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Review: Transcend USB 3.0 Card Reader RDF5

Transcend Memory Card Reader RDF5
Transcend Memory Card Reader RDF5 Side
Transcend Memory Card Reader RDF5 with Card

Introduction

The Transcend USB 3.0 Card Reader RDF5 is a low-profile card reader. The package claims 90 MB/s read and 60MB/s write (using a Transcend 128GB UHS-I card).

The reader has some side-to-side play when inserted into a USB port. Because the cards are inserted on the side of the reader, inserting and removing cards required extra effort to hold the reader.

The plastic case seems thin and hollow. A cap covers the USB plug gives reader when not in use, but is easily lost of misplaced when removed. A cover is hardly necessary because the card slots are just as prone to debris as the USB plug.

A small blue LED lights when a card is inserted, and flashes when the card is being accessed.

Performance

The RDF5 provided some fast read and write speeds, within a few MB/s of the fastest readers.

Reader: Transcend SD Card Reader RDF5 Black
Benchmark: CrystalDiskMark 3.0.3 x64
Program settings: 1000 MB, 5 passes, random test data
Operating system: Windows 10 Pro
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H
Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K @ 4.40GHz
RAM: 32GB DDR3 1600

Transcend SD Card Reader RDF5 Black
Card Benchmarks
Sequential
Read
(MB/s)
Sequential
Write
(MB/s)
AgfaPhoto Professional 64GB96.27991.795
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 32GB96.25390.652
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s microSD 32GB96.23565.255
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 64GB96.22691.483
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 32GB96.19160.520
Kingston Canvas React V30 256GB96.08581.247
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 128GB96.00689.745
Kingston Canvas React V30 64GB95.98882.364
Kingston Canvas Go! V30 256GB95.97980.946
Kingston Canvas React V30 128GB95.91882.003
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 32GB95.90090.169
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 64GB95.83972.461
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 32GB95.82290.754
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB95.74390.825
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 64GB95.73489.568
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 256GB95.73490.068
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDHC 32GB95.70889.714
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 256GB95.68265.214
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 64GB95.64772.511
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB95.63890.286
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB95.62989.416
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 128GB95.62965.729
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s microSDHC 32GB95.62948.523
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB95.61255.933
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB95.60367.023
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDHC 32GB95.60371.600
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 32GB95.59490.394
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB95.59453.812
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 128GB95.58690.731
Sony M Series UHS-II 128GB95.57781.538
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 64GB95.57750.123
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 64GB95.57790.348
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 microSDXC 128GB95.56063.508
Toshiba Exceria Pro UHS-II 32GB95.51690.566
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s U3 V30 32GB95.51667.126
Toshiba Exceria Type 2 32GB95.51664.871
Patriot EP Series V30 A1 microSDXC 128GB95.50781.367
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDHC 32GB95.49090.676
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 128GB95.47364.259
SanDisk Extreme Plus 100MB/s A1 microSDXC 128GB95.47390.068
SanDisk Extreme 100MB/s A1 microSDHC 32GB95.47371.840
Kingston Class 10 UHS-I 64GB95.46470.950
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 32GB95.45589.791
SanDisk Extreme 150MB 256GB95.45588.398
Toshiba Exceria Type 1 32GB95.45586.961
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 64GB95.44785.271
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 64GB95.43887.887
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 32GB95.43849.315
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s microSDXC 64GB95.35190.645
