Vivitar 10-in-1 Card Reader Review

In an era where speed, efficiency, and cutting-edge technology define our expectations for even the most basic gadgets, the Vivitar 10-in-1 Card Reader feels like a relic from a bygone age. Marketed as a versatile hub for memory card users and available at most Walmart stores across the country, this device promises convenience and compatibility at a budget-friendly price. You can stroll into your local Walmart, pluck it off the shelf (or order it online at Walmart.com), and walk away thinking you’ve scored a deal. But after putting it through rigorous testing with a variety of SD cards, I’m left with one inescapable conclusion: this card reader is a frustrating disappointment, particularly when it comes to its SD card slots. While the other ports showed passable performance in limited testing, the SD slots—the supposed centerpiece of this “10-in-1” device—are stuck in the past, likely hobbling along at USB 2.0 speeds despite being part of what should be a USB 3.2-capable hub. Let’s unpack this underwhelming gadget and explore why it fails to deliver.

Ubiquitous Availability, Universal Disappointment

One of the Vivitar 10-in-1 Card Reader’s few claims to fame is its widespread availability. You’ll find it lurking in the electronics aisles of most Walmart stores, a testament to the retail giant’s knack for stocking affordable, mass-market tech. Whether you’re in a bustling urban center or a quiet rural outpost, this card reader is likely within arm’s reach, ready to tempt you with its low price and bold “10-in-1” branding. It’s the kind of product you might grab in a pinch—say, when your old reader dies mid-project or you need something quick for a weekend shoot. But convenience doesn’t equal quality, and this device proves that in spades. Its omnipresence at Walmart only amplifies the letdown; it’s a widely accessible mistake waiting to frustrate users who expect modern performance from a device that touts itself as a multi-format solution.

A Closer Look: Design and Promises

On the surface, the Vivitar 10-in-1 Card Reader seems like a practical tool. It’s designed to handle a range of memory card formats—SD and microSD. It connects via a USB C port, and while Vivitar’s branding doesn’t explicitly state the USB version, the product’s positioning and price point imply it should align with modern standards—think USB 3.0 or even 3.2, especially for a hub boasting multiple other USB 3 ports. The design is basic: a small, lightweight plastic box that’s portable but uninspired, with no flair or durability to speak of. It’s functional in theory, but as my testing revealed, the reality falls far short of the promise.

Testing the SD Slots: A Methodology Rooted in Reality

To evaluate the Vivitar 10-in-1 Card Reader, I focused primarily on its SD card slots, given their centrality to its purpose. I tested 14 different SD cards from top brands like Samsung, Lexar, SanDisk, Toshiba, and ProGrade, measuring four key performance metrics: sequential read, sequential write speeds, random 4K read speeds, and random 4K write speeds. These metrics reflect real-world use cases—sequential speeds for transferring large files like videos, and random 4K speeds for handling smaller, scattered data like system files or photo metadata. I ran multiple tests per card using a standardized benchmarking tool on a modern PC, ensuring consistent conditions. Though, with the Vivitar reader, I just plugged it directly into my USB C 3.2 Gen 2x2 port as it has it's own integrated cord. Notably, the cards I tested performed worse here than in all the other readers I’ve used.

The Dismal Results: SD Slot Performance Exposed

Here’s how the Vivitar 10-in-1 Card Reader’s SD slots performed with each card. All speeds are in megabytes per second (MB/s), and the results are averages from repeated tests.

Samsung PRO Plus

• Sequential Read: 22.71 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 28.81 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 6.86 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 4.43 MB/s

  • Terrible numbers, and nowhere near what a USB 3 reader should achieve with a high-end card like this.

Samsung PRO Ultimate

• Sequential Read: 22.73 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 28.82 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 6.88 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 4.34 MB/s

  • Nearly identical to the PRO Plus, showing consistency—but consistently mediocre for a modern hub.

Lexar 667x

• Sequential Read: 22.73 MB/s  

• Sequential Write: 28.94 MB/s  

• Random 4K Read: 5.56 MB/s  

• Random 4K Write: 3.54 MB/s

  • The write speed is the highlight here, but it’s still throttled by outdated USB 2.0 constraints.

Lexar Professional 1667x

• Sequential Read: 22.70 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 28.26 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 5.18 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 3.14 MB/s

  • A professional-grade card reduced to middling performance—unacceptable.

SanDisk ImageMate Pro QuickFlow

• Sequential Read: 22.62 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 27.96 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 5.48 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 2.78 MB/s

  • QuickFlow branding means nothing when the reader can’t keep up.

ProGrade Gold

• Sequential Read: 22.60 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 28.61 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 3.57 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 2.33 MB/s

  • A premium card crippled by a subpar reader.

SanDisk Extreme PRO QuickFlow

• Sequential Read: 22.42 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 27.86 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 5.63 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 2.82 MB/s

  • Another “Extreme” card rendered ordinary by this hub’s limitations.

SanDisk Extreme Plus QuickFlow  

• Sequential Read: 22.43 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 28.18 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 4.97 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 2.53 MB/s

  • Consistent, yes—but consistently underwhelming.

SanDisk ImageMate

• Sequential Read: 22.64 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 24.60 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 5.26 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 2.03 MB/s

  • A drop in write speed signals the reader’s struggle with low performance cards.

SanDisk Ultra Plus (Micro SD)

• Sequential Read: 22.60 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 24.59 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 4.01 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 1.67 MB/s

  • Random speeds tank, exposing the reader’s weaknesses.

SanDisk Ultra Plus (Normal SD)

• Sequential Read: 22.70 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 20.11 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 3.96 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 1.62 MB/s

  • Even worse write performance—variability that shouldn’t exist.

SanDisk Ultra

• Sequential Read: 22.72 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 16.86 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 4.84 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 1.47 MB/s

  • Budget card, budget results—thanks to a budget reader.

Toshiba

• Sequential Read: 19.17 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 8.60 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 4.42 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 1.03 MB/s

  • Abysmal across the board—an embarrassment for any reader.

SanDisk (Generic)

• Sequential Read: 10.99 MB/s

• Sequential Write: 3.15 MB/s

• Random 4K Read: 3.51 MB/s

• Random 4K Write: 0.03 MB/s

  • Painfully slow writes—a relic meeting a relic.

The Fatal Flaw: USB 2.0 in a USB 3.2 World

The numbers don’t lie: the Vivitar 10-in-1 Card Reader’s SD slots are stuck at USB 2.0 speeds. USB 2.0’s theoretical maximum is 60 MB/s, but real-world performance typically tops out around 35 MB/s—far below what USB 3.2 (up to 1250 MB/s) or even USB 3.0 (625 MB/s) can achieve. My tests show sequential reads plateauing around 22-23 MB/s and writes peaking at just under 29 MB/s—numbers that scream USB 2.0 limitations. Compare this to modern readers, where high-end SD cards like the Samsung PRO Ultimate can hit 100+ MB/s reads and writes on USB 3.0 or higher. The Vivitar’s SD slots are a bottleneck, strangling the potential of even the fastest cards.

What’s infuriating is the implication that this is a USB 3.2 device. The “10-in-1” branding and multi-port design suggest it should compete with contemporary hubs, many of which boast USB 3.0 or 3.2 for blazing-fast transfers. Yet, while the other ports (e.g., USB-A or USB-C) showed acceptable performance in my limited testing, the SD slots—the heart of a card reader—lag unforgivably behind. It’s as if Vivitar slapped a modern label on outdated tech and called it a day.

Real-World Frustrations

Imagine you’re a photographer transferring 4K video footage after a shoot. With the Vivitar, a 1GB file takes about 35 seconds at 28 MB/s—reasonable for USB 2.0, but glacial compared to the 10 seconds a USB 3.0 reader could manage at 100 MB/s. For random 4K operations—like copying a folder of small files—the sluggish 1-4 MB/s write speeds turn a quick task into a slog. Even budget cards like the SanDisk Ultra suffer, and high-end cards like the Lexar 1667x are outright insulted by this reader’s inability to unleash their full potential. It’s a device that makes you wait, and in 2025, waiting is a luxury no one can afford.

Pros, Cons, and a Verdict to Avoid

Pros:

• Available at most Walmart stores (if you’re desperate).

• Cheap (you get what you pay for).

• Other ports might be okay (barely tested).

Cons:

• SD slots capped at USB 2.0 speeds—unacceptable for a USB 3 device.

• Wastes the potential of high-end cards.

• Mediocre random 4K performance.

Verdict:

While it is better than nothing, the Vivitar 10-in-1 Card Reader is a textbook case of false advertising and corner-cutting. Available at most Walmarts, it’s an easy trap to fall into, but don’t be fooled. Its SD slots are a relic of the USB 2.0 era, dragging down even the best cards to a snail’s pace while masquerading as a modern hub. Save your money and your sanity—look elsewhere for a card reader that respects your time and tech, unless it's an emergency.