Tag: ssd

Sandisk Creator Phone SSD Review

I’ve been testing out an external SSD from SanDisk that’s designed for smartphones. It’s called the Creator Phone SSD, and it attaches magnetically to the back of your MagSafe compatible phone. If you’re not using an iPhone with MagSafe, there’s a ring included in the box to help with the mounting. The drive connects via USB-C, so it’s compatible with just about any device that has a USB-C port including Android phones.

You can see it in action in my latest review.

Once connected via USB, your phone can record video directly to the drive using apps like Final Cut Camera on iOS or Blackmagic’s Camera App that works on both platforms.

You can find it on Amazon and see the latest prices at this compensated affiliate link.

Physically, there’s not much to it—just a USB port and the magnetic mount point. One limitation is the lack of a pass-through port, which means the phone’s USB-C port is completely occupied when the drive is connected. That rules out charging your phone or connecting something like an external microphone while recording. It’s a tradeoff that could matter for certain workflows.

There is a five-year warranty on the product, which adds some peace of mind for professional users. Out of the box, it’s formatted with the exFAT file system, which works across most devices—iPhones, iPads, Windows, Macs, and Linux systems. Some older Android phones might not mount the drive properly due to lack of exFAT support, but reformatting to FAT32 can help with compatibility in those cases.

One frustration I had was with the bundled app, SanDisk Memory Zone. If installed, it auto-launches every time the drive is plugged in. It’s useful for things like photo and contact backups, but it also tends to interfere with other apps, particularly Final Cut Camera. Even worse, if you don’t install it, your iPhone will keep prompting you to do so. The only workaround I found was to install the app and then uninstall it, which stops the prompts and lets other video apps access the drive properly.

Once I removed the app, Final Cut Camera immediately recognized the drive, and I was able to record without issues. Using HEVC compression, the 1TB drive can store a lot—up to 18 hours of 4K 120 fps footage, or 36 hours at 60 fps. With ProRes, that drops to about 1 hour and 9 minutes at 4K 60 fps, which is still respectable for the format.

SanDisk seems to have done a good job managing the drive’s power draw, which is important for iPhones. The iPhone will cut off power if a connected accessory pulls more than 4.5 watts, and I didn’t encounter that problem during extended testing at 4K 60 fps or 120 fps.

But in order to manage power draw, the drive will throttle its write performance. While I was able to achieve 4k 60 fps ProRes recordings without any dropped frames, I did have some frame drops shooting 120 fps with the ProRes codec. I did not have issues with fast frame rates at 120fps, however.

I ran the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test on my MacBook Air to get a sense of the drive’s performance. It clocked write speeds around 917 MB/s and read speeds near 881 MB/s. Those are solid numbers, but I did notice some variation in earlier tests, with write speeds occasionally dipping to around 400–500 MB/s. Apple says ProRes 4k 120 needs a minimum of 440 megabytes per second in sustained write speeds.

For users who need consistent, reliable performance at 4K 60 fps using ProRes, I think this drive holds up. It didn’t overdraw power, and I didn’t see dropped frames during long recordings. I’d like to see a future version of this drive with pass-through power and maybe a USB hub for audio gear, and it would be a big improvement if the software didn’t interfere so much. Still, the hardware itself seems reliable, and that counts for a lot if you’re shooting professionally with a phone.

Disclosure: Sandisk sent the drive to the channel free of charge. However no other compensation was received and they did not review or approve this post or my video prior to publication.

Sandisk Extreme Pro with USB4 Review

I’ve been testing out SanDisk’s new Extreme Pro USB 4 SSD, one of the first drives from a major brand to support the 40 gigabit-per-second USB 4 standard. It’s backward compatible with older USB ports, but if you have a machine with USB 4 or Thunderbolt 3, 4, or 5, you’ll see some great sequential read and write performance.

See it in action in my latest review.

You can find the drives on Amazon to get the current pricing (compensated affiliate link). Sandisk sent me the 2TB version and there’s a four-terabyte option as well. At the time I recorded the video, I didn’t see a one-terabyte model unfortunately.

The casing is solid metal with a rubber coating, similar to past models, but this new version is significantly larger. That’s likely due to it housing a full-size NVMe SSD along with a heat sink and other protective components. It’s IP65 rated, so it’s dustproof and splashproof. It’ll survive a short drop in water, but isn’t meant to be submerged, especially while powered on.

You only get a USB-C cable in the box, so if you need to plug it into a USB-A port, you’ll have to pick up a USB-C to USB-A cable or adapter separately. I tested it on a 5Gbps USB-A port and it worked fine—just not at its full potential speed.

