SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 Review

The SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 brings all of the attributes that we've come to know and trust from SanDisk. This model is right at home in your backpack or laptop bag, thanks to its rubber coating and hoop for clipping or tying it to whatever you choose. It's ready to use on various consoles and operating systems directly out of the box. The attribute that genuinely separates this model from the others is that it is stupendously fast at reading and writing files. The V2 is perfect for those constantly on the go and who want to write and access files as quickly as possible.

Read/Write Performance

Of all of our testing metrics, our team decided that reading and writing capabilities of an external hard drive are the most important factors to consider when judging overall performance. This is why we weighted this metric with 60% of each drive's total score. Our assessment was broken down into two sub-metrics to judge speed — optimal speeds for which we let the software do the measuring and actual measured speeds where we timed the transfer rate of drag and drop files. For the optimal speed testing portion of this metric, we ran tests for sequential files as well as for random data. We ran all of our experiments for both Windows and Mac OS.

For Mac, we used the AmorphousDeskMark test software to measure speeds. The Extreme Portable V2 showed fantastic results for this assessment with a sequential data read rate of 673 MB per second and an average random data read speed of 30 MB per second.

With Windows, measured speed using CrystalDiskMark test software. Again, the Extreme Portable V2 performed phenomenally well. Its random data read speed jumped to 271 MB per second, and its sequential read speed showed the fastest we've seen to date at 1064 MB per second.

For the drag and drop test, we timed how long each external hard drive took to transfer three different sized files — 1GB, 5GB, and 10GB. We performed these experiments for both Mac OS and Windows. While transferring data on a Mac, the SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 was able to drag and drop a 1GB file in two seconds, a 5GB file in seven seconds, and a 10GB file in 22 seconds for an average rate of 547 MB per second. When we performed the same test using Windows, the Portable V2 was faster for the smaller 1GB file at a time of one second, slightly slower for 5GB with a time of 10 seconds, and essentially the same as Mac for a 10GB file at 23 seconds. The average MB per second for all three files was 586. Using Windows, this model was more than twice as fast as the closest competitor in our review.

Convenience

For the next 30% of our total score, our team of tech experts analyzed the subtle nuances that make each model user-friendly. We looked at what formatting was required to set up each drive, whether the devices were compatible across several operating systems or if they work with gaming consoles, their connections, storage capacity options, and what type of warranty the manufacturer offers for their product.

The V2 offers excellent compatibility. Right out of the package, it is compatible and interchangeable with Mac OS, Windows, phones, and gaming systems. It comes with both USB A and USB C cables. The USB A cable works with computers that aren't exactly on the cutting edge in case you need to rescue some files from a technological dinosaur. USB C is widely used for various devices ranging from smartphones to drones to action cameras to Bluetooth headphones. If you're anything like us, you have a ton of these cables lying around your house and your office, which means you don't have to worry if you misplace one. The V2 is offered in capacities of up to 2TB, which is a lot, but if you require even more memory, you'll likely want to go with an HDD.

Portability

If you're like the GearLab Team, you're continually on the go. We're constantly moving our drives between the office, the lab, and the field. Sometimes our external hard drives get shared between team members, sometimes they go home with us for the weekend, and sometimes they end up getting used on a layover in an airport on the other side of the world. If you know you're going to be throwing your drive in a laptop bag regularly, it's nice to know how well it can handle the abuse. For this metric, we studied the transportability of each model, which accounts for the final 10% of our total score.

We deemed the Extreme Portable V2 to be just about as portable as it gets. This model is just a bit smaller than the palm of your hand, measuring at a mere 4" x 3" x 0.3". To put it in perspective, it weighs 57 grams, which is about one-third the weight of most iPhones. The Portable lives up to its name — it easily slips into your pocket or computer bag. Although it doesn't have any shock test ratings, the rubberized coat on the body undoubtedly helps with impacts and, at a bare minimum, helps minimize the risk of it slipping off of your desk. If you want added peace of mind while transporting the device, the hoop built into the body allows the drive to easily be attached to a bag or whatever else you can think of with a carabiner or a clip.

Value

In the realm of external hard drives, if you want ultimate performance, you will have to pay for it. There really is no sugar coating it — the Extreme V2 is pricey. Considering that it's at the head of the pack for every single one of our testing metrics, we think it's worth every penny.

Conclusion