SanDisk Extreme PRO USB 4 Portable SSD Review

CRYSTAL DISK BENCHMARK VER. 8.0.4 x64

Crystal Disk Benchmark is used to measure read and write performance through sampling of random data which is, for the most part, incompressible. Performance is virtually identical, regardless of data sample so we have included only that using random data samples.

THROUGHPUT

IOPS

Speeds of 3.5GB/s read and 3.3GB/s write are respectable considering we are so early into the implementation stage of USB4.  We wanted to see the result of this in our USB 4 laptop where we were able to achieve that listed 3.8GB/s data throughput but at a cost of lower random performance.  This may seem ‘to stand out’ but for most, the pure reasoning for getting a USB4 portable SSD is to manipulate media which the high sequential speeds typically account for.  Most don’t ever consider but those low random speeds, for the most part, are needed for very small 4K system execution files which you wouldn’t run from any external SSD.   Take a look.

TxBENCH

TxBench is one of our newly discovered benchmarks that we works much the same as Crystal DiskMark, but with several other features. Advanced load benchmarking can be configured, as well as full drive information and data erasing via secure erase, enhanced secure erase, TRIM and overwriting. Simply click on the title for a free copy.

REPORT SUMMARY AND FINAL THOUGHTS

There is alot of give and take with respect to the SanDisk Extreme PRO USB4 Portable SSD and the first has to do with performance.  Although the SanDisk Extreme PRO does get us into the USB 40Gbps area, it is lesser performance when compared to our recent Corsair EX400U report (4GB/s), or even our LaCie ThunderBolt 5 report which hit a high of 6GB/s a second.  This latter comparison is a bit unfair as the LaCie drive is ThunderBolt 5, runs at a whopping 80Gbps and considerably more costly.  But still, even the ADATA SE920 pulled off 3.7GB/s and it was released some time ago.

With respect to build, we have always liked the composition of the SanDisk Extreme PRO line as it was compact yet bulletproof and felt good in your hands. It’s soft rubber surface is just such a magnet for anything it comes in contact with. It would have been great to see this version just a bit smaller as the Corsair EX400U is significantly smaller, yet still reaches that 4TB capacity (which we have not had in hand yet).  For USB 4 portable SSDs, the SanDisk Extreme PRO does come out on top for warranty though as we have always been a fan of the standard 5-year warranty.

Last but not least, pricing should come down just a bit when we compare this to other devices available today.  The Corsair EX400U comes in at $70 cheaper for both capacities which should force pricing for the SanDisk to settle just a bit.  Still, gotta love that SanDisk Extreme PRO quality!

CHECK OUT SANDISK EXTREME PRO USB4 PRICING AT AMAZON