Plugging it into my MacBook Air’s Thunderbolt port, I got over 2 gigabytes per seconds in writes and just over 3 gigabytes per second in reads with the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. I didn’t notice any thermal throttling during sustained writes. When I switched to a Windows PC with the CrystalDiskMark, sequential write speeds hit 3.2 GB/s.

Random read and write speeds were lower than some competitors, especially in the single-threaded write test, which was one of the lowest I’ve seen in a while. For tasks involving lots of small, random data access—like running an OS—you might see better performance from other drives. Samsung’s Thunderbolt-based X5, for instance, did better in that department.

But for my use—moving large video files and backing up footage—it’s excellent. Transfers are fast and consistent, and that’s really what I need when I’m out in the field or editing on the go.

It’s compatible with game consoles, but not ideal for newer titles on the Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 5. That’s because the game consoles have USB 3.2 ports that can’t hit the full speeds this drive can achieve. The Xbox requires propietary storage modules that connect to the system bus while the Playstation 5 uses internal NVME drives to reach adequate speeds. That said, older titles will play fine off the Sandisk drive.

I also tested it with my iPhone 16 Pro. It took a second for the phone to recognize it, but once it did file transfers were quick and easy.

For mobile and general USB storage use, it behaves like other SSDs I’ve tested. It’s not the smallest drive around, but the five-year warranty and high-speed performance for supported devices make it worth a look.

Disclosure: Sandisk sent me this drive free of charge, however no other compensation was received and they did not review or approve this before it was uploaded.

Sandisk Pro G40 Thunderbolt SSD Review

The Sandisk Pro G40 portable SSD is marketed towards creative professionals and stands out thanks to its Thunderbolt & USB 4.0 compatibility, promising multiple gigabytes per second of transfer rates. But it also is (mostly) backwards compatible to slower USB devices that lack Thunderbolt technology.

I put it through its paces in my most recent review.

Because it’s a “professional” product this drive comes it at a higher price point, about $174 for the 1TB version (compensated affiliate link).

The drive’s build quality is impressive, featuring a solid, rubberized metal design with a grippy bottom, common in other SanDisk drives. It is IP68 weatherproof, making it resistant to splashes, though users should avoid exposing it to harsh weather when plugged in.

It comes with a short Thunderbolt 3 cable USB-C cable which will also work on computers not equipped with USB-C. Other cables, like USB-C to USB-A cables will work as well but those will need to be purchased separately.

Performance tests on a Thunderbolt-equipped Windows computer showed it achieving over 2.4 gigabytes per second in read and write speeds, maintaining this without thermal drop-offs or cache issues. For optimal performance, it’s crucial to connect to the correct port, identified by the Thunderbolt or USB 4.0 icon, as using a standard USB port significantly reduces speeds.

The CrystalDiskMark benchmark further highlighted its strengths in sequential and random reads and writes, suggesting potential for PC gaming. Comparisons with other USB-C-based drives such as the SanDisk Extreme Pro and Samsung T9 showed the Pro G40’s superior performance in Thunderbolt mode. Speeds were comparable to competitors when not connected to the Thunderbolt, however.

The SanDisk Pro G40 SSD contains an off-the-shelf WD Black SN850 NVMe (compensated affiliate link) drive inside its enclosure.

Notably, the Pro G40 does not work with iPhones, which limits its utility despite its potential for high bitrate, lossless video formats. Attempts to use it with other phones also failed, possibly due to power draw issues, making it suitable primarily for computers.

For Windows users, achieving full performance requires enabling write caching in the drive’s settings. I outlined those steps at the 6:12 mark in the video review. This extra step is unnecessary for Mac users, where the drive works at full speed out of the box.

While the Pro G40 is compatible with game consoles, its high performance can’t be utilized, making it an impractical choice for that purpose. However, for PC gaming and professional creative work, it offers excellent performance akin to internal drives. Despite its limitations with mobile devices, the Pro G40 is a compelling option for those needing a fast, reliable external drive.

SanDisk Desk Drive Review – High Capacity SSD

When you’re looking for an external hard drive, the typical choice often lies between opting for performance or capacity. In my latest video I took a look at a new product from SanDisk—the Desk Drive SSD—that delivers up to 8 terabytes of storage at SSD speeds. You can see my review here.

You can find one here (compensated affiliate link) This pricing is indeed higher than what you would expect from mechanical drives, but the SSD promises superior performance and completely silent operation, which might justify the cost for many.