SanDisk Ultra Plus V10 A1 microSDXC 128GB95.27362.763
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 128GB95.16957.894
SanDisk Extreme 160MB/s V30 A2 microSDXC 128GB95.16987.813
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s 256GB95.15290.007
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 64GB95.11866.345
Transcend R95 W85 U3 64GB95.11887.828
SanDisk Extreme V30 A2 microSDXC 256GB95.10087.681
PNY Elite Performance U1 64GB95.10066.169
PNY Elite Performance U1 32GB95.08338.329
Transcend 600x 32GB95.08339.066
Transcend 95/85 MB/s U3 32GB95.07488.376
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB95.06686.932
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 256GB95.04987.600
SanDisk Extreme Plus 95/90 MB/s microSD 64GB95.04090.053
Lexar Professional 600x 64GB95.03167.821
SanDisk Extreme 150MB/s 64GB95.03167.208
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 32GB95.00676.909
Sony 94MB/s 32GB94.99766.290
Sony 95MB/s U3 64GB94.99787.820
SanDisk Extreme 150MB/s 128GB94.99787.696
Patriot EP Series microSDXC 64GB94.98082.468
SanDisk Extreme V30 A2 microSDXC 400GB94.98087.476
SanDisk Extreme Plus 150MB/s 64GB94.95484.651
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s 32GB94.94571.894
SanDisk Extreme Pro 170MB/s 128GB94.94587.469
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB94.92886.846
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 128GB94.92069.516
SanDisk Extreme Plus 150MB/s 128GB94.91184.420
Integral UltimaPro X2 UHS-II V90 64GB94.90291.022
Sony 95MB/s U3 32GB94.90287.762
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB94.89491.627
Delkin Power 2000x UHS-II V90 64GB94.88586.911
SanDisk Extreme Plus V30 A2 microSDXC 128GB94.86887.505
Toshiba Exceria Pro N401 95/75 MB/s 128GB94.85975.901
Delkin Power UHS-II V90 128GB94.85187.012
Lexar Professional 1800x microSD UHS-II 64GB94.85187.615
Polaroid Extreme Performance 95/90 MB/s 64GB94.85183.333
Verbatim Pro II Plus UHS-II V90 64GB94.85190.983
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 128GB94.85191.571
SanDisk Extreme Pro 300MB/s UHS-II 64GB94.84286.638
Sony Tough UHS-II 64GB94.84291.771
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 128GB94.84283.659
Sony SF-G 300MB/s UHS-II 32GB94.83491.619
Toshiba Exceria Pro N401 95/75 MB/s 128GB94.81775.879
Kingston U3 90/80 MB/s 256GB94.81786.495
Patriot EP PRO microSDXC 64GB94.79186.317
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 64GB94.79142.161
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 32GB94.78260.861
Toshiba Exceria Pro N502 64GB94.78292.013
SanDisk Extreme Plus 80MB/s 64GB94.76560.391
SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-II 275MB/s microSDXC 64GB94.75780.846
Verbatim Pro Plus V30 64GB94.75782.306
Sony M Series UHS-II 32GB94.74886.724
Delkin Prime UHS-II V60 64GB94.72280.959
Kingston Canvas Go! V30 64GB94.72287.048
Sony Ultra-High Durability Professional 64GB94.72275.540
Toshiba Exceria UHS-I Class 3 64GB94.69759.830
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 128GB94.69768.142
Patriot EP Pro 128GB94.66242.539
Delkin 1900x UHS-II 32GB94.65449.445
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev B 128GB94.62886.609
PNY Pro Elite microSDXC 64GB94.60387.004
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 256GB94.60388.005
Transcend 633x microSDHC 32GB94.59488.123
ProGrade 250MB/s UHS-II V90 64GB94.56991.627
Transcend 600x 128GB94.56069.067
Panasonic Gold 95/90 64GB94.55186.738
Lexar Professional 600x 32GB94.52648.480
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 64GB94.51725.569
Sony M Series UHS-II 64GB94.49285.668
Transcend 500S V30 64GB94.48368.058
Lexar Professional 633x U3 256GB94.47568.606
Transcend 95/60 MB/s U3 256GB94.46668.490
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 64GB94.46687.403
Transcend 500S V30 128GB94.38168.076
PNY Turbo Performance microSDXC 64GB94.35659.379
PNY Turbo Performance U3 microSD 32GB94.35657.434
Angelbird AV Pro V90 64GB94.35691.355
Lexar Professional 633x U1 32GB94.35622.370
PNY Elite microSDXC 128GB94.32228.458
PNY Elite-X microSDXC 64GB94.31374.717
Silicon Power Superior Pro 128GB94.27954.762
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 32GB94.27192.443
Transcend 500S 64GB Card 294.27168.329
Transcend 600x 64GB94.26267.212
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 64GB94.25428.134
PNY Elite Performance U3 128GB94.23768.414
SanDisk Extreme Plus 90MB/s 64GB94.22071.556
Samsung PRO Plus 64GB94.22087.309
Samsung PRO 64GB94.22083.900
Samsung PRO 32GB94.19582.507
Kingston U3 (90/80) microSD 64GB94.19583.102
Gobe Magic 104MB/s 32GB94.17887.637
