A big desktop card reader for creative pros

The SanDisk Professional Pro-Dock 4 is a niche desktop card reader for content creators who generate loads of digital media and need the blazing speeds of Thunderbolt 3.

If you're a photo or video professional, you know that the day isn't over when you turn off your camera. When you get home from a job, there are batteries to charge, gear to unpack, and memory cards to offload for editing. Although many computers (even Macs) have an SD card slot, they likely can't handle any of the more exotic card formats without help from a desktop card reader, such as the SanDisk Professional Pro-Dock 4 ($499.99). This four-bay media ingestion powerhouse promises quick, simultaneous downloads over a Thunderbolt 3 connection, but it takes up quite a bit of desk space and doesn't ship with any reader module. Media professionals may find the Pro-Dock 4 invaluable, though it's overkill if you don't regularly return to your desk with a handful of cards to process.

The Pro-Dock 4 is undoubtedly an accessory for the desktop—if its 6.1-by-4.5-by-7.2-inch frame (HWD) doesn't convince you, picking up the 5.1-pound dock should. And, to hammer that point home, you also need to plug it into a wall outlet for power. The Dock uses a solid mix of metal and plastic materials, and sports an attractive gunmetal-gray-and-black finish.

Four bays sit at the front, and each supports a card reader module. SanDisk sells the modules à la carte, which means you can purchase only those readers that match your workflow. The concept isn't entirely new—SanDisk takes a page out of Lexar's playbook here. The Pro-Dock 4 is similar to the discontinued Lexar HR2, a four-dock modular card reader system with an older Thunderbolt 2 interface. You can't buy the HR2 anymore—it was discontinued amidst an ownership change at Lexar, and there aren't any signs of it returning to production.

The Pro-Dock 4 goes beyond basic card reading, though. Its front features two USB-C and two USB-A ports for accessories, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the rear, there's a Gigabit Ethernet port, a DisplayPort output for monitors, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports—one to connect to your computer and a second to daisy-chain to another device. These features are all missing from the HR2.

The dock is technically cross-platform, though everything about it screams "for Mac," including the macOS-exclusive desktop software. The software doesn't unlock much—it lives in your system tray, shows the device temperature, and allows you to unmount installed card readers and set the brightness of the front LED power lamp. To be clear, none of these features are essential; hot-swapping the card modules works just fine.

You don't get any card modules with the Dock, but the box includes both a power cord and a 2.6-foot Thunderbolt 3 cable.

SanDisk currently markets four types of card readers for the Pro-Dock 4: a multi-card reader with support for UHS-II SDXC, CompactFlash, and microSDXC cards ($79.99); a CFexpress (Type B) reader ($99.99); a CFast reader ($89.99); and a UHS-I SDXC/microSDXC reader ($49.99).

Each reader is removable and has a USB-C port. That's handy for travelers because you can pop a card reader out for location shoots without schlepping the Pro-Dock along for the trip. The modules are palm-sized (0.8 by 2.4 by 4.5 inches) and have an aluminum exterior. You won't have much trouble finding room for one in your gear bag.

For desktop use, Pro-Dock owners can install up to four of the same reader type (this is the way to go if you need to work with multiple cards from the same type of camera) or mix and match the modules. I opted for the latter—as a camera reviewer, I regularly use a half-dozen different bodies. And although the majority of consumer-facing cameras still rely on SD cards, CFexpress is becoming increasingly common for professional and enthusiast cameras.

I tried the CFexpress (Type B) reader to offload photos from high-end cameras, including the Nikon Z 9 and Canon EOS R5. The reader worked fine with both SanDisk Extreme Pro and Sony Tough CFe (Type B) cards. It is not compatible with XQD cards, a fact that may rile early Nikon Z system adopters. Nikon launched the Z series with support for XQD exclusively, later adding compatibility with speedier CFe (Type B) media via firmware. CFe (Type B) and XQD cards share the same connector design, so it's a shame SanDisk didn't add support.

The omission isn't the most glaring issue about the Pro-Dock, though. At press time, SanDisk doesn't offer a CFexpress (Type A) module. Sony uses this card slot type in its current generation of pro Alpha series mirrorless cameras. If you use an a1, a7 IV, a7S III, or FX3, you're out of luck with the Pro-Dock 4.

I skipped taking a look at the CFast reader—it's been a few years since we've tested any new camera that supports the format but, if you use an older Canon 1D X, Hasselblad H6D medium system, or Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K, you should be glad your esoteric card works with the dock.

SanDisk just announced the $49.99 UHS-I SD/microSD reader, and although it's compatible with the Pro-Dock 4, I don't expect many Pro-Dock customers to even consider it as an option. Once you move beyond entry-level bodies, ILCs with SD slots support UHS-II cards nearly unanimously.

And that's why, as a camera reviewer, I got the most use out of the multi-card UHS-II SD/microSD/CF reader. I admit that it's been years since I touched a camera with a classic CompactFlash slot, but the familiar interface is right there. The full-size SD slot came in handy for offloading 60MP photos from my go-to camera for product photography, the Sony a7R IV, and the microSD is there if you mix GoPro or drone footage into projects.

