SD Card Slot in New MacBook Pros Supports UHS-II With Speeds Up to 250 MB/s [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Apple has confirmed to The Verge's Dan Seifert that the SD card slot built into the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models supports UHS-II, and while this could theoretically allow for read and write speeds of up to 312MB/s with USH-II SD cards, Apple has since confirmed that the reader supports up to 250MB/s of data transfer.

Some people had hoped that the SD card slot would support UHS-III with read and write speeds up to 624 MB/s, but this is not the case.

Users can take advantage of the SD card slot for additional storage space, with UHS-II-compliant SD cards available in capacities such as 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. The return of the SD card slot will be particularly useful for professional users like photographers and video producers, allowing them to quickly transfer files without needing to use an adapter.

The SD card slot is one of three ports that returned to the new MacBook Pro models after being removed in 2016, alongside an HDMI 2.0 port and MagSafe. The notebooks also have three Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

In addition to the expanded connectivity, key features of the new MacBook Pro models include Apple's next-generation M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, mini-LED displays with ProMotion for up to a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 10 hours longer battery life per charge, full-size physical function keys instead of a Touch Bar, and more.

The new MacBook Pro models have been available to order since Monday and will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on Tuesday, October 26. Pricing starts at $1,999 for the 14-inch model and at $2,499 for the 16-inch model.

Update: The SD card slot on the new MacBook Pros supports up to 250MB/s of data transfer with UHS-II SD cards and up to 90MB/s with UHS-I SD cards, according to information shared by Apple after this story was published.

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Article Link: SD Card Slot in New MacBook Pros Supports UHS-II With Speeds Up to 250 MB/s [Updated]

 

[SuprUsrStan]

Was hoping for UHS-III but I can settle for just UHS-II. Theres not that many UHS-III cameras out there yet. At least its not a case of outdated spec like the HDMI port.

 

[jonny9402]

Does this bode well for using one of those flush extended storage cards?

 

[mi7chy]

Good decision to go full size SD and not micro.

 

[mozumder]

Still kinda outdated just as pros are moving over to CFExpress and with SDexpress coming up.

And the HDMI should have been an Input to record video from pro cameras.

 

[Matthew.H]

Nice to have the SD card slot back. It's not something I've done on my 2014 MBP but it would be good if a company made microSD card adaptors for these new MBPs that are flush fit, would be pretty useful for files you don't need on the main SSD. 312MB/s is more than fast enough to play 4K video. Could use it for your music library as well.

 

[Tozovac]

Curious which Transcend jet drive will mount flush. Many of us purchased them long ago at 3x+ their current selling prices and they would be a nice for extra onboard storage at times.

 

[giggles]

Anybody planning to use a 1TB SD for Time Machine?

 

[Razeus]

Ok. Good. I swear I've read that it was only UHS-I, and I (along with the raw files from my Sony A7RIV were going to be disappointed).

 

[zorinlynx]

Anybody planning to use a 1TB SD for Time Machine?

If you decide to do this, encrypt the backup, use two of them, and swap them occasionally. Keep the one you're not using in a different location.

Now you have offsite backups.

 

[Razeus]

Still kinda outdated just as pros are moving over to CFExpress and with SDexpress coming up.

And the HDMI should have been an Input to record video from pro cameras.

LMAO. Not for Sony users.

 

[tharitm]

Anyone who had a pre retina 2012 MBP model but had an issue where the SD card reader died after a year or so? I wonder how the SD card readers are on the pre 2016 models. Fingers crossed for these to be more reliable.

 

[reallynotnick]

Was hoping for UHS-III but I can settle for just UHS-II. Theres not that many UHS-III cameras out there yet. At least its not a case of outdated spec like the HDMI port.

I don't think UHS-III is ever going to catch on, it's been out for a 3 years now and it's no where to be seen. I think everyone will just jump to SD Express (or CFexpress) if they really need the speed.

Happy to see its UHS-II though (wish the Steam Deck was the same)

 

[skitidetdu]

I have an extra 128GB on a SD card in my 2015 MacBook Pro. Great as extra storage space albeit not very fast...That adapter will probably not fit in the new models but I'll get a new adapter if that would be the case.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Oh wow, nice. Surprised they didn’t brag about that spec more.

 

[Zdigital2015]

Still kinda outdated just as pros are moving over to CFExpress and with SDexpress coming up.

And the HDMI should have been an Input to record video from pro cameras.

SD Card is outdated or the read speed of this new slot is outdated? Again, single use ports are a waste of time, but people cried and whined and stomped their feet to get these ports back, and Apple caved, so basically I don’t want to hear anyone complaining anymore. They wanted them they got them, suck it up buttercups.

Please tell me which single HDMI port on what device allows both In and Out? I’ve never seen that before on any device that I own. I have several monitors with HDMI In/HDMI Out as separate ports. You’re basically asking for Apple to make an Atomos Ninja and give it away for free to customers, which isn’t going to happen.

 

[SuprUsrStan]

I don't think UHS-III is ever going to catch on, it's been out for a 3 years now and it's no where to be seen. I think everyone will just jump to SD Express (or CFexpress) if they really need the speed.

Happy to see its UHS-II though (wish the Steam Deck was the same)

Fair point. Ideally I'd like to have CFexpress but that's too niche. SD Express is also too niche right now so UHS-II is plenty.

 

[DaPizzaMan]

If you decide to do this, encrypt the backup, use two of them, and swap them occasionally. Keep the one you're not using in a different location.

Now you have offsite backups.

Bingo. This is definitely a welcome improvement over UHS-I.

 

[IamTimCook]

What no CFExpress slot? Now I got to keep using my dongled card reader. #donglelife
Maybe we’ll get the DVD drive back.

 

[iosfan1991]

Apple's Pro Machine finally has the quantity and range of ports that the Air should have! The pro devices should have a ethernet port as well. It looks as though the height of the base of the laptop is perfect for it. Lots of valid 'pro' use cases that need the reliability of ethernet. Pretty much any industrial process can't (or shouldn't) be run over WiFi. So nearly perfect.

 

[Shirasaki]

Could use it for your music library as well.

I manage to load my current 500GB iTunes library onto internal storage of my Mac. And guess what? Just scrolling generates GB of read/write per second and storage system is 80% - 100%. Im not confident these SD cards will survive this.

Anybody planning to use a 1TB SD for Time Machine?

And kill those SD cards in the process? Those are not optimised for random access, unless those SD card slots somehow manage to dissipate the heat efficient enough.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Very happy to hear that news. That’s awesome.

 

[arbitrage]

Fair point. Ideally I'd like to have CFexpress but that's too niche. SD Express is also too niche right now so UHS-II is plenty.

Yeah but then which CFexpress? Type B to make the Canon and Nikon users happy or Type A to make the Sony users happy? SD UHS-II still makes the most sense for a laptop aimed at all sorts of industry.

 

[mozumder]

LMAO. Not for Sony users.

LOL WUT? https://electronics.sony.com/imaging/cinema-line-cameras/all-cinema-line-cameras/p/ilmefx6v

 

[JKAussieSkater]

I feel validated about my previous stances that SD Cards aren't obsolete in the scope of "professionals" and others alike. This is a very much welcomed addition to the Mac.