Affiliate link · Photo supplied by the corresponding AliExpress listing. Check the selected variant before ordering.

Prices were returned by AliExpress on 19 October 2026 for a delivery query to France. They are indicative: check the variant, shipping and final total at the merchant. Select your own delivery country and confirm local availability, currency and taxes. LODEX may earn a commission through links in this article.

The reader is a preparation tool: it connects the card to your computer to write the operating system, transfer files or keep a backup. It does not make games faster once the microSD is back in the console. Before comparing advertised speeds, look at the ports on your computer and the cards you actually use.

The quick choice

Choose the dual USB-A / USB-C reader if you regularly switch computers or also use SD cards. Choose the compact USB-C reader if your computer has that port and you only use microSD cards. If your current reader works properly, neither purchase is essential.

The difference between the two recorded prices is €1.90, before any additional charges. Weigh that extra cost against a real use: having USB-A as well as USB-C and an SD slot can help, but adds little if you know you will never need them.

The two readers side by side

Criterion	UGREEN dual USB-A / USB-C	UGREEN compact USB-C
Connectors visible in the photos	One USB-A and one USB-C connector	One USB-C connector
Card formats shown	SD and microSD / TF	microSD / TF
Interface advertised by the seller	USB 3.0	USB 3.0
Indicative listing price on 19 October 2026, France	€8.99	€7.09
Best-suited use	Several computers and card formats	microSD on a USB-C computer
What to check	Select the dual-connector variant shown	Check that your computer has a suitable USB-C port
AliExpress listing compared	1005007466971732	1005005426512071

The specifications in this table come from the titles and photos of the two AliExpress listings. LODEX has not measured actual transfer speeds, endurance or reliability. A USB 3.0 label alone does not guarantee a copying speed: the card and computer also matter.

UGREEN dual connector: the versatile option

Affiliate link · Photo supplied by the corresponding AliExpress listing. Check the selected variant before ordering.

The illustrated model has a USB-A connector at one end and USB-C at the other, plus separate SD and microSD slots. This is its main attraction: you can choose the connection that fits the computer you are using instead of starting with a reader built for only one type of port.

When preparing an R36S card on one PC and then working on another computer, that flexibility may save you from looking for an adapter. The SD slot also helps people who handle other memory cards. However, that second format adds little for someone who only works with their console’s microSD cards.

Our view: at an indicative €8.99, this is the more versatile option in this selection. We favour it if you will actually use both connectors. This recommendation is based on advertised and visible features, not on superior speed or reliability established through our own testing.

The seller’s image also advertises simultaneous access to two cards and a maximum capacity of 2 TB. We do not treat those promises as decisive: they have not been physically verified and do not establish whether a microSD card will work in your R36S.

UGREEN compact USB-C: a focused option

Affiliate link · Photo supplied by the corresponding AliExpress listing. Check the selected variant before ordering.

The second reader has a compact body with a single USB-C connector and a loop attachment. Its listing targets microSD / TF. On paper, it fits a specific use: working with a microSD card from a USB-C computer, without needing a full-size SD slot.

Its indicative €7.09 price is lower than that of the dual-connector model, although the saving is modest. If your computer only has USB-A, buying a separate adapter would reduce its appeal: in that case, the dual-connector model is the more coherent choice of these two offers.

Our view: consider it for a microSD card and a USB-C computer if you prefer a straightforward accessory. Do not choose it expecting USB-A or a full-size SD slot as well: those are not features of the illustrated product.

What about your computer’s built-in reader?

An existing compatible, working reader may be enough. Before ordering, try reading files you have already backed up and check that the connection stays stable. A new reader does not automatically solve a corrupted card, the wrong firmware or a problem with the console’s TF2 slot.

If your computer only has a full-size SD reader, a microSD-to-SD adapter may be an option, provided the reader supports your card. The adapter changes the physical format; it does not create new compatibility or extra performance on its own.

Our verdict for your equipment

PC with USB-A only: choose the illustrated dual-connector version. The compact USB-C reader would require additional equipment.

Several computers, or both SD and microSD cards: the dual-connector model has the more useful features. At similar prices, its extra connectors provide a concrete reason to choose it.

USB-C computer and microSD only: the compact reader meets the need at a lower indicative price. The dual-connector model still makes sense if you expect to change computers.

Your current reader works well: keep it. The aim is to prepare the card correctly, not to add an accessory with no real benefit.

The two AliExpress offers

Before preparing the card

Back up your data and keep the original card. Identify your R36S variant and the corresponding system image. In the image-writing software, carefully select the correct disk: the reader cannot protect you from choosing the wrong destination.

Next, see our guide to preparing a new microSD card. If the card had already stopped booting, start with the card-corruption diagnosis.

Frequently asked questions

Does the reader make R36S games faster?

No. It is used during preparation and file transfers on the computer. Once the card is in the console, this external reader is no longer involved.

Can I prepare the system from a USB-C phone?

The connector alone is not enough: the operating system, storage handling and image-writing software must be suitable. This comparison does not validate a phone-based flashing workflow; our guides use a computer.

Does the price always apply to the photographed variant?

The API returns a listing price and a variant identifier, but not a sufficiently complete description of that variant here. We use photos and links from the same listing; nevertheless, check that the version selected in your basket is the one shown. No delivered total is guaranteed.

Sources and methodology

Desk-based comparison updated on 19 October 2026. Sources: AliExpress Affiliate API, listings 1005007466971732 and 1005005426512071, and their associated seller titles, prices and photos. Affiliate links were generated separately for each listing with LODEX tracking. The photos belong to the offers compared; no image of a different reader is used as a substitute.

LODEX has not physically tested these readers or measured their speed or endurance. Recommendations compare use cases, visible connectors and seller-declared data. Unverified promotional claims are not presented as test results.