Card readers

A microSD card reader is the basic tool for preparing a retro handheld console: formatting the card, copying a firmware, backing up your data before an update. This selection brings together a USB-A model with a separate SD slot and a USB-C model with a zinc body, supplied with a USB-A adapter.

2 items2 available right now
2 products
USB microSD and SD card reader — flash your retro consoles
Fun-Esports USB microSD and SD card reader — flash your retro consolesAvailable
13,99€
USB-C microSD card reader — USB-A adapter included, zinc body
Fun-Esports USB-C microSD card reader — USB-A adapter included, zinc bodyAvailable
14,99€

Which card reader to choose based on your computer's port

Your computer's port decides the model

The two readers on this page cost €3.99. The first connects over USB-A and takes both microSD cards and full-size SD cards, useful if you also handle camera cards. The second is USB-C, with a USB-A adapter included, which covers a recent laptop as well as an older desktop.

A slow copy rarely comes from the reader

When a 64 GB transfer drags on, the culprit is almost always the card, not the reader: entry-level memory, or a stated capacity greater than the real one. Check the card with a test tool before copying a firmware onto it, otherwise the console will crash the first time it loads something sizeable.

What it doesn't do

  • No data supplied: the reader is empty; it contains no firmware, no system and no games.
  • No repair: a counterfeit or worn card will stay unreadable, whatever the reader.
  • No speed gain: the throughput stays limited by the card itself and by the computer's port.

microSD cards · microSD card storage · Linux-based consoles · Anbernic consoles · Retro consoles under €150 · Screen protection

Questions fréquentes

Do I need a reader if my computer already has an SD slot?
Not always, but it helps: many built-in slots only accept full-size SD cards and force you to use an adapter, a fragile part that causes disconnections in the middle of a copy. At €3.99, a dedicated reader avoids interrupting the writing of a firmware.
USB-A or USB-C, which one should you take?
The USB-C model is the more versatile: it comes with a USB-A adapter, so it works on both types of port. The USB-A model remains worthwhile if you also need to read full-size SD cards, since it has both slots.
Can the reader damage my microSD card?
The risk comes mainly from pulling it out while it is live. Always use the software eject before unplugging, especially after writing a system image of several gigabytes. A card removed during writing can become unreadable and will have to be reformatted.