T-Create is a relatively young company that makes some of the top gear for photographers. I ran their V90 UHS-II U3 SD card and card reader through a series of tests to see how they performed. Here’s what I found out about the card reader.
I have been looking for a new card reader for a while. I have been using a relatively cheap hub that I only bought because it had a built-in DVD reader. Yes, I know it is old technology, but I am occasionally asked to work on client photos and videos that are provided to me on CD or DVD. I am also slowly ripping my large CD collection so that I can listen to music on my phone. While the advantage of a slow reader is that it gives me time to brew a pot of coffee while I import photos, I accept that the purchase was a mistake.
I previously reviewed the T-Create P31 external SSD, which proved to be of excellent quality, so I took the opportunity to try out their product. R31 memory card reader.
I only discovered TEAMGROUP, the company behind the T-Create brand, a few years ago. It was through the company’s excellent computer memory drives. Despite only being founded in 2007, the company is no small company and produces some top-notch devices. Plus, on paper, it seems like a good company, ensuring ethically sourced materials and claiming to be a safe and rewarding place to work.
The company is guided by core values of integrity, innovation, professionalism, efficiency, discipline and simplicity. TEAMGROUP prioritizes the growth and development of its employees and encourages them to participate in continuous training programs, helping them to maximize their potential and contribute to the success of the company.
TEAMGROUP says it wants to make a positive impact on both the industry and the world. Furthermore, it offers employees competitive salaries, performance-based bonuses, year-end bonuses, holiday gifts, and support for important life events such as marriage and childbirth. It also promotes a healthy work-life balance through generous leave policies, regular health checks, and professional development opportunities.
Additionally, the company claims to have a solid retirement plan that adheres to high labor standards, ensuring long-term financial security for its employees. When I spoke to my contacts there, they certainly seemed happy to work for them. Wouldn’t you want to work for a company like that? I certainly find it motivating to buy from companies that have high ethical standards and treat their employees and the planet with genuine respect. Likewise, I reject those that don’t or try to hide behind nonsensical greenwashing policies.
Unboxing the card reader
The company’s environmental commitment is reflected in T-Create R 31 3-in-1 Card Reader packaging, almost entirely cardboard. I asked them about it and the answer was that they are making a big effort to reduce non-recyclable packaging.
Taking the reader out of the box, like the SSDs I reviewed previously, I could see that this was a well-built device. The 5oz (142g) solid metal case and sturdy rubber feet kept it firmly planted on my desk.
It has slots for CF Express B cards, SD cards, and microSD cards. The case has a fingerprint-resistant finish. It comes with a high-quality USB-C to USB-C cable that is about 20” (50 cm) long. When I plug the reader into my computer, a small blue LED lights up next to the USB-C port on the back of the reader.
The USB connection is Type-C 3.2 Gen2 x2. Allows up to two 10 Gbps operating lanes, theoretical transfer speeds up to 20 Gbps.
Using a card reader
The cards slide smoothly into the slots and are positioned correctly.
Despite the speed, my main computer doesn’t have a USB-C port, so I used a camera USB-3 to USB-C cable to connect the reader. I also tested it with my Chromebook, and it connected instantly there too. I spent a solid half hour uploading and downloading images. It worked without any hiccups; transferring large files to and from a UHS-II plugged into the reader was instantaneous. Importing from a 300MB/s UHS-II card was blazing fast, and there was a huge difference between this and using a standard cheap card reader.
Tried using the reader in conjunction with Lightroom, which is a bit slow compared to other photo cataloging software I own, the Library module filled in seconds with many images that previously took minutes. I’d estimate the upload speed is ten times faster than my old card reader.
The reader gets a little warm when constantly transferring files, but that’s good news, as it means the metal casing is dissipating heat by radiating it. It doesn’t get too hot.
What I liked and what could be improved next time with the T-Create Expert R-31 card reader
What I like
- Fast download speed.
- Compact and easy to pack.
- Solid construction.
- Simple, smart design.
- Just a little warm.
- Especially suitable for mobile devices such as laptops.
- Environmentally sustainable.
- Comply with global manufacturing regulations.
- Has a 2 year warranty.
- Affordable price for a high speed card reader.
What could be improved next time?
- While it doesn’t affect me, there is no CFExpress Type A slot. As such, it won’t fit some Sony cameras, although as camera technology improves, Type A will likely become obsolete.
- The included cable is a bit short for desktop use, and many desktops don’t have USB-C ports, though it’s easy to replace the cable with a compatible one. I have at least half a dozen USB-3 to USB-C cables in my spare box.
Conclude
This is a simple, no-frills, durable card reader that does exactly what you expect it to do, and does it well. It’s well built, solidly built, and smart; for me, it ticks all the boxes. It’s reasonably priced for a device of this performance. Plus, with its ethical credentials, it’s likely to appeal to those who care about the needs of people and our planet.
It sits securely on my desk but is also small and light enough that I can throw it in my pocket or in the Peak Design Small Tech Pouch to carry around.
With its fast transfer speeds, the format is especially appealing to professional photographers, filmmakers and videographers, and other content creators who create large media files and want fast downloads.
Would I buy one of these? Absolutely. At $69.99, there are cheaper card readers on the market. But it’s still affordable and performs better than cheaper models. Paying a little extra for performance is, in my opinion, a worthy investment.
The T-Create Expert R31 3-in-1 Card Reader Available on Amazon.
Specifications
- Media: MicroSD/SD/CFExpress Type B (Not backwards compatible with XQD cards)
- UHS-II: Read up to 300MB/s. Write up to 300MB/s
- CFExpress Type B: Read up to 2,000 MB/s. Write up to 2,000 MB/s
- Interface: USB Type-C 3.2 Gen2 x2
- Operating temperature: 5° C- 50° C
- Storage temperature: -20° C – 50° C
- Dimensions: 85mm (L) x 66mm (W) x 15mm (H)
- Weight: 142 g
- Warranty: 2 years
