This is not SanDisk's top-of-the-range portable SSD - that honour currently goes to the Extreme Pro Portable SSD V2 (above), but this cheaper non-Pro version is still very fast, and appreciable cheaper too. We run two sets of tests when we’re looking at external hard drives for the Xbox Series S and Series X. First, we connect them to a PC and run the CrystalDiskMark benchmark to test their raw sequential and random read/write speeds. Sequential speeds are an indication of how fast the drive can read or write large quantities of data in one sustained burst, which makes a big difference when you’re first running a game, loading a saved game, streaming in all the models and textures in a level, or transferring a game from one drive to another. Random read/write speeds cover smaller data transfers, and make an impact when you’re running a game directly from the hard drive.

The SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD V2 is SanDisk's flagship portable SSD, boasting read/write speeds up to 2000MB/s - that's nearly twice as fast as the non-Pro version (some retailers aren't using the 'V2' designation though, so look out for the 2000MB/s performance rating to ensure you're getting the right SSD version). The small and light form factor of the Extreme PRO® SSD means it couldn’t be easier to keep your content with you whether you’re crossing town or traveling to an international location. Hard drives based on magnetic retention of data are better in this respect, since the retention time is greater if the device is kept properly. In saying that the Extreme is 10Gbps, vice 20Gbps of the Extreme Pro, we are speaking to the highest data transfer speed, the Extreme being 1050 MB/s where the Extreme Pro is 2GB/s. Both portable SSDs have a smooth ABS hard rubber surface with a soft silicon base, and both use a Type-C connector which will allow the user to achieve performance of 1050MB/s read and write on a system that is compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2. Ruggedized design with a forged aluminum body to protect the SSD core and dissipate heat. Plus, a durable silicon rubber coating seeks to deliver higher impact resistance with its IP55 rating for water and dust resistance. 1

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SanDisk Extreme Pro leverages our lightning-fast in-house NVMe technology to dramatically increase transfer speeds to up to 1050 MB/s 6 and fully saturate the USB 3.1 Gen 2 interface. 6 So you’ll be able to edit right from the drive – providing full-frame editing with little interruption while saving you time and keeping your computer’s internal storage free. Inside the toughened shell is a fast SSD which SanDisk claims can transfer data at up to 560MB/s - impressive stuff. The drive connects via an up-to-date USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C connection, though a Type-A converter is included to maintain compatibility with older computers.

What's more, the drive is also well-made and durable - it's designed to survive being dunked in water or being dropped from 2m - which gives you confidence that your files will be kept safe. Get fast NVMe™ solid state performance featuring 1050MB/s 2 read and 1000MB/s 2 write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive that’s perfect for creating amazing content or capturing incredible footage.Creative professionals know the value of storage space. With capacities of up to 2TB, 5 you’ll have enough room for the files you need to work on or deliver. The Extreme Portable SSD comes pre-formatted as an exFAT device which means that it can work on Windows and Mac out of the box. Reformattingit to NTFS will limit compatibility to Windows but will enable TRIM which will improve the longevity of the drive.

The standout feature of this SSD is its ruggedized design that protects the drive against a 3-metre drop and 1000lb of crushing force, plus the exterior is IP67 rated to resist dust and moisture. Despite this extra exterior protection, the drive's 95mm x 50mm x 14.5mm dimensions are only marginally more bulky than the non-ruggedized WD My Passport SSD. Good things come in small sizes! The SanDisk Extreme® Portable SSD delivers high-performance and capacity in a drive that’s smaller than a smartphone. An external SSD is recommended for frequent travelers. The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 is made of durable and sturdy materials and this protects files from accidental bumps. The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 measures are 100.54x52.42x8.95 mm For ideal performance please respect the operating temperature of 0 - 45°C. Taking into consideration the high-level datasheet, this SSD offers itself for watching movies or large video files. A Solid State Drive Perfect For Gamers The best external drives for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S 1. Toshiba Canvio Flex 2TB: Best value HDD for Xbox Series consolesExamining the Crystal DiskInfo result, we can validate that the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is based on the Western Digital Blue SN550 NVMe SSD and is using the newest NVMe 1.4 protocol. When used with a USB Type-C cable, the SanDisk Extreme rises above the competition with some stellar numbers. The design and form factor are spot on and while we have one reservation regarding the bundled cable, you can’t go wrong at this price. There’s not much competition in this price range. The Samsung T5, which costs marginally less and is far more portable, is the only rival that is widely available. It is not IP-rated, though, and its metallic surface is likely to get scratched easily. CrystalDiskMark gets things off to a good start with stunning peak sequential read/write speeds of 1440/726MB/s respectively, though this is some way short of OWC's claim of "up to 2800MB/s". Real world file transfers will always be slower than a synthetic benchmark test, but we still recorded a hugely impressive 995MB/s peak read speed when shifting one massive video file, though this figure did drop as the transfer progressed, leaving the final averaged video read speed at a more modest - though still very rapid - 645MB/s. An average 612MB/s read speed moving multiple image files is also superb, though write speeds take a significant performance hit, with an average 481MB/s when writing video and just 278MB/s when writing multiple images. That image write rate did peak at a healthier 413MB/s during the transfer, but the drive couldn't sustain this speed, hence the slower average figure. Conventional hard disk drives use sensitive moving parts, but not SSDs, making them much less vulnerable to drops.