The SSD comes preformatted with exFAT, ensuring compatibility across Windows, Mac, and many Linux systems right out of the box. It of course can easily be reformatted for other file systems. It also includes a single Gen 2 USB type-C port, supporting speeds up to 10 Gbps, though it does require external power to operate. Additionally, a Kensington lock slot adds a layer of security against theft.

When connected to a modestly equipped ThinkPad, the drive achieved around 850 megabytes per second in both read and write speeds during a Blackmagic disk speed test. These speeds were even higher when connected to a desktop equipped with a superior USB controller, just under a gigabyte per second. Its scores on the CrystalDiskMark test also showed decent random read and write performance making the drive suitable for more than just backups and long term data storage.

It also comes with a license for Acronis True Image on both Mac and Windows. True Image offers a number of useful functions like backing up the entire PC, individual folders, and even disk cloning. This software only works with SanDisk or Western Digital drives unless you pay for a separate license.

While there is a premium to pay for the silence and performance of the Desk Drive SSD, the benefits—especially in a professional setting where speed and reliability are paramount—could well be worth the investment.

Disclosure: Sandisk provided the drive to the channel free of charge for this review. However no other compensation was received and they did not review or approve my video or this post before it was uploaded. All opinions are my own.

Hagibis Magsafe NVME SSD Hard Drive Enclosure Review

I recently had the chance to review the Hagibis external solid state drive enclosure, a device that magnetically attaches to the back of an iPhone—or an Android phone with an adapter—allowing for video recording directly onto an external drive. You can see my full video review here.

The enclosure is designed to house a 2230 NVMe SSD which is not included. The choice of NVME SSD is important as the iPhone as very strict power requirements for externally attached drives. Hagibis put together a helpful video with a number of popular SSDs to see which ones work best. The enclosure itself is equipped with a sizable capacitor to mitigate potential power issues.

In my research, I learned that not all NVMe drives are created equal in terms of power consumption. A Kingston drive I initially considered was too power-hungry for the iPhone’s restrictions. But I did find a Lexar drive (compensated affiliate link) that, despite not advertising its power consumption, performed admirably within the setup.

The Hagibis enclosure also offers external power input through an additional USB-C port, a feature that ensures recording isn’t interrupted by power issues. This provides the option to mount additional accessories, like a battery pack, to provide the drive adequate power and charge the phone while recording.

But that power port doesn’t work for data transfer, so users looking to connect external microphones or other peripherals will need to explore alternative solutions like a USB-C hub.

Recording video directly to the SSD is an easy process now on compatible iPhones. Enabling Apple ProRes in the camera settings allows for external recording to automatically occur when the drive is attached, although the size of these files are enormous. During my tests, the Lexar drive and enclosure combo maintained its performance without any noticeable hiccups or frame drops, even during extended recording sessions.

Blackmagic’s awesome new (and free) camera app also supports recording externally with the drive. In addition to providing additional manual controls the Blackmagic app also allows for compressed video formats to be recorded vs. just ProRes on the native Apple app.

Testing the enclosure with Android devices revealed similar flexibility and functionality. Open Camera, an app I used on a Pixel 8 Pro, supported external video recording to the SSD. I’m sure there are other apps available too.

The Hagibis enclosure is a promising tool for video enthusiasts looking to expand their recording capabilities without being tethered to the limited storage of their smartphones. Its magnetic design, combined with the practicality of external SSD storage, brings a lot of convenience and efficiency to mobile video production.

Samsung T9 Portable SSD Review

I have been reviewing Samsung’s line of portable SSDs since their original “T1” released way back in 2015. In my latest video, I take a look at the new Samsung T9 – their newest portable SSD.

I purchased the 2 TB version for my review which is the sweet spot when it comes to price per gigabyte. It currently sells for $179 (compensated affiliate link) but prices will vary depending on market conditions, promotions, and capacity.

The Samsung T9 supports the obscure USB 3.2 2×2 standard, promising speeds up to 2000 megabytes per second. However, this performance peak is only achievable if your computer supports the 2×2 standard, which, as I found, is rare. Most PCs, including Macs and Windows PCs with Thunderbolt and USB 4 support, do not support USB 3.2×2, resulting in halved performance for the majority of users. This limitation isn’t unique to Samsung; other brands like Seagate, SanDisk, WD, and Crucial all made the choice to support this format.

