Angelbird has released a new CFexpress Type B card reader for speed and long-term reliability. Designed and engineered in Austria, the Performance Card Reader CFexpress B uses USB-C 4.0 Gen 3×2 to reach transfer speeds of up to 40 Gb/s, provided your host device supports it. If you work with large files and have a low tolerance for hiccups, this high-performance card reader is definitely worth considering. So let’s take a look!
If you’re a follower of CineD, you know we’re fans of Angelbird media cards. We’ve been using them for a long time, including this year at NAB 2025. Recently, they released their AV PRO SE CFexpress B v4 Cards, as well as the SSD2GO PKT, a portable SSD, which we took a closer look at here.
Engineered for sustained performance
With their new Performance Card Reader for CFexpress B, Angelbird addresses the problem of thermal throttling, which can occur during long transfers or heavy workloads. They call it “Solid Cool,” an it’s an active thermal management system designed to prevent overheating and maintain consistent speeds. This should ensure stable performance when working in the field or offloading data from high-capacity cards.
A 32cm USB-C 4.0 Solid Flex cable is included, which is both compact and durable. A recessed connection point on the reader (what Angelbird calls Solid Connect) helps reduce strain on the cable and port.
The build is solid and slightly weighty (175g (6.2 oz), with rubber rails on the base to prevent slipping. It operates across a wide temperature range (0 °C to 40 °C / 32°F to 104°F), is USB bus-powered (no external power supply required), and supports macOS, iPadOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and technically, Thunderbolt 3/4/5 systems (though not at Thunderbolt 5 speeds).
LED status indicator
A small LED on the front of the Angelbird Performance Card Reader gives basic status feedback, very helpful when things are moving fast or when troubleshooting connection issues:
- White: USB 4.0 connection active (up to 40 Gb/s)
- Blue: USB 3.2 connection (up to 20 Gb/s)
- Orange: Power ready
- Flashing: Data transfer in progress
Beyond transfer speeds, the reader can also be used to install firmware updates on Angelbird’s own CFexpress media.
Price and availability
The Angelbird Performance Card Reader is available now at the suggested price of $249.99 / €249.99. For more information, please see the Angelbird website.
CineD Special Edition AV PRO SE CFexpress A 160GB/330GB still available
Last but not least, and in case you missed it, CineD-branded Special Edition CFexpress A cards are still available from Angelbird for one of the best prices you can find – you can order them here and learn more about them here.
What kind of card readers have held up best in your workflow, and where do they tend to fall short? Let us know in the comments below.