Magnetoresistive (MR) sensors are disclosed that have leads with reduced resistance, improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensors. The leads have broad layers of highly conductive material for connection to MR structures, as opposed to thin wires of highly conductive material or broad layers of resistive material, lowering the resistance of the leads. The low-resistance leads can be formed without increasing the shield-to-shield spacing, providing highly sensitive and focused MR sensors.