subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 13 July 2019 51At a glance
● Up to 550MB/s read speed
● 8.8x49.5x96.2mm
● 38.9gIF YOU’RE a photographer who edits on the move
and requires a dependable storage device to back
up shots, having a portable hard drive that you can
rely on and trust is essential. Hard disk drives, or
HDDs for short, are notoriously cheaper than solid
state drives (SSDs), but because SSDs don’t have
any moving parts and use fl ash memory to store
data rather than using magnetic platters, they’re
more reliable when it comes to storing all-
important photos and videos that you can’t risk
losing. What’s more, SSDs are far more durable and
more resistant to vibration and shock, which is a big
factor in many portable hard disk drive failures.
SanDisk’s Extreme Portable SSD has been
made with ruggedness, practicality and
affordability in mind. Small and thin enough
to slip inside a jacket or trouser pocket, it’s
designed with a rubberised edge to prevent
it slipping from your hands and has a small
plastic loop that enables it to be attached to
your bag, keys or anything that a carabiner
can be linked to. At the bottom it has a USB
Type-C connector, which when used with the
supplied Type-C to Type-C cable provides read
speeds of up to 550MB/s. There’s also the option
to plug it in using the bundled Type-A adapter, but
be aware that this is rather small and could be easily
misplaced if you’re not careful. In use, the drive
mounted on our computer in just over a second
and operated silently. Unlike many portable drives
though it doesn’t illuminate or feature a small LED
to show that it’s powered.
Transferring 20GB worth of data from our 2.5GHz
Intel Core i7 MacBook Pro to the drive took 3min
30sec using the Type-C to Type-C cable, with large
high-resolution fi les opening without any sign of delay
in Lightroom and Photoshop. To keep fi les password-
protected users are supplied with a link to download
SanDisk’s Secure Access software. Creating a private
vault to which you can drag and drop important fi les is
straightforward enough and you’re given a quick-start
guide that clearly explains the process step by step.Ve r d i c t
The beauty of this drive is that it’s so small and
lightweight you can take it anywhere. Its rubberised
edge is a magnet for dirt and dust; however it’s
extremely robust and durable, allowing you to work
freely knowing your prized images are extremely well
protected and safe. Best of all it’s sensibly priced,
with smaller and larger capacities available to suit
different needs and budget. Quite simply this is one
ALL PRICES ARE APPROXIMATE STREET PRICESof the best portable SSD drives money can buy.
The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is an extremely
rugged device. You’re unlikely to have any
difficulty finding a space for it in your camera
bag, but if you’d like to give it a little more
protection on your travels and keep the cable/
adapter together you may want to buy a hard
travel case for it. Simply type SanDisk Extreme
Portable SSD travel case into Amazon or eBay and
you’ll be presented with a range of options, with
most examples costing between £10 and £15.ALSO CONSIDER
SanDisk Extreme
Portable SSD 1 TB
Michael Topham tests a por table
and aff ordable SSD drive
● £155 ● http://www.sandisk.co.ukRuggedness
The drive showed no ill
effects or damage when
dropped from 2m onto a
solid concrete floor.Protection
The drive sports an IP55
rating for dust and
water protection.Capacities
As well as the 1TB
version, 250GB (£73), 500GB
(£99) and 2TB (£320)
capacities are
also available.Compatibility
The drive is pre-
formatted in exFAT and will
work on Windows and Mac
machines straight out of
the box.ACCESSORIES Testbench
GOLD