In my tests using a MacBook Air M2 and a gaming PC, the T9’s performance was good but not exceptional. It excelled in sequential read and write tests but fell short in random reads and writes compared to competitors. This might affect users engaged in gaming or operating system boot-ups, where random read and write speeds are important. But these speed disparities will likely not be noticeable by most consumers.

Samsung’s Magician software works with the T9 (along with their other SSDs) which is a useful tool for monitoring the drive’s health and updating firmware. The drive also features hardware encryption capabilities, requiring a password for access, which works on Windows, Mac, and Android, but not on Linux or iOS devices.

Compatibility-wise, the T9 worked well with various devices, including iPhones, iPads, Android phones, and gaming consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. However, it’s worth noting that newer AAA games on the PS5 and Xbox Series S/X require faster storage than what USB can provide.

Overall I found the Samsung T9 is a reliable choice for typical tasks like backups, data transfers, and video capturing. Its performance in these areas is solid, and Samsung’s reputation for reliable storage stands. However, when it comes to random read and write performance, it doesn’t quite match up to its competitors, especially considering its price point.

For those seeking a portable SSD, the T9 is a viable option, but it’s important to weigh its performance against its competitors, especially if your usage involves intensive random read and write operations.

I Upgraded the Storage on my Production PC with a Great Crucial NVME Prime Day Deal

Ever since I switched my production workflow to 4k I’ve been meaning to upgrade the internal storage drive on my Vmix computer to a higher capacity drive. It’s not unusual for a single recording session to rack up 200GB or more of raw footage.

I’ve been using a 1 TB Samsung SSD for the job and it has performed admirably since I built my system three years ago. But during Amazon Prime Day I got a great deal on a 4 TB Crucial NVME drive. It’s still pretty reasonably priced now too.

Crucial has carved out a nice segment of the SSD market for people looking for high capacity storage that don’t necessarily need the fastest performance. This drive is very much in that market segment, delivering reads and writes at “only” about 2.6 gigabytes per second.

Newer drives running on the Gen 4 and 5 standards are almost exponentially faster, but this much capacity in drives that fast are prohibitively expensive for this YouTuber who works out of his basement. And as you can see here this low spec device can easily handle the 4k 30 video I record and beyond too.

Crucial also makes portable SSDs in this lower cost market segment. For example their X6 drive is priced very close to similar capacity spinning hard drives and delivers many of the speed advantages of an SSD. Are they as fast as some of the gaming and professionally oriented drives out there? No, but for many consumers they are more than adequate for the task.

Crucial is a sub-brand of Micron Technology, a well established chip maker that was founded in 1978. Micron manufactures the flash memory in their drives which helps keep costs in check. They used to make some pretty nice and affordable PCs in the 90’s too. In fact my very first PC laptop was a Micron XKE-233 that I reviewed a little while back on the channel.

I’ll be shooting some video on this new drive tomorrow so we’ll see how it holds up in the production environment. Stay tuned!

New Video : WD Game Drive P40 SSD Review

WD has a new USB-C external SSD called the P40 SSD which is the subject of my latest review. What distinguishes this one from the P50 we reviewed a few months ago is that this one is a little smaller and has RGB lighting.

I found the drive performs quite well for its stated use case: gaming. The random read/write tests on the Crystal DiskMark test suite were excellent. But I did notice that it was not able to sustain its write speeds over longer periods of time, perhaps making this a little less ideal for professional video capture applications that need 800 megabytes+ per second. I did edit a 4k video on it and found it to be very responsive with no lags or slowdowns.

WD continues to build drives that support the USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (aka Superspeed 20gbps). This is different than the USB 4 20 gigabit standard that uses Thunderbolt technology. Most computers don’t support 2×2 technology (I have yet to get one in for review that does) so in most cases you’ll only get about half the state maximum of the marketed claims even when connected to a Thunderbolt port. In my testing we were able to sustain about 940 megabytes per second in reads and writes. Yes, USB continues to be a total mess for consumers.

The RGB lighting is not necessary but does differentiate the drive a bit from its competitors. The colors can be configured with a software control panel on Windows which will also allow connections to Razer Chroma, Asus Aura, Gigabyte RGB Fusion and MSI Mystic for color coordination with other RGB hardware.

The drive will work on Xbox Series S & X along with the PS5. But games designed for these next gen systems can only be archived – not played – off the P40. My advice would be to install the prior gen games on the SSD and play the new ones off the console’s internal drive.

All in this is a good choice for gamers but also for booting operating systems, virtual machines, video editing, etc. thanks to its super fast random read and write speeds.