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16 March 2024  Amanda J. Brook  Senior Product Manager
 

Summary
Now, the need of storage space on a phone is increasing. The design of SD card slot has been utilized in Android phones for a long time. Yet, Apple never joins in this action. So, how to read a SD card on iPhone with a card reader?



Part 1: Why don’t iPhones Have A Memory Card Slot?

Since the first iPhone released in 2007, iPhone has been updated for 12 times. Yet, some people notice that no model has a memory card slot. Why?

a. Profit

As we all know, the gap in paying for iPhones at different capacities is astonishing, even over the value of the capacity itself. Some people complain that Apple is the supplier selling the most expensive flash memory.

b. Design

Minimalism is Apple’s concept. The Apple designers have no tolerance for an extra jack. Adding a SD card slot is to obey this concept.

c. Security

Since any app is possible to look for target data on a SD card, it is hard to protect the users’ privacy. Considering data security, Apple doesn’t add a SD card slot.

d. Compatibility

Once an iPhone has two storage places, they should be compatible with each other. Yet, the SD card quality and the operations can greatly affect the device. If the SD card doesn’t work, the data on iPhone will be damaged.

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Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes Fulfill different data lost and recovery needs.

File types Recover pictures, videos, audios, documents, mails, etc.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Supported System Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000 and Mac OS X10.6, 10.7, 10.8.

Easy to use Simple steps to recover data

Recover different file formats Support to recover multiple file types

Support different devices Recover data from multiple storage devices

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Part 2: How to Read SD Card on iPhone?

Apple’s Lighting to SD card Reader accessory allows users to transfer photos and videos from other devices to iOS products. After you insert a SD card into the reader, your iPad or iPhone automatically opens the app Photos, which imports your photos into Moments, Collections, and Years.

The Lightning to SD Card Reader supports standard photo formats, including JPEG and RAW, along with SD and HD video formats, including H.264 and MPEG-4. It supports data transfer at up to USB 3.0 speeds on the 12.9-inch and 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and up to USB 2.0 speeds on the 9.7-inch iPad Pro and all other iPad and iPhone models.

However, please note that this accessory only supports iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models with iOS 9.0 or later versions. It is sold at USD$29.00.

use apple lighting to sd card reader to connect ipad
Next, we use this accessory to measure how fast it transfers a 1.8GB video. We take two SD cards, HAMA and PNY in this test.
Transfer time in iPhone 6sTransfer time in iPad ProTransfer speed in iPhone 6sTransfer speed in iPad Pro
HAMA125 s125 s15 Mbit/s15 Mbit/s
PNY71 s42 s26 Mbit/s45 Mbit/s
Besides, in the test, we find that the file name determines whether it can be recognized by the Reader. No matter folder and files, they should be named with 3 characters and 4 numbers, like aaa_1234.JPG and bbb_5678.MOV. “XXX_YYYY” is the necessary format model.

Within these 8 digits, the characters and numbers can be set freely. If you don’t follow this format, such as naming a file as “ds_1235.jpg”, the photos on the SD card cannot be recognized on iPad.

Pros: Quick, easy to use.

Cons: Expensive, only allowed to import photos and videos to an iOS device and view on the device.

Part 3: How to Recover Deleted Data from SD Card?

How if you accidentally delete data on a SD card? In such situation, you can draw support from Renee Undeleter. This is the all-round software for SD card recovery that supports to recover many file types and save files from formatted disks, especially SD cards.

Meanwhile, Renee Undeleter is designed with fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan. These functions can facilitate users, even newbies to solve any problem in data recovery.

Renee Undeleter - Powerful Data Recovery SoftwareRenee Undeleter data Recovery software

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes Fast partition scan, whole partition scan and whole disk scan for different recovery needs.

File types Support to recover pictures, videos, audios, documents, mails, etc.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

Supported systems Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP, 2000 and Mac OS X10.6, 10.7, 10.8.

Easy to use Only simple steps to recover data from storage devices.

Multiple scan modes - 3 scan modes for different recovery needs.

Supported storage devices Recover data from recycle bin, SD card, external disk, etc.

