Transcend Smart Reader vs SD Import
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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
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.
- Real-time import progress
- One-tap card cleanup (Pro)
- RAW format support
- Smart scanning for media
- Date grouping
- EXIF preservation
- Storage check before import
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. SD Import sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Transcend Smart Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Transcend Smart Reader | SD Import |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.1 (8 ratings) | 3.7 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 24.0% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Transcend Information, Inc. | 海龙 李 |
Customer experience
Transcend Smart Reader
SD Import
In-app purchases
Transcend Smart Reader
No in-app purchases
SD Import
- 解锁无限导入$4.99
Questions
Is Transcend Smart Reader free?
Is SD Import free?
Which has better reviews, Transcend Smart Reader or SD Import?
Do Transcend Smart Reader or SD Import have ads?
Which is updated more often, Transcend Smart Reader or SD Import?
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