Digital Camera World Verdict
The Anker MagGo SD Card Reader is one of the tidiest card readers on the market that are made specifically for iPhones. It's small, well-built and will connect magnetically to MagSafe phones. The device will work on any USB-C device, but the magnetic connection is designed specifically for iPhones. It's quite a niche product, but Anker has absolutely nailed it with this offering.
Pros
- +
Fast file transfer
- +
MagSafe compatible
- +
Solid build
Cons
- -
Magnetic attachment only for iPhones
- -
USB-C connector won't fit all phones
- -
No wireless charging
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MagSafe devices have been flooding the market in recent years, with the likes of Ugreen and Anker at the forefront of this development. Despite most of the attention being focused on wireless charging devices, Anker has decided to create a portable magnetic SD and TF card reader.
The purpose of this product is to make it quick and easy to capture video footage directly from an iPhone onto a card. The device can then be connected to a laptop for editing. As a result, users are provided with a seamless workflow from video capture all the way through to final delivery.
The Anker MagGo USB-C Adapter is capable of managing data transfers up to 312MB/s and if you use it with an iPhone 15 or 16, then it's possible to perform ProRes 4K recording at 60fps. This device could revolutionize how content creators capture and process their footage, but does it live up to the hype? That's the question we're here to answer.
Anker MagGo SD Card Reader for iPhone: Specifications
Compatibility | iPhone 16 / 15 |
Supported cards | SD and TF |
Connectivity | USB-C |
Dimensions | 2.36 x 2.36 x 0.59 in / 60 × 60 × 15 mm |
Weight | 1.55 oz / 44 |
Anker MagGo SD Card Reader for iPhone: Price
The Anker MagGo SD Card Reader retails at $24.99/£29.99, although it is often discounted on the Anker website. Even at full price, it's more than worth the money. These types of readers can oftentimes be obstructive and require trailing cables, but not so with Anker's dedicated solution.
Anker MagGo SD Card Reader for iPhone: Design & Handling
At the heart of this device is an SD and TF reader. The ports sit side by side, and cards can be inserted and removed quickly and easily. I love the click-in-and-out feature for the cards, but in reality, there's nothing special so far, really.
It's as we look at the way it interfaces with and connects to the iPhone that the magic of this reader enters a whole new realm. The first is that the unit is MagSafe compatible, which means it can be magnetically attached to any supported iPhone. With a strong magnet, you can rest assured that not only will it stay in place, but it'll also stay out of the way.
The second is that the reader has a built-in USB-C cable that attaches the unit to a phone, tablet, or laptop. This cable is long enough to work with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15, although you'll run into problems if you own a phone case with a port flap cover or with excessive thickness. You've been warned!
There's no wireless charging capability, but if you plug in a power cable to the USB-C port at the side, then you can get power delivery up to 27W. This means you can charge your phone and transfer data simultaneously. This is an absolutely essential feature given that video recording will drain the battery quicker than almost any other activity.
Anker has decided to use 75% PCR materials, which helps to increase its eco-credentials. I'd like to see this increased to 100% in future iterations, but for now it's a good start from Anker.
Anker MagGo SD Card Reader for iPhone: Performance
The Anker MagGo SD Card Reader delivers very strong performance across the board but especially for data transfer speed. The device supports a maximum data transfer speed of 312 MB/s, which allows it to handle the fastest SD cards on the market, like the SD 4.0 standard.
In my experience, I was capable of matching the claims, which I was very pleased about. Being able to transfer files so rapidly isn't guaranteed with SD card readers, but the Anker MagGo SD Card Reader does it admirably.
The reader also supports recording 4K ProRes video at 60fps which is perfect for professional video recording. Just keep in mind that you'll need a card that can support at least 220 MB/s sustained write speed. Without that, you'll inevitably run into problems.
The advertised power delivery from the side USB-C port is 27W although I was able to get up to 40W. These numbers are more than sufficient for iPhone charging but are a little lacking if you are charging your laptop.
I think Anker could turn up the heat on this product and insert a battery as well as introduce wireless charging. That would turn it into an ultimate little power bank/dock for creatives who rely on their iPhone for video capture.
Anker MagGo SD Card Reader for iPhone: Verdict
The Anker MagGo SD Card Reader is a simple, fast, and reliable way to capture video footage from an iPhone onto an SD or TF card. Offering rapid transfer speeds, creators are able to transfer video data even up to 4K ProRes video at 60fps. That's really impressive.
The lack of an onboard battery and wireless charging is a little disappointing, but maybe Anker has their eyes set on that for the next iteration of this tidy little product. All in all, this is a card reader that performs its core function incredibly well.
Features ★★★★☆ | SD and TF card reading, MagSafe technology, and power delivery make for a pretty complete product. |
Design ★★★★☆ | A small and well-built unit that remains discrete thanks to its magnetic attachment. |
Performance ★★★★★ | Fast transfer speeds and power delivery that make video capture on the iPhone a breeze. |
Value ★★★★☆ | An affordable solution for social media influencers and content creators. |
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