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1. Use a card reader to connect the target SD card to the computer. Then, open Renee Undeleter and select [Fast Partition Scan].
data recovery in renee undeleter
2. Select the target SD card and click [Next]. Then, select a way to scan, [Fast Scan] or [Deep Scan].
select fast scan mode in renee undeleter
3. Wait for scanning patiently. The scanning time depends on the SD card capacity. If the capacity is large, the scan process will be time-consuming. After that, click [Recover] to save the target files.
select the target files to recover in fast partition scan

Part 4: Recommended SD Card Readers for iPhones

As a common accessory, card reader is frequently used. The quality is critical to data security. Yet, at present, some low-quality and fake card readers flood into the market. With regard to the cost, some card reader suppliers utilize cheap chips slowing down the transfer speed. Therefore, it is not easy to buy a suitable card reader. In the followings, we recommend some card readers to you. Hope you can get a perfect one.

SUNTRSI TF/SD Card Reader Compatible with iPhone/OTG Android/Computer/

Price: USD$15.99

Support SD/TF card

Transfer speed: 14MB/S~16MB/S

Support format: Picture – jpg jpeg png bmp gif; text – txt pdf doc xls xlsx ppt psd; video – mp4 mov mkv avi rmvb; music – mp3 caf wav wma; mail list – vcf

Support iPhone model: All iPhones with iOS 9.2 and up

iphone sd card reader suntrisi

GOLDFOX SD Card Reader Compatible with iPhone/iPad

Price: USD$9.69

Support all micro SD/SDHC/TF/SD cards with adapters (up to 64GB)

Transfer Speed: 14MB/S~16MB/S

Support format: Picture – JPEG and RAQ; video – SD and HD video formats including H.264 and MPEG-4

Supprot iPhone model: iPhone 5 and the latter models with iOS 9.2 and up

goldfox sd card reader for iphone

BoomFun SD Card Reader Compatible with iPhone/iPad

Price: USD$10.88

Support: SD/SDHC/Mini SD/Micro SD card (up to 128GB)

Transfer speed: 14MB/S~16MB/S

Support format: Picture – JPEG and RAQ; video – SD and HD video formats including H.264 and MPEG-4

Support iPhone model: All iPhones with iOS 9.2 and up

use boomfun sd card reader on iphone

Faracent Camera Card Reader

Price: USD$19.91

Support: SDXC/SDHC/SD/Micro SD/TF/CF card

Transfer speed: 14MB/S~16MB/S

Support format: Most of photos and video formats including H.264 and MPEC-4

Support iPhone model: All iPhones with iOS 9.2 and up

faracent sd card reader for iphone

GOLDFOX Dual-slot SD Card Reader

Price: USD$12.99

Support: SD/SDHC/Micro SD card (up to 64GB)

Transfer speed: 14MB/S~16MB/S

Support format: Picture – JPEG and RAW; video – SD and HD video formats including H.264 and MPEG-4

Support iPhone model: iPhone 5 and the latter models with iOS 9.2 and up

how to use goldfox dual slot card reader on iphone

Trail Game Camera Viewer SD Card Reader

Price: USD$14.99

Support: TF/SD card

Transfer speed: 14MB/S~16MB/S

Support formats: Picture – JPEG and RAW; video – SD and HD video formats including H.264 and MPEG-4

Support iPhone model: iPhone 5 and the latter models with iOS 9.2 and up

how to use trail game sd card reader for iphone

Part 5: Can We Replace USB with SD Card?

Although there are many capacity options and the usage of the SD card is convenient, it is not suggested that USB be replaced by SD card.

a. Don’t use SD card with too large-capacity

You should select a suitable SD card whose capacity is not overloaded for your phone. Besides, you should figure out whether the card reader can read the SD card in case of unnecessary troubles.

b. Don’t plug out a SD card when the device is on

It is easy to lost data or cause operational disorder when you plug out a SD card from a running phone. If you want to plug out a SD card, please turn off the phone beforehand.

c. Don’t delete files casually

A SD card usually contains some system files guarding a phone’s regular operation and privacy. It is not suggested that you delete files casually.

d. Don’t format a SD card on PC

It is not suggested that a SD card which you use in phone be formatted on PC because the file formats are not identical with the common computer formats. If you have to format a SD card, you should operate on phone.