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SD Card Reader SUPER Slow in 2021 M1Pro MBP 16"

So I know Apple didn't splurge for a top-o-the-line SD card reader in the new 16" 2021 MacBook Pro, but this is ridiculous. The SD Card reader is insanely slow. How slow? Pop in an SD Card with only 30 16GB RAW files on it, and it takes 30+ minutes to import the files to Lightroom Classic. Used the SD card reader in my 5 year-old OWC Thunderbolt port, and the same card will import in 30 seconds.


Anyone have a clue what could be causing the SD Card reader to do this?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.0

Posted on Nov 3, 2021 8:43 PM

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Question marked as Best answer

So I found the solution: Basically, the card reader doesn't support anything slower than UHS-I ... so if you have older slower cards in older slower cameras, your shiny new MBP won't like those cards, and you'll need to replace them with newer SD Cards.

Posted on Nov 4, 2021 1:40 PM

84 replies

Dec 28, 2021 5:14 AM in response to vnyne100

after upgrading my OS to 12.1 and making sure all Apple software was updated as well, I saw signifigant improvement in copying files in the finder.

Imports using apple photos and apple image capture were also fast.

For My Adobe Lightroom issues, I matched my preferences to those found in this video from Adobe: https://youtu.be/ArbjC-kc034

This improved my performance in Adobe Lightroom Classic as well.


Although all of these measures provided improved performance I went ahead and upgraded my SD Card from a Sandisk Ultra Plus to a Sandisk Extreme Pro with 170 mb/s read speed, and SDXC "type" indicator. This new card seems/feels much faster overall in both the camera and on the laptop transfers.


My only regret with my M1Pro is that I didn't opt for 32GB of RAM. :(

Jan 1, 2022 9:50 AM in response to Gregory Simpson1

I've had this issue too since the first time I used the sd card reader. I have a MBP 14 M1Pro. At first I thought it was a problem with the sd card, but it kept happening with other sd cards.


I've called apple twice about it, and they just tell me that I need to go to the store or send the computer in so they can replace the reader. Kind of frustrating to be without a computer for that long. I asked if apple knew about the issue and if they know anything, and they couldnt comment on it.


Does anyone know if this is a software issue or hardware issue?

Jan 2, 2022 3:03 PM in response to Command_F

My problems on 16" MBP seemed to be fixed by macOS 12.1. Still with the same card, I did a couple of biggish uploads via Finder with decent performance. Then, out of the blue, with another 100 Raw images to transfer (20-25MB each), all the problems reappeared. I have made no changes to the card except taking the extra photos.


I now again see big delays before anything happens. So big in this case (a minute or so with nothing transferred) that I cancelled the transfer. With that also locked-up, and time pressing, I resorted to pulling the card out. That left the Finder unable to see the reinserted card at all (several attempts). Only a reboot resolved the situation.


Roll on 12.2?

Jan 18, 2022 1:42 PM in response to pbredtag

Went to download photos from a Sandisk Extreme 90 MB/s 32 GB this morning and had all kinds of issues with my MBP 14 with the new Silicone...think it must be M1Pro? I downloaded to 3 computers. First was a Imac (2021 intel) no issues and the download took less than a minute. Then did the same on my 16" MBP (2020) via an external reader...less than a minute. Finally used the SD card slot in the MBP 14 and all **** broke loose. Computer didn't show the card unless i want into the disk utility. Couldn't download and couldn't eject because I was getting a 'volume couldn't eject because it's in use". As per the Apple tec I shut the laptop down, took out the card, reinstalled the OS (same to same 12.1 to 12.1). Turn the computer on and now it sees the card but tells me it will take 40 minutes to download. Couldn't eject the SD card so shut everything down again. Plugged in my external reader and the download took about 20 seconds.


Was on the phone with Apple support twice and bumped up to second tier twice and disconnected twice. Not sure it was Apple's fault but they had my phone # and I waited for a call back...nothing.


Next step was to take the card (This one was a Sandisk, 32 GB Pixtor @ 48 MB's) out of another camera and do the whole download/archive routine. In the card slot in the iMac, external reader for the MBP then on to the card slot on the MBP 14. Much more data on this card and each transfer took about 4 minutes. No issues on the MBP 14.


I could push this all out of my mind since the second card from another camera seemed to work fine on all the computers and no issues on the MBP 14. But one of the key reasons for buying this laptop was to be able to use it in the field and do downloads there instead of in my office. So what happens when this issue comes up again...when I'm out in the field doing a shoot?


Doesn't seem quite so random, but then...it does seem random. Apple initially said it wasn't a known problem. I tried to point them to this thread.


So, Apple, how about letting us know what's going on? Have to travel tomorrow but when I get back I may try to escalate this to tier 3 or higher...maybe a replacement computer would solve the problem but how do I know? Will push though.


Andrew


SD Card Reader SUPER Slow in 2021 M1Pro MBP 16"

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