Comparison

Transcend Smart Reader vs SD Import

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Transcend Smart Reader

Expand your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch storage with external SD or microSD cards using a compatible card reader. This app provides an all-in-one browser for photos, videos, music, and documents, along with efficient file management and instant camera roll backups.

Highlights
  • Expand iPhone/iPad storage with SD/microSD cards
  • All-in-one media and document viewer
  • Efficient file management
  • Instant Camera Roll backup
  • Real-time storage information
Read full description

Transcend Smart Reader app is designed to work with RDA2 for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch to expand storage capacity with external SD or microSD card. Features: • Auto-launch app when plugged in RDA2 card reader • All-in-one browser: Photo Viewer, Video Player, Music Player and Document Pre-viewer • Efficient file management between Apple devices and RDA2 card reader • Instant backup of Camera Roll through RDA2 card reader • Real-time storage information display

About

SD Import

Easily transfer photos and videos from your camera's SD card directly to your iPhone's photo library. Supports RAW formats and offers smart scanning to organize your media by date, preserving EXIF data. Pro upgrade unlocks unlimited imports and one-tap card cleanup.

Highlights
  • Real-time import progress
  • One-tap card cleanup (Pro)
  • RAW format support
  • Smart scanning for media
  • Date grouping
  • EXIF preservation
  • Storage check before import
Features
Read full description

SD Import is the fastest and simplest tool to import photos and videos from your camera SD card directly to iPhone Photos. Why SD Import? • Real-time import progress — see exactly how fast files are transferring, byte by byte • One-tap card cleanup — delete successfully imported files from your SD card right after importing, freeing space while you're still shooting (Pro) • Deletion with two safeguards — only files verified as fully read and confirmed saved to Photos are removed; failed imports are never deleted, and every deletion needs your confirmation • RAW format support — ARW, CR2, CR3, RAF, NEF and more • Smart scanning — automatically finds photos and videos, hides junk files • Date grouping — browse media organized by shooting date • EXIF preserved — original shooting dates kept intact in your Photos library • Storage check — warns you before import if space is running low How it works: 1. Connect your SD card reader to iPhone 2. Select the SD card directory 3. Pick your photos and videos 4. Tap Import — done! 5. Need space? Clear the imported files off the card in one tap About the delete feature Every file is verified as fully read and successfully saved to your Photos library before it is deleted. Files that failed to import, or that you didn't select, are never touched. Deletion always requires an explicit tap plus a confirmation — nothing is ever deleted automatically. Pro upgrade unlocks unlimited imports and SD card cleanup with a one-time purchase. No subscription, yours forever. Supports Sony, Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, DJI and other major camera brands.

Screenshots

Transcend Smart Reader4 screens
SD Import4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SD Import at 67% against Transcend Smart Reader's 24%. SD Import also leads on rating (3.7 vs 2.1) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). Transcend Smart Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SD Import sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Transcend Smart Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SD Import holds the better App Store score, 3.7 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Transcend Smart Reader's written reviews are positive against 67% of SD Import's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Transcend Smart Reader ships an update every 2 months, SD Import every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Transcend Smart Reader versus SD Import: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTranscend Smart ReaderSD Import
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.1 (8 ratings)3.7 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews24.0% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTranscend Information, Inc.海龙 李

Customer experience

Transcend Smart Reader

All ratings8 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews100 reviews
Positive24.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative56.0%

SD Import

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Transcend Smart Reader

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

SD Import

One-time1
  • 解锁无限导入$4.99

Questions

Is Transcend Smart Reader free?
Transcend Smart Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SD Import free?
SD Import is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Transcend Smart Reader or SD Import?
SD Import is rated higher. Transcend Smart Reader averages 2.1 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while SD Import averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Transcend Smart Reader or SD Import have ads?
Neither Transcend Smart Reader nor SD Import shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Transcend Smart Reader or SD Import?
Transcend Smart Reader ships an update every 2 months, and SD Import every 2 days. Most recently, Transcend Smart Reader was updated on October 2, 2026 and SD Import on September 27, 2026.

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