I connected the Pro-Dock 4 to my 2017 Core i7 iMac via Thunderbolt 3 to check its performance. Copying about 45GB of images (472 Raw+JPG pairs I took with an a7R IV) from a Sony 128GB Tough UHS-II card to my Mac's internal SSD takes about five minutes and 20 seconds, for an average read speed of 140Mbps. The reader and card test faster using the Blackmagic Disk Speed test (about 240Mbps), which is nearly as quick as the card's theoretical 300Mbps maximum speed.

Using a faster memory card format makes for quicker offloads. I tried the SanDisk CFexpress (Type B) card I used for my Nikon Z 9 review—it still had a mix of 1,676 Raw, JPG, and video files that totaled around about 83GB of data. Copying those files took just under four minutes, the equivalent of about 360Mbps. Blackmagic Disk Speed shows the card's read speed at 856Mbps, shy of its 1,700Mbps rating.

We admit that real-world copy performance in Finder doesn't match up with Blackmagic's software, the video industry standard for evaluating drive performance. We expect this has to do with the sheer number of files we copied, but this workflow is representative of what photographers deal with regularly. Video specialists might get better copy speeds, simply because they tend to work with a smaller number of very large files by comparison.

My ears perked up when news of the Pro-Dock 4 first crossed my desk. I have long relied on the Lexar HR2 as a solution for offloading photos, but mine is aging. I also wanted to move on from Thunderbolt 2 transfer speeds and take advantage of faster CFexpress cards.

The SanDisk Professional Pro-Dock 4 is a more robust accessory than the HR2. It addresses some of the shortcomings of modern Macs, too: a paucity of ports, a stubborn omission of any card reader in notebook systems for several years, and the inconvenient rear SD slot on the iMac. I've been using macOS (and OS X before it) for my creative work for more than twenty years, and can attest to a bit of a love-hate relationship when it comes to impractical design decisions from the Jony Ive era.

The card reader function is utilitarian but works well, and the option to offload multiple cards at once is a boon for creators who come home with a ton of footage or photos to edit. That said, SanDisk doesn't quite meet the needs of every creator with this device. We're happy to see modules for some less common card formats like Cfast, but there's no support for CFexpress (Type A). That's not entirely surprising, however, because SanDisk does not make any CFe (Type A) cards. This is nonetheless disappointing, because Sony cameras (which support this format) are a major part of many video production workflows.

And then there's the price. Let's not mince words—$500 for a card reader, even one with Thunderbolt 3, is expensive, and you need to spend more to get any use out of it. Creators are no stranger to expensive equipment, but by the time you add a couple of readers, the Pro-Dock 4 costs just as much as a good lens—it's therefore tough to recommend to hobbyist and enthusiast creators. However, if you work in a production environment, are a successful YouTuber, or cover disciplines that tend to generate lots of media (such as weddings and sports events), it might be a worthwhile investment.

The SanDisk Professional Pro-Dock 4 is a niche desktop card reader for content creators who generate loads of digital media and need the blazing speeds of Thunderbolt 3.

Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox.

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.

Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!

Images, and the devices that capture them, are my focus. I've covered cameras at PCMag for the past 10 years, which has given me a front row seat for the DSLR to mirrorless transition, the smartphone camera revolution, and the mainstream adoption of drones for aerial imaging. You can find me on Instagram @jamespfisher.

I use all of the major camera systems on a regular basis, swapping between Canon, Fujifilm, L-Mount, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon, and Sony systems regularly, and I still find time to use Leica M rangefinders and Pentax SLRs on occasion. I keep an iPhone 13 in my pocket for the rare occasions I'm not carrying a camera.

I'm not a brand-specific photographer, and swap between a Canon EOS R5, a Nikon Z 7 II, and a Sony a7R IV when taking product photos for reviews. I use Flashpoint and Godox TTL lights, Gitzo and Peak Design tripods, and most often reach for a Think Tank or Peak Design backpack to carry equipment.

When it comes to computers, I'm an unapologetic Mac person and have been for the past 20 years. I write in Pages and use Numbers for spreadsheets. I currently use a 27-inch Retina iMac for photo and video editing, but have a Mac Studio on order, along with a calibrated BenQ display. I rely on a LaCie 6big RAID for media storage.

I split time with a few different software apps depending on the type of editing I'm doing. For Raw image processing, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic is my standard. I pair it with a LoupeDeck CT console to supplement my keyboard and trackpad, and lean on RNI All Films 5 presets when I want to give an image a film look. I reach to Apple Final Cut Pro for video editing.

My first digital camera was a 3.2MP Canon PowerShot Elph, and my first interchangeable lens model a 6MP Pentax *ist DL. I have a soft spot for antique film gear, and still use a 1950 vintage Rolleiflex Automat and a 1947 Leica Summitar lens for personal work.

To relax at home, I spend time reading Marvel Unlimited comics on an iPad Pro, kick back with a good (or bad) movie on a 4K LG television with an Apple TV 4K streaming box, and enjoy story-driven video games on the Xbox Series X.

PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

© 1996-2022 Ziff Davis. PCMag Digital Group

PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant.