MB/s and write speeds in the range of 160 to 200 MB/s using a Lexar UHS-II card rated at 300 MB/s read and 260 MB/s write.
Note that from what I have read, Apple claims speeds for the SD card slot of 250 MB/s read (I did not see a write spec reported). The UHS-II spec supports up to 312 MB/s last I read.
The OS update may or may not be your issue yet thought it was worth mentioning.
If the OS update does not fix your problem, that would be good to know as well.
p.1 #8 · MacBook Pro SD card reader is really slow, is there a faster external reader?
I was able to borrow an Apple USB-C to SD adapter, and the transfer rate seemed pretty much the same as with the built-in card reader. My new conclusion is that rather than framing this as the Mac being unduly slow in its transfer speed, the Dell XPS computer(s) are very fast in this regard, for whatever reason.
p.1 #9 · MacBook Pro SD card reader is really slow, is there a faster external reader?
GrandNagus50 wrote:
I was able to borrow an Apple USB-C to SD adapter, and the transfer rate seemed pretty much the same as with the built-in card reader. My new conclusion is that rather than framing this as the Mac being unduly slow in its transfer speed, the Dell XPS computer(s) are very fast in this regard, for whatever reason.
What don't you try format this cards 2-4 times as I ask you ?
I have similar problem but my speed was much better with MacBook Pro compare to New Windows PC. I format card at least 3 times and after that speed was pretty much the same
p.1 #10 · MacBook Pro SD card reader is really slow, is there a faster external reader?
GrandNagus50 wrote:
I was able to borrow an Apple USB-C to SD adapter, and the transfer rate seemed pretty much the same as with the built-in card reader. My new conclusion is that rather than framing this as the Mac being unduly slow in its transfer speed, the Dell XPS computer(s) are very fast in this regard, for whatever reason.
Hi Doug
For whatever reason, your results sound way off on the MacBook Pro.
Since I am not seeing that issue on my 2021 MacBook Pro 16 inch with the same SD card slot, it makes me think there is something else going on with you MacBook Pro.
The Speeds on my 2021 MacBook Pro slightly exceed the speeds reported for Dell system you have yet basically in the same bracket.
Others have had a slow SD speed on their MacBook Pro until they upgraded to OS 12.2 or beyond (I am using 12.3.1 That may or may not be your issue however.
Thanks for raising awareness of the issue on the Mac systems. It is not clear to me other than informing the forum of the issue you have on your Mac, if you need or desire any more help e.g. to work through the problem to a root cause or a solution. Lots of forum members waiting in the wings if you do, with many suggestions already given on steps to try.
From your responses, I will assume no help is needed at this point unless you have any requests for such.
