After a few months away from the world of tech, I’m back to check out a product from our friends at Kingston. Today we will be looking at the MobileLite G4, a multifunction card reader.
This metallic form factor reader is smaller and more durable than its predecessor – the MobileLite G3. It is USB 3.0 compliant helping provide faster speeds when transferring data from a memory card to and from your PC or Mac. For those users with only USB 2.0 this card reader is also backwards compatible.
The MobileLite G4 reads SD, SDHC, SDXC, UHS-II and microSD/SDHC/SDXC, which are the de facto external memory for most modern devices.
Unboxing
The Kingston MobileLite G4 arrives on the standard Kingston blister card packaging. The card reader is visualized on the front of the package with specifications and compatibility listed on the back.
Opening the packaging requires the use of scissors. The only content of the blister card is the USB reader.
The MobileLite G4 is primarily composed of aluminum with a black plastic end cap, which houses the card openings for the SD cards. It measures 52mm x 33mm x 9mm.
Unlike the MobileLite G3, that had retractable USB connector and SD card slots, the MobileLite G4 has a unibody construction.
Appearance wise it has the look of an Apple accessory with its aluminum finish. Plus unlike its predecessor it feels substantial and sturdy instead of “plasticky”.
Specifications and Features
An essential part of your mobile gear.
Kingston’s MobileLite G4 is a multi-function card reader with a small metallic form factor that’s roughly 20 percent smaller than the previous generation and no bigger than a large paper clip, so it easily fits in a pocket, purse or camera bag and is ideal for personal or professional use. This versatile device reads SD, SDHC, SDXC, UHS-II and microSD/SDHC/SDXC, UHS-I and supports the latest card speeds.
MobileLite G4 is compliant with the USB 3.0 specification and delivers USB 3.0 performance to save time when transferring digital files, photos, games, music and more. It’s backwards compatible with USB 2.0 ports to allow users to migrate to USB 3.0 in the future, using one card reader. MobileLite G4 is backed by a two-year warranty, free technical support and legendary Kingston® reliability
Compliant – with the USB 3.0 specification, SDA 4.20 standard
Versatile – supports SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/SDHC/SDXC
Supports the latest card standards, UHS-I and UHS-II
Backwards compatible with USB 2.0
Portable – easily fits in your pocket
Guaranteed – 2-year warranty, free technical support
Dimensions: 52mm x 33mm x 9mm
Compatible with:
Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 8 RT, Windows 7 (SP1), Windows Vista (SP1, SP2), Mac OS X v.10.6.x+, Linux v.2.6.x+
Price: $6.25 (from Amazon at time of review)
The Review
For testing a USB 3.0 enabled PC running Windows 7 64 Bit was used in conjunction with ATTO Disk Benchmark 2.46 and Crystal Disk Mark 4.0.3 for benchmarking.
To benchmark transfer speeds a Kingston 32gb Class 10 SDHC/SDXC Card and a PNY 64GB High Performance microSDXC were used.
Using ATTO we see the Kingston SDHC performed at 23 MB/s for writes and 94 MB/s reads with the PNY 64GB High Performance microSDXC peaking at 24 MB/s writes and 81 MB/s for reads.
With Crystal Disk Mark the Kingston SDHC has reads of 95 MB/s and writes of 22 MB/s. The PNY 64GB High Performance microSDXC had read speeds of 76 MB/s and write speeds of 26 MB/s.
Both of these cards ran above their maximum-based advertised speeds using the Kingston MobileLite G4 when connected to a USB 3.0 port via the above benchmarks.
The reader is able to mount both microSD and SD card simultaneously.
Due to its small form factor the MobileLite G4 should not take up significant space whether in one’s laptop bag, pocket or notebook sleeve. One concern is that dust and dirt can enter the exposed USB port and SD/MicroSD slots on the MobileLite G4.
Conclusion
The MobileLite G4 is a solidly built SD card reader ideal for those who need to transfer data from SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. It takes advantage of USB 3.0, which means faster transfer of large or numerous files. While it does not support other memory card formats; SD is the currently Gold Standard for removable storage in most devices.
It can be currently be found on Amazon for less than $10 making it a ridiculously great deal. If you need a SD/microSD card reader or even if you don’t this is definitely the one you should get!
+USB 3.0
+Fast
+Solid Construction
+Portable
+Inexpensive
Cons:
-Limited to SD, microSD formats
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Disclosure: This product was given to us for review by the company for review purposes only, and is not considered by us as payment for the review.
To learn more about our review policy please visit this page HERE.
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