Best UGREEN Card Readers for Steam Deck and Switch microSD: 10 Listings Compared

For a Steam Deck or Switch card, a compact USB-C reader with a microSD slot is all most people need, and the two 2-in-1 USB-C listings with the 170MB/s claim are the simplest match. The UHS-II listing only helps if your card is UHS-II too. The USB-A hubs and multi-format readers suit photographers and older laptops better than console owners. None of the ten titles mention Steam Deck or Switch, so this guide relies on what the titles state and on general knowledge of console cards.

Top picks at a glance

What a console microSD job really asks of a reader

Most people do three things: copy a library to a bigger card, back up saves, and check or reformat a card. All three are bulk file jobs on a computer, so two spec lines matter: the port the reader plugs into and the slowest link in the chain. Console cards are UHS-I class in practice, so a UHS-II or 5Gbps reader will not change load times on the handheld. It only shortens the copy. Compatibility matters more than speed: a USB-C-only laptop needs a USB-C reader, and an old desktop needs a USB-A one.

How these were picked

The ten listings are everything supplied for this keyword, grouped by what the titles state. Facts come from published specifications, manufacturer documentation and buyer reviews; titles are seller claims and a few are loose. Nobody on the team used or measured these units. Where a title is ambiguous, the entry says so and names what to check on the listing.

The ten listings

UGREEN USB C SD Card Reader, 2-in-1, 170MB/s, white

This is the plainest match for a handheld owner. The title lists a USB-C connector, SD and TF (microSD) slots, a claimed 170MB/s ceiling, and names an iPhone, iPad, MacBook and Samsung devices. In practice that is one small adapter that plugs into a current laptop or tablet and handles the card you pull from a Deck or Switch.

Treat 170MB/s as a best-case seller claim; a typical UHS-I microSD sits below that, so your copy rate follows the card. It suits someone who swaps cards a few times a year and wants no extra bulk. It is nearly the same product as the black listing below, which has its own entry.

Typical scenario: you bought a larger card for a handheld, and the old one holds saves and screenshots you want on a laptop. Plug the reader in, copy the folders you care about, eject cleanly, and put both cards back in their cases. Read the compatibility line as a hint about plug fit, not a promise of speed.

• Pros: USB-C fit for current laptops and tablets; SD and microSD in one body; no pack to store.
• Cons: No USB-A end, so older desktops need a dongle; the title does not say whether both slots work at once; nothing about microSD Express.

Question to ask: does the listing say whether two cards can be read together?

UGREEN SD Card Reader USB C, Type C Micro SD, 170MB/s, black

Set the title beside the white listing and the specifications match: USB-C, SD plus microSD, 170MB/s claimed. The visible differences are colour and compatibility wording, which here leans toward Android and Galaxy phones. Treat the two as near-duplicates and choose by colour, stock or delivery date.

The question that matters is whether your computer has a USB-C data port. Some laptop ports are charge-only or sit behind a hub, and then no reader will appear. If your Steam Deck is the main device you own, its USB-C port can host a reader in desktop mode, which is a quick way to copy files without a PC at all.

If the white and black listings are priced the same, pick on delivery date and the look you prefer. If one is out of stock, the other loses nothing in the specifications the titles state, so you are not giving anything up by taking whichever is available sooner.

• Pros: Same compact format; fits Android-first households; simple one-piece design.
• Cons: Near-identical to the white listing, so no upgrade; no USB-A option; no stated Express support.

Both colours look the same on paper, so the safest tiebreak is the seller’s return policy. If a unit arrives with a loose connector or a tight slot, you want an easy exchange.

Question to ask: will the plug clear a thick phone case or crowded laptop ports?

UGREEN USB C Micro SD Card Reader, zinc alloy external adapter

This one drops the full-size SD slot. The title says USB-C to microSD (TF) in a zinc alloy body, with Samsung, Mac, iPad Pro and iPhone models named. If you only handle microSD cards for a Steam Deck or Switch, the smaller shape is the point: it fits in a pouch next to a spare card and weighs almost nothing.

