REASONS TO BUY
Lightning fast
Pocket-sized
Travel loop
Rubberized
Rugged
REASONS TO AVOID
Pricey
SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 Review
A truly high-end high-performance SSD that doesn't just look good, but also has the speeds, durability, and portability to back it
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
By Aspen Rain Weaver ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 6, 2025
Our Verdict
The SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 easily sped past all of its competitors during every single one of our head-to-head hard drive assessments. While the price can be daunting, SSDs are known for their terrific speeds and husky durability, and the V2 is no exception. It features a rubberized exterior for maximum grip, a hoop for quick securing, and includes 256-bit encryption for secure data storage. Best of all, its lightning-fast transfer speeds, miniature size, and lightweight build are all backed by an extensive 5-year manufacturer's warranty. All of this combines to create a rugged and reliable hard drive that will travel with you in peace of mind.
Our Analysis and Test Results
If you're searching for a superbly fast and extremely rugged external SSD, this is our favorite.
Credit: Laura Casner
Read/Write Performance
When we ran our optimal speed tests on Mac, we found the SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 to be blazing fast.
This tiny SSD outperformed every other drive, achieving an average sequential data read rate of 1,061.09 MB per second and an average sequential data write speed of 998.41 MB per second. Its random data read speed was a whopping 79.04 MB per second, meaning near instantaneous transfer rates.
This drive produced unmatched speeds during our Windows-measured read and write speed tests.
Using Windows, again, the Extreme V2 performed exceptionally well. Its sequential read speed clocked in at 460.7 MB per second, and its sequential write speed averaged at 449.97 MB per second, outperforming almost every other hard drive.
During our side-by-side testing, the V2 was no match for its other competitors.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
While transferring data on Mac, the Extreme V2 was able to drag and drop a 1GB file in 2 seconds, a 5GB test file in 11 seconds, and a large 10GB file in 19 seconds, for an average rate of 472.78 MB per second. This was the fastest actual speed we saw throughout the entire lineup of products we tested.
The V2 won our macOS actual speed tests.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
When we performed the same test using Windows, the Extreme V2 was slightly slower all around than our results on Mac. The drive's performance averaged out to 192.11 MB per second, and despite slowing down, it was still the fastest of all the hard drives we reviewed.
The V2 dominated its competitors in nearly every field.
Credit: Laura Casner
Usability
The Extreme V2 offers excellent compatibility, coming formatted as exFAT, resulting in supreme interchangeability between Mac OS, Windows, and a host of other operating systems.
The designers of this portable SSD have included a USB-C cable and a handy USB-C to USB-A adapter for seamless transition between newer systems and technological dinosaurs. USB-C is widely used for a multitude of home electronics, such as smartphones, drones, action cameras, and headphones. One bonus of the V2 is that if you misplace the appropriate cord, there is a high chance you have another one lying around the house or office.
With true plug-and-play capabilities, the SanDisk is impressively convenient.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
The Extreme V2 is available in various storage sizes, including 500GB, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB options. That's plenty of space for most people; however, desktop HDDs offer a wider range of capacities if you require a larger amount of storage from your hard drive. Despite this, we found excellent capabilities in the 2TB product we tested. Backed by an outstanding 5-year limited manufacturer's warranty and 256-bit encryption, we felt safe and secure in storing a large amount of sensitive information on this drive.
Not only is this tiny drive fast, but it also serves as a data vault for securing your sensitive files.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Portability
The Extreme V2 is smaller and lighter than every other drive we reviewed, and offers a myriad of attractive features. It measures 4" x 2" x 0.3", occupying only 2.94 cubic inches of space, and is smaller than the palm of your hand.
It weighs only 1.8 ounces, which is less than a pair of AirPods. We found that this miniature SSD truly lives up to its name and is highly portable; it slips easily into any computer bag, purse, or even back pocket without notice.
Weighing less than a pair of AirPods and taking up less space than a television remote are just two of this SSD's many positive attributes.
Once it came time to test how well it fares in more rugged conditions, the V2 came to play for keeps again. It features IP65 water and dust resistance, which complements its shock and vibration resistance. This SSD comes with certified protection and has the highest drop resistance of any product in our entire lineup: 9.8 feet. Of course, we had to test this, and after several significant impacts, we were pleased to see that the drive fired up just like new.
Our water test consisted of dousing the V2 for three minutes and then plugging it back in for standard use.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
In addition to a stellar fall rating, this device's design fits a variety of uses. With a rubberized non-slip exterior and a carabiner loop, the V2 can climb up and down mountains while securely fastened. Once you're on the flight home, it will stay gripped to the tray table during turbulence. All of these features contribute to securing your device and ultimately provide peace of mind, which is why the Extreme V2 achieved a nearly perfect score for this portion of our review.
Our tester's favorite experiment is the drop test.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Should You Buy The SanDisk Extreme V2?
In the realm of external hard drives, the SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 is by far one of the best on the market, particularly if you need high speeds packed into a product suitable for all types of expeditions. From the tundra to subway commutes, this miniature machine is sure to keep your information secure in more than one way, all while remaining just a few easy seconds away from access.
What Other Hard Drives Should You Consider?
While the SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 is our favorite high-end portable SSD, it reflects its capabilities in its price tag. If you're on a budget but still require a beefy build, then check out the ADATA HD710M Pro. With military-grade shock protection, drop protection, and IP68 dust and water protection, this device is ready for the field anytime, at just a fraction of the cost. Alternatively, if you need a hard drive that has good speeds and is still quite small, consider the super budget-friendly WD My Passport Portable.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare SanDisk Extreme Portable V2 versus top competing products:
—Aspen Rain Weaver
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