Data storage is something that we can never have enough of, especially fast data storage. For those whose professional work keeps them constantly on the go, portable fast storage can be a valuable tool to help speed up productivity and keep backups of important data.
The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD and Extreme Pro Portable are two such products designed for video and photo professionals, offering fast on-the-go storage, with the added benefits of being rugged and water-resistant. In the review, we shall check out the two SSDs that were released this year.
Specifications
SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD:
| Capacities | 1TB, 2TB, 4TB |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 |
| Dimensions | 110.26mm x 57.34mm x 10.22mm |
| Rated sequential Read Performance | 2000 MB/s |
| Rated sequential Write Performance | 2000 MB/s |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 45°C |
| Durability | IP55 dust and water resistance |
| Shock Resistance | Up to 1500g |
| Vibration Resistance | 5gRMS, 10-2000 Hz |
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD:
| Capacities | 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Dimensions | 100.54mm x 52.42mm x 8.95mm |
| Rated sequential Read Performance | 1050 MB/s |
| Rated sequential Write Performance | 1000 MB/s |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 45°C |
| Durability | IP55 dust and water resistance |
| Shock Resistance | Up to 1500g |
| Vibration Resistance | 5gRMS, 10-2000 Hz |
Both the SSDs come in standard packaging which securely holds the drives along with some paperwork. The Extreme Pro Portable SSD comes with separate USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables. The Extreme Portable SSD on the other hand comes with a single USB-C to USB-C cable with a USB-C to USB-A adaptor in the box.
Test System
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-core CPU
- ASrock B500 PG Velocita Motherboard with PCIe gen 4.0 support
- 32GB DDR4 3200MHz RAM
- 750w SMPS
- Windows 10 Pro 64bit
Benchmarks
We tested the two drives in 4 different benchmarks – CrystalDiskMark, BlackMagic Disk Speed Test, PCMark 10 Full System Drive Benchmark and ATTO. A note, we tested these two drives with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, so the results Here are our results:
- SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD:
In CrystalDiskMark, which is one of the most popular storage benchmarking tool available, the Extreme Pro SSD recorded 1079.53MB/s for sequential read speeds and 1066MB/s for sequential write speeds.
In the BlackMagic’s Disk Speed Test, which comes bundled with their Davinci Resolve video editing software, we observed write speeds of 949MB/s and read speeds of 941MB/s.
Running the PCMark 10 Data Drive Benchmark, which is designed for external removeable drives, the Extreme Pro SSD achieved a score of 1278 and in ATTO, read speeds were recorded at 1.01GB/s and write speeds were recorded at 1004MB/s
These results do not match the rated speeds that are claimed by SanDisk. We suspect the bottleneck to be the USB port. However, we did test the drive using a USB 4.0 port, which should have more than enough bandwidth for maxing out the speeds. So we are unclear as to why we are seeing lower speeds from the Extreme Pro SSD.
- SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
In CrystalDiskMark, the Extreme Portable SSD achieved sequential read speeds of 1070MB/s and sequential write speeds of 1042MB/s.
In the BlackMagic Disk Speed Test, the drive reached 936.7MB/s write and 877.9MB/s read speeds
In the PCMark 10 Data Drive Benchmark, it received a score of 1294 and in ATTO, the drive peaked at 1019MB/s reads and 994.70MB/s writes.
Conclusion
The SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable and SanDisk Extreme Portable SSDs are really great options if you are looking for fast, portable storage. The drives are small and rugged, making it ideal for travelling photographers and videographers.
Between the two drives, I find that the SanDisk Extreme SSD is the better choice, as it offers great speeds that you can actually reach with any modern laptop, and it is slightly smaller, while being just as rugged as the Extreme Pro SSD. It is also cheaper that the Extreme Pro SSD. We were unable to reach the full rated speeds of the Extreme Pro, so I would not recommend purchasing that drive unless you are sure that you have a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 port.
Pricing and Availability
The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is available on Amazon.in in 500GB, 1TB, 2TB and 4TB sizes, and starts at Rs. 7699. The SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD is available on Amazon.in in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB sizes, and starts at Rs. 19999.