Angelbird Performance Card Reader CFexpress B Review – 3GB/s Speed Makes It an SSD Replacement

The new Angelbird Performance Card Reader CFexpress B delivers unprecedented read and write speeds of 3 Gigabytes per second, making it fast enough to replace traditional portable editing SSDs. We put this USB 4.0 powerhouse through its paces and also compared it to other CFexpress B readers and a fast SSD.

As filmmakers, we know that fast storage is crucial – both in cameras and editing setups. Faster memory cards don’t just enable high-resolution recording; they dramatically reduce offloading time at the end of exhausting shooting days when everyone needs to recharge. However, many content creators focus primarily on memory card speeds while overlooking the equally important performance of their card readers.

USB 4.0 makes the difference

The arrival of USB 4.0 in storage media (v4 SD, CFexpress A and B cards) and cables represents a significant leap forward, provided all components in the chain support the standard. Angelbird’s new AV Pro SE CFExpress v4 Type B cards (our news report here), available in 512GB, 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities, boast sticker speeds of up to 3,700MB/s. To unlock this full potential, you need an equally capable reader – enter the Performance Card Reader CFexpress B.

Conforming to USB-C 4.0 standards, both the new cards and reader support transfer speeds up to 40 Gb/s – double the speed of Angelbird’s existing PKT CFexpress B reader. A helpful LED indicator shows connection status: white for active USB 4.0 connections, blue for USB 3.2 (limited to 20Gb/s), indicating either a slower card or cable in the chain.

Build quality and design of the Angelbird Performance Card Reader CFexpress B

The Performance reader ships with a USB-C Solid Flex cable featuring soft, flexible construction with braided fabric protection. Like other Angelbird readers, it incorporates a recessed connection point called Solid Connect, which effectively prevents accidental unplugging and reduces wear and tear on the connector. The housing itself is a little thicker than older Angelbird CFexpress Type B readers, but that is down to the fact that their “Solid Cool” ventilation system needs some space – it’s a small fan at the bottom that keeps the card cooler to avoid thermal throttling, and kicks in when needed (more on that below).

Real-world performance testing vs. other readers

We tested the Performance reader against several competitors in our studio: the SanDisk Professional Pro, two different OWC readers, and an older Angelbird CFexpress B reader. Using Thunderbolt-4 compatible cables on legacy readers and the supplied USB-4 cable with the new Angelbird unit ensured cables weren’t the bottleneck.

Direct editing performance, subjective impressions

Using a 2TB AV Pro SE CFexpress v4 Type B card in the Performance reader as a direct editing drive revealed impressive results. While we wouldn’t recommend editing original camera footage directly from a card if it’s your only copy, cameras with dual CFexpress B slots make this viable for fast turnaround situations using the backup copy.

The editing experience felt remarkably snappy – eliminating the familiar split-second delays when scrubbing through 4K timelines. Playback appeared instantaneous throughout testing.

Benchmark results

Blackmagic Disk Speed Test revealed extraordinary performance figures we’ve never seen from any card/reader combination. The Angelbird Performance Card Reader CFexpress B with the 2TB AV Pro SE CFexpress v4 Type B card consistently achieved approximately 3,000 MB/s for both read and write speeds – that’s a sustained 3 Gigabytes per second in both directions.

As a practical example, transferring 24 Gigabytes to the card took less than 5 seconds.

Comparison with other readers

Using the same v4 card across different readers highlighted the Performance reader’s advantage. Legacy readers (USB 3.2) without USB-4 support delivered predictably slower results:

• Older Angelbird Type B reader: Write: 986 MB/s, Read: 911 MB/s
• SanDisk Professional reader: Write: 992 MB/s, Read: 922 MB/s
• Older OWC reader: Write: 939 MB/s, Read: 821 MB/s
• Compact OWC reader: Write: 344 MB/s, Read: 1547 MB/s

These results represent just one-third of the Performance reader’s capability with the same card.

Competing with mobile SSDs

I also tested against the fastest mobile SSD available in our studio – a G-Drive Pro SSD from SanDisk Professional (Thunderbolt 3 device) connected via Thunderbolt 4. Results showed 2,000 MB/s write and 2,500 MB/s read speeds – fast, but still considerably below the Angelbird combination’s 3,000 MB/s bidirectional performance.

Thermal management

During extended use as an editing drive, the Performance reader’s active cooling system becomes apparent. A small built-in fan activates when the card temperature rises, preventing overheating and thermal throttling that would compromise performance. Angelbird calls this system Solid Cool, guaranteeing consistent performance under heavy workloads. While the fan noise is noticeable, it’s not disturbing and represents a reasonable compromise for maintaining peak speeds.

Pricing and availability

This exceptional performance commands premium pricing. The 1TB AV Pro SE CFexpress B card currently costs around $300/€300 plus tax, while the Performance CFexpress B reader adds approximately $250/€250 plus tax. However, the time savings both on set and in post-production through dramatically faster data access and transfer speeds can justify the investment for professional workflows. The Performance reader and the new cards are available now.

Conclusion

The Angelbird Performance Card Reader CFexpress B has become my new portable editing solution, and I will now use traditional SSDs for on-the-go backup since they typically deliver lower read and write speeds. The combination of v4 CFexpress cards with the v4 Performance reader makes it clear that theoretical USB 4.0 speeds actually have a real-life impact in post-production. I’m impressed.

So if you want to prioritize speed and efficiency in your camera storage workflow (it saves so much time while offloading after the shoot!!!), this Angelbird combination represents a significant step forward, in case you are willing to pay the premium price for the Angelbird Performance Card Reader CFexpress B.

What’s your take, have you looked at your card reader speed before? Let us know in the comments below.