A Closer Look - Outside

Lexar Professional USB 3.0 Dual-Slot Reader

Right out of the box, the Lexar Professional USB 3.0 Dual-Slot Reader comes in a protective plastic shell that keeps the smooth surface scratch-free, ensuring that your newly bought card reader arrives in pristine condition.


While there is nothing unusual about the front when closed, the two slots appear once the reader's black part swivles up into a slightly tilted position. Lexar has placed the smaller SDHC slot in the top and the wider CompactFlash slot below. Light grey foam lining on the bottom keeps the card reader stable and eliminates any chances of the reader scratching up the surface it rests upon. The back only has the USB 3.0 connector.


You should keep the unit closed during transportation to protect the slots from dust and dirt. A simple squeeze on the sides of the dual-slot reader's clear casing will reveal them. Doing so will have the spring-loaded mechanism press the black part up at an angle, which reveals the card slots.

Lexar Professional CF & SDHC UHS-I Cards

To test the reader, we also acquired Lexar Professional memory cards. The CompactFlash variant is rated at 1000x and UDMA 7, a perfect fit for the card reader. The front has a black and golden label, while the rear holds a white one that may be written upon. The serial number of the CompactFlash card has been printed onto the outer edge of the card's casing.


Just as with the CompactFlash card, the SDHC UHS-I memory card ships in a semi-clear casing made of plastic. The SD 3.0 standard, or UHS-I, is the latest in card generations, allowing for higher speeds and capacities than any of the previous ones. This Lexar Professional SDHC UHS-I is rated at 600x, which also makes it one of the fastest on paper. You will not find a label on this one because the other side is filled with printed-on information.