A metal shell can shed heat during a long copy, but the title makes no such claim, so read it as a build detail. With no SD slot it cannot read camera cards, so a shared household may prefer a 2-in-1. It also states no speed class, which is worth confirming before you rely on it for a large library.

Typical scenario: you keep a spare card in your travel pouch and want to dump a few gigabytes of captures onto a laptop at a cafe table. A single-purpose adapter handles that quickly and leaves your bag lighter. It is a weaker choice if you want one device for every card in the house.

• Pros: Compact metal body; fewer parts to snag; focused on microSD.
• Cons: No SD slot; speed rating missing from the title; USB-C only.

Question to ask: does the listing quote an interface standard or speed class?

UGREEN USB C SD 4.0 Card Reader, UHS-II, 312MB/s

The only listing here that states UHS-II and SD 4.0, with a 312MB/s claim that equals the UHS-II bus ceiling. The title lists SDXC, SDHC, microSD, MMC and RS-MMC, so it covers console cards plus full-size camera cards from one USB-C plug.

A UHS-II reader only moves faster if the card is UHS-II too, and most console microSD cards are UHS-I. The title says “312 MB/s SD”, which suggests the headline speed belongs to the full-size slot; check whether the microSD slot shares it. Pick this when you also own fast SD cards for a camera, or when you move large libraries often enough that minutes add up.

Typical scenario: a household that shares a camera with a handheld, where the camera card is UHS-II and large video files are moved weekly. The reader then earns its place on the camera side, while the console microSD cards ride along at their own pace. Without the camera, the same money buys a bigger console card.

• Pros: Highest stated ceiling in the group; wide format list; USB-C connection.
• Cons: Console cards rarely use the bandwidth; likely the priciest here; microSD slot speed unclear.

Question to ask: do I own a single UHS-II card? If not, skip it.

UGREEN USB C / USB 3.0 Micro SD Card Reader 2-in-1, pack of 2

A twin pack of a 2-in-1 reader for MicroSD, SDHC and SDXC. The title is muddled: it begins “SD Card Reader USB C” and then says “USB 3.0 Micro SD”, so confirm on the listing whether the connector is Type-C, an A-to-C pair, or both. Two units suit a desk-and-bag setup, or one for you and one for a friend with a handheld.

The compatibility line runs from PC and MacBook to iPad and iPhone 15, 16 and 17 models. Because the name mixes interface wording, verify the plug type before relying on it with a USB-A-only desktop. The pack price is only a bargain if you will use both.

Typical scenario: one reader stays plugged into a desk dock for library copies while the second lives in a travel pouch for save backups. If you only ever work at one desk, the second unit is a spare, which is fine as insurance against losing a small part.

• Pros: Two readers per order; broad device list; handles SD and microSD.
• Cons: Interface wording unclear; no speed figure; the second unit may sit unused.

Question to ask: what is the real connector, and does either unit include an adapter?

UGREEN USB C SD Card Reader with SD Card Holder (4-card case)

This listing bundles a USB-C reader with a case for four cards. The title lists SD and microSD, iPhone and Samsung compatibility, and the case is the selling point. If you carry a Steam Deck library across two or three microSD cards, a holder stops them rattling loose in a bag and keeps the reader with them.

The title gives no speed or interface standard, so judge it as a convenience pick rather than a performance pick. If you already own a card case, the extra value shrinks. If you travel with a handheld and a Switch, keeping the reader, the library card and the save-backup card in one place reduces the chance of leaving one behind.

Typical scenario: a Steam Deck owner who rotates a large library card, a small emergency card and a card used only for save backups. With one case, all three and the reader share one pocket. If your cards already sit in labelled sleeves, a plain reader costs less and does the same copy job.

• Pros: Organised storage for spare cards; USB-C; simple to carry.
• Cons: No stated speed class; adds bulk; a case cannot tell you whether the cards inside are genuine.

Question to ask: do the case slots hold microSD adapters as well as bare cards?

