Niche feature: SD card readers in business laptops are essential for some, irrelevant for most

For mainstream consumers, however, SD cards have become far less important. Even devices that still use SD cards often allow data transfers via USB without removing the card. On top of that, external card readers are frequently much faster. As a result, many business laptops no longer include an SD card reader at all.

The Schenker Connect 15 (our review) features an integrated card reader. However, it is not a full-size SD card slot and only supports microSD cards. Thanks to its spring-loaded mechanism, cards fit securely in the slot and protrude only slightly when inserted.

In our testing, the integrated UHS-I card reader delivered transfer speeds between 50 and 90 MB/s. That puts the Schenker Connect 15 squarely in the middle of its class, with performance that is neither particularly impressive nor disappointing.

The Framework Laptop 13.5 demonstrates what is possible for content creators, photographers, and other professionals. Its integrated card reader transfers images at speeds of up to roughly 250 MB/s. Performance like this is still the exception among the business laptops we have tested, as nearly all competing models either omit the card reader entirely or include only a basic implementation.

With demand continuing to decline, SD card readers have become a low priority in modern laptops. Many models no longer include one at all, and those that do typically rely on outdated technology with relatively modest transfer speeds. While mirrorless cameras and external card readers often support the much faster UHS-II standard, laptops with UHS-II readers remain rare. Professionals who depend on an SD card reader will likely continue using a faster external solution, making today's integrated readers more of a convenient feature for travel than a must-have.