The SanDisk Excessive Match USB-C Flash Drive is constructed for customers who need compact, moveable storage with out the majority of a typical exterior drive. It is available in capacities from 64GB to 1TB and works with any gadget with a USB-C port, together with laptops, tablets, and iPads. The 256GB mannequin falls proper in the midst of the lineup and provides an excellent steadiness of capability and price, making it a sensible possibility for issues like offloading media, storing work recordsdata, or increasing restricted storage in your gadget.
This drive is rated with learn speeds as much as 400MB/s for fashions 128GB and up, which might be quick sufficient for on a regular basis use like copying 4K video, shifting bigger recordsdata between methods, or operating media instantly from the stick. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to notice that it makes use of USB 3.2 Gen 1, not Gen 2, so peak efficiency is proscribed to five Gbps.
Whereas that’s nonetheless fast for many customers, it does place this drive in a distinct class from higher-end USB-C storage choices that may attain double that bandwidth. Moreover, SanDisk doesn’t listing write speeds, which generally suggests they’re a lot decrease than learn speeds, particularly throughout longer transfers. So, in the event you’re incessantly writing massive recordsdata or working with data-intensive workflows, that’s one thing to remember.
For individuals who wish to handle their backups, the included help for SanDisk’s Reminiscence Zone app on macOS and Home windows makes it simple to arrange and defend recordsdata.
SanDisk Excessive Match Pricing and Guarantee
Backed by a restricted 5-year guarantee, the SanDisk Excessive Match USB-C Flash Drive is out there in capacities of 64GB, 128GB, 256GB ($40), 512GB ($78), and 1TB ($155). We might be reviewing the 256GB mannequin.
SanDisk Excessive Match Specs
| Specification | Particulars |
| Mannequin Quantity | SDCZ530-256G-G46 (256GB mannequin) |
| Capability | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) |
| Connector | USB-C |
| Sequential Learn Pace | As much as 400MB/s |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 18.5mm x 15.7mm x 13.6mm |
| Weight | 3 grams |
| Working Temperature | 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -10°C to 70°C (14°F to 158°F) |
| OS Compatibility | iPadOS 15+, macOS 12+, Home windows 10+ |
| App Help | SanDisk Reminiscence Zone (macOS 10.15+, Home windows 10/11) |
| Guarantee | 5-12 months Restricted Guarantee |
SanDisk Excessive Match Design and Construct
Measuring simply 18.5mm lengthy and weighing 3 grams, the Excessive Match is without doubt one of the extra compact flash drives on this class and is sufficiently small to go away plugged in with out getting in the way in which. It sits almost flush with the sting of most USB-C ports, which is right for ultrabooks or tablets with restricted area. That is nice in the event you usually journey along with your laptop computer.
The casing itself is plastic, and whereas there’s no steel shell for additional sturdiness, it feels strong sufficient for normal use. The drive’s face incorporates a shiny, barely domed window with a stylized SanDisk brand printed in purple, which stands out clearly towards a pleasant background sample. There’s no LED indicator for exercise, which some customers would possibly miss.
There’s additionally no protecting cap or sliding mechanism. This helps preserve the footprint small, but in addition means the USB-C connector is continually uncovered. That’s one thing to pay attention to in the event you’re throwing it right into a crowded bag or pocket the place particles or mud might trigger a difficulty.
SanDisk Excessive Match Efficiency
Blackmagic Disk Pace Take a look at
First up is the Blackmagic Disk Pace Take a look at, which measures a drive’s sequential learn and write efficiency. This makes it ideally suited for assessing how nicely the drive handles massive file transfers and steady information streams.
Right here, the SanDisk Excessive Match hit 389.8MB/s learn and 134.2MB/s write.
That is near its marketed most of 400MB/s learn, although write efficiency is the place it exhibits its limitations. At simply over 134MB/s, it falls nicely wanting what you’d see from a conveyable SSD or a USB 3.2 Gen 2 flash drive; nevertheless, that is typical for USB 3.2 Gen 1 drives on this class. So, for common use like loading media, shifting paperwork, or working with picture recordsdata instantly from the drive, it’s greater than quick sufficient. Simply don’t anticipate it to deal with massive, sustained writes like a high-performance drive would.
Blackmagic primarily displays sequential efficiency, so we’ll even be utilizing IOMeter to gauge how nicely the drive handles extra diverse, real-world workloads.
IOMeter 1 Queue
The one-queued IOMeter check examines sequential and random learn/write efficiency beneath a lighter load. The speeds are sometimes near these within the Blackmagic check on the Sequential 2MB learn and write parts, however we must always see some variations within the 4-threaded portion.
Right here, the brand new SanDisk Excessive Match reached 176.72MB/s in sequential write and 394.49MB/s in sequential learn. In random 2MB efficiency, the SanDisk Excessive Match posted simply 72.53MB/s write, whereas reads have been a bit extra constant at 276.6MB/s.
Taking a look at a random 4K efficiency, it reached 775 IOPS and 2,190 IOPS for writes and reads, respectively.
IOMeter 4 Queue
The 4-queue IOMeter check offers a greater sense of how the SanDisk Excessive Match handles multitasking and sustained workloads. In comparison with its single-threaded efficiency, it confirmed ever-so slight enhancements in sequential duties, recording 396.31MB/s learn and 179.14MB/s write. In Random 2MB, we additionally noticed a modest efficiency enchancment, with writes at 73.22MB/s and reads at 278.13MB/s.
Lastly, in random 4K efficiency, the SanDisk flash drive noticed an identical write efficiency of 775 IOPS, whereas reads have been barely decrease than the 1-queue check at 2,188 IOPS.
Right here’s a full breakdown of the IOMeter outcomes for each single-threaded and 4-threaded exams:
| IOMeter Take a look at | SanDisk Excessive Match (1 queue) |
SanDisk Excessive Match (4 queue) |
| Seq 2MB Write | 176.72MB/s | 179.14MB/s |
| Seq 2MB Learn | 394.49MB/s | 396.31MB/s |
| Random 2MB Write | 72.53MB/s | 73.22MB/s |
| Random 2MB Learn | 276.6MB/s | 278.13MB/s |
| Random 4K Write | 775 IOPS | 775 IOPS |
| Random 4K Learn | 2,190 IOPS | 2,188 IOPS |
Conclusion
The SanDisk Excessive Match USB-C Flash Drive is an interesting possibility for common customers in search of a super-compact, inexpensive cellular storage answer. It comes very near its rated learn speeds and delivers constant efficiency throughout frequent duties like transferring media, launching paperwork, or increasing restricted inside storage. The plug-and-stay type issue is right for laptops, tablets, and different space-conscious gadgets that choose a small, unobtrusive drive.
Whereas it doesn’t ship the pace or sturdiness of a USB 3.2 Gen 2 drive or moveable SSD, it’s probably not meant for customers who want that stage of efficiency. Write speeds ranged between 130MB/s and 180MB/s in testing, which is about what you’d anticipate from a USB 3.2 Gen 1 flash drive. So long as you’re not counting on it for giant, sustained write operations or heavy-duty backups, it performs reliably in day-to-day use. Some could miss options like an exercise LED or a cap to guard the connector, however these have been possible sacrificed to maintain the design as compact as doable.
For customers on the lookout for a low-profile, cheap flash drive that works throughout a variety of gadgets, the SanDisk Excessive Match USB-C is a strong decide. It’s finest fitted to media storage, doc transfers, or gentle enlargement wants the place area is tight in your cellular gadget. With capacities ranging as much as 1TB, broad OS compatibility, and a 5-year restricted guarantee, it provides an excellent mixture of comfort and efficiency in a minimal footprint.