UGREEN SD Card Reader Portable USB 3.0, Dual Slot, single

A USB-A, dual-slot reader for TF, SD, Micro SD, SDXC and SDHC, with Mac, Windows, Linux and Chrome listed. It is the classic desktop fit: plug into any USB-A port and copy. The title says USB 3.0 but gives no speed figure, so the practical ceiling follows the card and the port.

This is a near-duplicate of the pack of 5 below; the wording differs slightly (“Portable”, “Hub”) and the real difference is one unit instead of five. If you need a single desk reader for library copies, this is the sensible quantity. On a thin laptop without USB-A it would need an adapter, which erases its convenience.

Typical scenario: a tower PC with free USB-A ports on the front panel, where you plug the reader in only during library moves and unplug it afterwards. A dual-slot body also lets you read an SD card and a microSD card in the same session, for example when checking a camera card while a console card copies.

• Pros: Works on older desktops; broad OS list; one unit, no surplus.
• Cons: USB-A only; no stated speed class; bulkier than a microSD-only adapter.

Question to ask: does the listing confirm both slots can work at once?

UGREEN SD Card Reader USB 3.0, Dual Slot, pack of 5

The same style of reader, sold five at a time, with a claim to read two cards simultaneously. Five is a lot for one gamer. It makes sense for a family with several handhelds, a school club, a small shop, or someone who keeps a reader at several desks.

Because two cards can be read together, you can copy from an old card to a new one in one sitting, which is exactly the library-move job. The cost is surplus: four readers you may never use. Compare with the single listing before you commit, since the specifications in the titles look alike and only the quantity changes.

Typical scenario: a youth gaming club with several handhelds, where each station keeps its own reader and nobody borrows a stranger’s. The pack removes the scramble to find one, and a single failure is not a crisis. At home, it mostly gives you readers to hand out or to store as spares.

• Pros: Low cost per reader if you will use several; two-card reading; Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome.
• Cons: Far more units than one person needs; USB-A only; no stated speed figure.

Question to ask: will I use at least three of the five, or would the single listing do?

UGREEN USB 3.0 Card Hub Adapter, 4 cards at once, pack of 2

The broadest reader here: the title lists CF, CFI, TF, SDXC, SDHC, SD, MMC, Micro SDXC, Micro SD, Micro SDHC, MS and UHS-I, claims four cards read at once, and quotes 5Gbps. “CFI” looks like a typo or a variant of CF; check which compact flash type the listing supports. The two-pack is aimed at photographers who juggle many formats.

For a Steam Deck owner it is overkill, since the CF and MS slots sit idle. Its advantage is parallel reading: verify one card while copying from another. The 5Gbps figure describes the bus, not any card, so do not expect 625MB/s from a microSD.

Typical scenario: you shoot photos on CF, record a trail cam to SD and move games on microSD, and you want everything off the cards in one evening. The hub lets you start all copies at once and walk away. If your only cards are microSD, a smaller 2-in-1 is simpler and cheaper.

• Pros: Four cards at once; many formats; two units per order.
• Cons: Slots you will not use; typo-like wording; hub shape is bulkier.

If you do shoot on CF, the hub saves you from owning a second reader, and the pair means one can live in a camera bag.

Question to ask: do I need CF or MS support at all?

UGREEN USB C SD Card Reader, 4-in-1 SD, Micro SD, MS, CF

The multi-format USB-C version, with SD, microSD, MS and CF slots and a title that mentions trail cameras, iPhone, iPad and MacBook. It is aimed at camera and field users first. For a Switch or Steam Deck card it works if the microSD slot behaves like the others, though the title gives no speed or UHS rating.

It is the weakest fit for this keyword among the USB-C readers: you pay for formats that console cards never use. It earns its place when one reader must serve a trail cam, a DSLR and a handheld in the same household, and it is a poor pick if all you do is swap microSD cards.

Typical scenario: hunting season brings in trail camera cards while a family handheld keeps asking for library backups, and one USB-C reader has to cover both. In that situation the extra slots justify the larger body. For a gamer with no cameras they are dead weight.