Delkin Elite 633x 32GB94.17881.392
Kingston Ultimate 32GB94.17846.830
PNY Elite-X microSDHC 32GB94.16976.405
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 64GB94.13687.440
Samsung PRO Plus 32GB94.08587.520
PNY Elite Performance U3 256GB94.07655.313
Lexar Professional 633x U1 64GB94.03428.651
Delkin Black 32GB94.00980.984
Patriot EP Pro 90MB/s 32GB94.00147.402
Lexar Professional 633x U3 128GB93.99268.134
PNY Pro Elite 64GB93.92585.801
Transcend Ultimate 633x microSD 64GB93.90886.645
Lexar Professional 633x U1 128GB93.90828.579
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 32GB93.87490.293
PNY Elite Performance U3 64GB93.86668.320
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 64GB93.85820.888
Lexar Professional 633x U3 64GB93.72368.728
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II 64GB93.69091.940
Samsung PRO U3 32GB93.58979.715
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 128GB93.56452.015
Samsung PRO U3 64GB93.54879.233
Samsung PRO microSDXC 64GB93.53179.365
Samsung PRO Select microSDXC 64GB93.47386.459
Panasonic Gold Series 32GB93.33143.527
Hama Memory Pro 4K 64GB93.29040.958
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II microSD 64GB93.28153.168
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 32GB93.16577.215
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 64GB93.13270.313
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 256GB93.06677.828
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev C 128GB93.05079.782
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II Rev B 32GB93.04177.164
Lexar Professional 2000x UHS-II Rev E 64GB93.00091.149
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 64GB92.77889.722
ProGrade 200MB/s UHS-II V60 64GB92.77089.210
Adata Premier One UHS-II V90 64GB92.71290.770
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 64GB92.69675.682
Hoodman Steel UHS-II 64GB92.68889.806
Transcend 700S UHS-II V90 64GB92.65590.007
Angelbird AV Pro V60 64GB92.54989.279
Lexar Professional 633x U3 32GB92.54948.853
Lexar Professional 1000x microSD UHS-II 32GB92.45952.356
Lexar Professional 1000x UHS-II 128GB92.41877.096
Transcend Ultimate UHS-II U3 32GB92.40289.006
AData Premier One UHS-II V90 256GB92.36989.309
Toshiba FlashAir W-04 64GB92.24775.940
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s microSDXC 64GB92.09343.330
Kingston Canvas Select 64GB91.72323.970
Samsung PRO Select microSDXC 128GB90.87283.565
Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC 128GB90.76284.135
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 200GB90.46536.487
SanDisk Ultra 90MB/s microSD 200GB90.00720.998
Kingston Class 10 256GB88.63747.834
Samsung EVO Plus 128GB microSDXC85.57722.548
SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 128GB85.35478.657
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 128GB84.95380.222
Lexar Professional 633x microSDXC 128GB83.94722.400
Samsung EVO Select microSDXC 128GB82.95022.408
SanDisk Ultra 80MB/s microSD 32GB82.40917.498
SanDisk Extreme 80MB/s 256GB81.28578.817
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 32GB75.17854.986
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 32GB74.70654.000
Lexar Professional 400x 32GB72.08743.513
SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s 64GB71.02752.369
PNY Elite microSDXC 64GB69.05824.513
SanDisk Extreme U3 microSD 64GB68.28055.480
SanDisk Extreme Pro 280MB/s UHS-II 32GB48.12045.884
Panasonic MicroP2 UHS-II 32GB48.10637.366
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 32GB Card 347.90419.693
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 32GB Card 247.80219.882
SanDisk Ultra microSD 64GB47.78015.896
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 32GB Card 147.78045.474
SanDisk Ultra microSD 32GB47.78014.741
SanDisk Ultra 40MB/s 64GB47.77816.097
SanDisk Extreme 45MB/s 32GB47.74745.299
Samsung EVO 32GB47.52928.937
Samsung EVO 64GB47.50123.858
Samsung EVO microSD 32GB47.46024.640
Samsung EVO microSDXC 64GB47.44323.728
Toshiba NFC 16GB37.80213.090
Toshiba FlashAir II 32GB19.10413.022

2 year limited warranty. Made in China.

The RDF8 will work with Windows XP, Vista, Win 7, Win 8 with the latest service packs. Mac OS X 10.5 or later.

The Transcend reader has a 2 year warranty.

Made in China.

Compare prices on the Transcend SD Card Reader RDF5 reader. The lowest prices are highlighted in the table below.

Card ReaderConnectionModel NumberPrices
AmazonB&H PhotoAdorama
Transcend SD Card Reader RDF5 BlackUSB 3.0TS-RDF5K$10.79Check priceCheck price
Transcend SD Card Reader RDF5 WhiteUSB 3.0TSRDF5W$7.99$7.99