Sabrent Thunderbolt 3 & USB 3 Type-C to CFexpress Type-B Card Reader Review

The Sabrent CFexpress Type B Card Reader ensures your digital workflow isn’t slowed down and has been designed to work with CFexpress Type B memory cards and Thunderbolt 3 connections. This combination means that in an ideal set-up the card reader can reach an impressive 1500MBps transfer speeds.

From the outset this card reader stands out, which isn’t a surprise as it’s also costs considerably more than most. It features a high-quality aluminium exterior encased in rubber for better heat dissipation and strength. A nice addition is the small LED power indicator on top that gleams blue and helps keep you updated with how the transfers going.

What’s surprising is that considering the speed and benefits of CFExpress, there are few Thunderbolt 3 card readers, with most relying on the slower Type-C technology, so while the Sabrent Thunderbolt 3 & USB 3 Type-C to CFexpress Type-B Card Reader is good it also stands pretty much alone in the market.

The build quality of the Sabrent Thunderbolt 3 & USB, 3 Type-C to CFexpress Type-B Card Reader is excellent and just about as robust as they come. This is all due to the aluminium casing and protective rubber sleeve, it feels like a premium product.

Despite being slightly larger than other market offerings, including the previous Sabrent CFExpress card reader that I looked at here, it remains compact, portable, and easy to handle. The rectangular shape also enhances it’s ease of use on the field.

What distinguishes this card reader from its competitors is its capacity to work in dual modes: a blistering-fast 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 mode and a flexible 10Gbps USB mode, thanks to its dual-controller architecture, that’s the stuff inside that we can see. Even if you’re not utilising the top-tier Thunderbolt 3 capabilities, you can still count on the reliable USB mode that’s backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, so if you’re going to invest in a decent card reader, this ones future proofed in many respects.

Furthermore, the reader provides a fallback USB mode with speed limits respective to its version, ensuring you’re never stuck waiting too long. When operating in Thunderbolt 3 mode, you’re looking at transfer speeds of up to an astounding 1500MBps. In USB mode, that remains a respectable 900MBps. These modes are automatic and you personally have no control over which mode the reader is in as this is selected dependent on the computing system you’re using.

It’s worth noting that like the majority of card readers this is bus-powered which means that the power required to run it comes from your computer rather than an external source.

When it comes the actual internal technology the impressive speeds are because of the incorporated PCIe and NVMe technology, which, when paired with a fast Thunderbolt 3 interface, ensure reliable, speedy performance.

Finally a quick mention of the LED power indicator, this is an extremely useful addition and lets you know exactly when you’re ready to get going.

The Sabrent Thunderbolt 3 & USB 3 Type-C to CFexpress Type-B Card Reader does not compromise on delivering excellent performance that stands out. In tests with the Rocket CFX Type B Memory Card 1TB, which boasts a maximum transfer speed of 1800MB/s, the card reader showcased  an impressive 1522MB/s. Although this doesn’t fully exploit the card’s potential or technology, this variance can be attributed to certain test conditions such as the MacBook Pro M1, and after all, the reader is supposed to top out at 1500MB/s.

When evaluated under gradually increasing temperature conditions, the reader kept on going. I am however reviewing this in the UK’s summer heat, which was briefly hot and now is not, but in both extremes the reader performed consistently without any noticeable impact on transfer speeds. The aluminium construction does the job and aids in efficient heat dissipation, ensuring that transfer speeds and operational times aren’t compromised, even when dealing with a 1TB drive.

The reader’s dual-mode functionality, switching seamlessly between the Thunderbolt 3 and USB modes to cater to the specific demands of the machine, adds to its super-fast performance.

That small LED indicator is again useful for keeping track of connection and file transfer statuses. Despite being one of the more expensive options on the market, the Sabrent Thunderbolt 3 & USB 3 Type-C to CFexpress Type-B Card Reader proves its worth with its excellent performance and neat design.

The Sabrent Thunderbolt 3 & USB 3 Type-C to CFexpress Type-B Card Reader is a solid choice for Pro’s and enthusiasts who want the best. The speed of transfer blasts any other reader I have ever looked at out of the water when it comes to pure transfer speed, and enables you to download a full 1TB in a few minutes rather than an hour or more.

Build quality matches the unparalleled speed and the overall design gives you faith that the reader will survive more than a knock or two when thrown in a kit bag.

Really this is the best CFExpress card reader on the market at present, but it does come with that price tag!