• Pros: Four formats in one USB-C reader; useful for trail cameras; modern connector.
• Cons: Off-focus for console owners; no stated speed rating; larger than a microSD-only adapter.

Question to ask: does the microSD slot sit flush, or does it need an adapter?

Reader speed ceilings in plain terms

Moving a library, verifying capacity, formatting safely

On a Steam Deck, the least risky move is Steam’s own storage tool: insert the new card, format it from the Deck’s settings, then use the per-game move option. A reader is the fallback for copying files to a computer. SteamOS formats cards with a Linux filesystem by default, so Windows may call the card unformatted and offer to wipe it; decline. On a Switch, let the console format the card, and check Nintendo’s current guidance before copying by hand. Back up saves first, copy, verify, and only then wipe the old card.

Verify new cards before trusting them. Counterfeit or relabelled cards report a large size and then overwrite data once the true capacity fills. H2testw (Windows) and f3 (Linux, macOS) fill the card and read it back; they erase it, so run them on an empty card. A 512GB card showing roughly 476GiB is normal decimal-versus-binary counting; a larger gap, or any error, means return it. Before any format, confirm drive letter, size and contents.

Worked example: copy time for a 400GB library

Assumptions: 400GB (400,000MB) moved card to card through a computer, sustained speed equal to the slower card, no retries. These are labeled estimates, not measurements.

Small files drag a copy toward the slower rows, and a 170MB/s reader cannot lift a 30MB/s card.

Which listing for which user

Mistakes buyers make

Verdict by use case

Most people moving games between microSD cards should take one of the two USB-C 2-in-1 readers; colour is the main difference. Take the zinc alloy adapter for the smallest tool, the UHS-II reader only if your cards justify it, the dual-slot USB-A readers for older desktops, and the pack of 5 for groups. The two multi-format readers are for camera and field use first. Check each listing for current price, slot behaviour and return terms.

Related guides

• How To Extend Battery Life On A Handheld Gaming Pc
• Gen4 Nvme M2 Ssds For High Performance Pc
• Portable Monitor For Nintendo Switch 2

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a card reader to use a microSD card in a Steam Deck or Switch?

No. Both consoles have their own microSD slot, so a reader is optional. It becomes useful when you want to copy a game library from an old card to a bigger one, back up saves, check that a new card has its advertised capacity, or reformat a card that the console no longer recognizes. A reader turns those jobs into a desktop task.

Will a UHS-II reader make my Steam Deck or Switch card faster?

No. The reader only affects how fast you can copy files to and from a computer. Console performance depends on the card and on the console’s own slot. The UHS-II listing in this group only pays off if your card is also UHS-II and you move large libraries often. For a typical UHS-I microSD, a plain USB-C or USB 3.0 reader reaches the same ceiling.

Does any reader here support microSD Express for the Switch 2?

None of the ten titles mention microSD Express. They list UHS-I, UHS-II or no standard at all. Nintendo’s published guidance for the Switch 2 points to microSD Express cards, which use a different interface than UHS-I. If you need to read an Express card on a computer, look for a reader that names Express support before you buy.

Can Windows read a microSD card that came out of a Steam Deck?

Often not directly. SteamOS formats cards with a Linux filesystem by default, and Windows does not read that natively. You can add third-party drivers, boot a Linux live USB, or skip the problem by moving games with Steam’s own storage tools on the Deck. Never accept a Windows prompt to format the card until you have copied off anything you want to keep.

How do I know a new microSD card really has the capacity printed on it?

Fill it with data and read it back. Free utilities such as H2testw on Windows and f3 on Linux or macOS write across the whole card and verify it afterwards. Counterfeit or relabelled cards often accept files, then corrupt them once the real capacity is exceeded. The check takes hours on a large card, so start it before you go to bed.

Is a pack of readers worth it over a single unit?

Only if you will place readers in several spots. The pack of 2 suits a desk-and-bag split; the pack of 5 suits a household or group with many handhelds. For one person, a single dual-slot or USB-C 2-in-1 reader is plenty, and the savings can go toward a bigger card. Near-duplicate listings differ mostly by pack size, so compare slot lists before choosing.