Sandisk released their new generation of portable hard-drives in a short but sweet event that took place on the 30th of September. The new SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD lineup is 2x faster than the previous generation while keeping the rugged reliability and capability Sandisk is known for. The lineup consists of the SanDisk Extreme and SanDisk Extreme PRO portable SSDs, both with capacities up to 2TB.
If at first glance you thought it looked identical to the previous generation, it’s because it does. The hard drives still sport the quintessential SanDisk red-black colour scheme that sounds vulgar on paper but looks great in person, although the new generation does look like it’s more orange than red. As for the build itself, the flagship SanDisk Extreme PRO features a forged aluminum chassis which acts as a heatsink for prolonged speed as well as a durable silicone shell.
Apart from casual consumers, SanDisk is trying to cater to a specific group of enthusiasts and professionals like photographers and traveling videographers who need a rugged and capable portable SSD that’s always ready on the go. This would explain features like the handy carabiner loop, compatibility with PC and Mac computers as well as the ability to back up mobile content quickly and easily thanks to compatibility with a range of USB Type-C smartphones.
SanDisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD
| Capacity | 2 TB |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2 x2 |
| Connector | USB-C |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 4.34″ x 2.26″ x 0.4″ |
| Sequential Read & Write Performance | 2000MB/s |
The SanDisk Extreme PRO is the flagship model in the lineup. As mentioned before, it has a forged aluminum chassis which acts as a heatsink to deliver higher sustained speeds and a silicone shell design offering a premium feel and added protection.
The NVMe solid-state performance features up to 2000MB/s read and write speeds (the previous generation had read and write speeds up to 1050 MB/s). The Extreme PRO also offers substantial security with up to two-metre drop protection and an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance.
As with all popular portable SSDs nowadays, the Extreme PRO also comes with password protection and an upgrade to 256-bit AES hardware encryption. The SanDisk Extreme PRO will be available in 1TB and 2TB for AED1,249 and AED2,299 respectively.
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
| Capacity | 2 TB |
| Interface | USB 3.2 |
| Connector | USB-C |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 0.35″ x 2.06″ x 3.96″ |
| Sequential Read Performance | 1050MB/s |
| Sequential Write Performance | 1000MB/s |
The SanDisk Extreme is the budget model in the lineup. You get a pretty decent NVMe solid-state performance up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds which is 510MB/s more than popular competitors like the Samsung T5.
Like the Extreme PRO, the Extreme features up to two-metre drop protection and an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, and also comes with password protection and 256-bit AES hardware encryption. But unlike the Extreme PRO, the Extreme does not have the forged aluminum heatsink which is more than reasonable considering the price.
The SanDisk Extreme will be available in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB for 519 AED, 899 AED and 1699 AED respectively. Both models will be available at select retailers in UAE end of October and it is also useful to note that you will be getting a generous 5-year limited warranty with both models.
If you’re into PC components, click here to check out our review of the WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD
