Does a UHS-I card work in a UHS-II reader?

Yes. Under the SD standard, UHS-I cards can be used in a UHS-II reader; they then run at their own UHS-I speed. The other way round, a UHS-II card also works in a UHS-I reader, but without the extra bandwidth of the second row of contacts.

Is an XQD card reader the same as a CFexpress Type B reader?

The slot is physically identical, but not every reader supports both protocols. The IMP399 has a separate XQD slot and a separate CFexpress Type B slot, next to a slot for CFexpress Type A.

Can I use a USB-C card reader on an iPhone with Lightning?

Yes, with the USB-C to Lightning OTG adapter from the range. If you do not own a reader yet, the IMP440 is simpler: it has Lightning, USB-C and USB-A on the same cable.

Which card reader fits the IMPÓSABLE X10 PRO?

The X10 PRO stores photos on a microSD card. Every reader in the range reads microSD: the IMP440 if you want to see the photos on your phone, the IMP345 or IMP399 on a computer.

Do I need drivers or an app?

Not for the IMP399 (Windows, macOS, Linux) and the IMP440 (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS): according to their packaging they are recognised as ordinary storage. The IMP345 is a USB-C card reader to the SD 4.0 standard.

Card reader buying guide

Which card reader
do I need?

Three questions decide it: which card is in your camera, on which device do you want to transfer the photos, and how fast does it need to be? The answers below, with the IMPÓSABLE reader that fits.

1. Which card format does your camera use?

SD (SDHC/SDXC) is the standard in most mirrorless and compact cameras. microSD (TF) is used in action cams, drones, phones and the IMPÓSABLE X10 PRO. CFexpress Type B and XQD share the same dimensions and are found in professional bodies from Canon and Nikon, among others; CFexpress Type A is the smaller card from recent Sony cameras. CompactFlash, Memory Stick and xD are older formats you still meet in an archive or a second-hand camera.

If you only use SD and microSD, a compact 2-in-1 reader such as the IMP345 or the IMP440 is enough. If you work with CFexpress or XQD, or with several formats side by side, the 8-in-1 reader IMP399 is the only one in the range with a dedicated slot for every format.

2. On which device do you transfer the photos?

A laptop or desktop has USB-C or USB-A; a phone or tablet has USB-C or — on older iPhones and iPads — Lightning. The IMP440 carries all three plugs on the same cable and works without an app on iOS, Android, Windows and macOS: the same reader on your phone on location and on your computer at home. More on the page card reader for iPhone, iPad and Android.

The IMP399 and the IMP345 connect over USB-C; the IMP399 also ships with a USB-A data cable. If you have an iPhone or iPad with a Lightning port and a USB-C reader, the USB-C to Lightning OTG adapter connects the two.

3. How fast does it need to be?

Speed is limited by three links: the card, the reader and the port of your computer. UHS-II is the faster bus interface of SD and microSD cards, recognisable by the second row of contacts; only a UHS-II reader uses that extra bandwidth. The IMP345 supports SD 4.0 with UHS-II on both slots. The IMP399 offers a USB-C connection with a bandwidth of up to 10 Gb/s — relevant for CFexpress cards, which are far faster than SD.

For sharing photos from your phone, speed is rarely the bottleneck; the connector matters more. According to their packaging, the IMP399 and the IMP440 work without drivers.

In short

Several card formats, CFexpress or XQD, read simultaneously on a computer: IMP399. The same card on iPhone, Android and laptop: IMP440. Compact, SD and microSD at the same time, UHS-II over USB-C: IMP345. All models with price and stock are in the overview of all card readers; full specifications and box contents are on each product page.