I tried the 64GB SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive and here is what I think

When I first laid my hands on the SanDisk iXpand 64GB Flash Drive, I couldn’t help but think about how far the production of data storage devices has gone especially when design, speed and compatibility are concerned.

If you are old enough to have used the flat floppy disk, you will have witnessed the age of carrying big devices with ridiculously small storage potentials. I mean, the average size of the floppy disk is 5.25 inches and the maximum capacity of any disk is 1 MB.

Today, we use devices with the least possible weights and sizes with the biggest possible capacity ratios. Last year, I reviewed an Extreme Portable SSD that weighs 1.76 ounces (49 grams), has a 500 GB storage capacity and a transfer speed of 1050 MB/s.

In this article, I share with you another beautiful storage device by SanDisk that more than being light, fast and sleek offers an extra bit: it allows you to transfer files between your phone, laptop and other devices.

Ordinary USB thumb drives in the past have been so slow and just have one standard USB connector. Hence, in addition to having a storage drive, you need connectors to use them.

However, the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe comes with not one but two connectors so you can easily move files between your iPhone, iPad Pro, Mac, and USB Type-C.

The 50mm long device features a compact swivel design that allows you to switch between the two ports. The device is protected by a solid grey all-metal enclosure that is designed to protect the drive in case of accidental drops.

How the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive works

Once you plug the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive into your iPhone, it will prompt you to download its own app. Once you install the app, adding files to the drive is as easy as drag and drop.

On the iXpand Drive app, you have a dashboard that shows an overview of the available storage, along with some other options – Copy Files, View Files, Backup and Restore and the “Do More Store”.

The first two options are fairly straightforward. The “copy files” lets you copy files from the iPhone or from the drive itself. The “view files” lets you view the files on the drive or your device.

On a side note, the device’s 64GB capacity is the same as the basic iCloud package cloud storage for an iPhone at full capacity. So, rather than paying for extra storage, that is a good backup that will save you money.

That is where the Backup and Restore feature comes in. The app offers two options – either backup the photo library or the contacts and calendar.

You can also set it to automatically back up your files and photos each time it’s plugged in. This way, it does not take you to start the process again each time you plug it in. Also, you do not need to keep the app in focus while transferring. It can keep working while you are busy with other functions.

The iXpand Drive Luxe uses a USB 3.1 Gen 1 connection, which is reasonably fast. It has a 90MB/s transfer speed, a significant improvement from previous versions. That means that you can transfer a 1.8GB file in about 20 seconds.

And, if you need to use the port for other things, the app (thankfully) has a pause and resume function, so you won’t lose progress if eject the drive.

The last option, “Do More Store”, is a mini app store where you can browse and download apps that complement the iXpand Drive app. These apps include photo editors, media viewing apps, video editors and more.

Another feature offered by the app is the SecureAccess Vault. This is a password-protected folder where users can store their files securely. You will be required to create a password for the folder.

You can also use your iPhone’s biometric authentication as an alternative.

Conclusion

The SanDisk iXpand Drive Luxe is a great tool for users who have different devices and need to transfer files between them at intervals. It is especially useful for users who have a combination of iPhone, iPad or laptop and need to use data interchangeably.

I observed that the speed on an Android device is not as great as on an iOS. So, the device is more suitable for iPad/ iPhone/ MAC users who are worried about losing data and for users who are running out of storage. That does not mean that Android users would not find it useful but it offers a better experience for iOS users.

It comes in three storage sizes: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. And, you should have at least one.