The SanDisk iXpand USB drive is a simple device that lets you transfer files easily between any iPhone or iPad with a Lightning connector and your computer. It has a standard USB connector on one end, and a Lightning connector on the other end that is sprung back on itself, resting in a lip on the body of the drive.
Let’s take a closer look at this device.
The drive comes in simple packaging with instructions on the back- nothing fancy. Although there is no protective cap for the USB end which makes this easier to dent, the drive is very compact and portable.
The iXpand Flash Drive comes in a range of sizes from 16GB to 256GB which is very generous, considering most iPhone/iPad users want to expand their capacity within this range. It is also USB 3.0 which means faster transfer speeds- it isn’t necessarily the fastest method of moving files, however, it is very convenient.
Once the drive is connected to your Apple device, it prompts you to download the SanDisk iXpand Drive App. Through the app, you can copy, share, and backup files instantly. Some other features of the drive include:
Watch movies and videos on-the-go via the iXpand Drive: I had some movies I saved on the drive and I was excited that I could watch these movies straight from the drive. The iXpand flash drive supports all video formats including MP4.
Automatic Photo Backup: There is an option to set the iXpand mobile app to automatically back up your iPhone or iPad camera roll and contacts anytime the drive is connected to your device. Every time you plug it in, it does the job for you- making it very convenient.
The SanDisk iXpand Flash drive does what it sets out to do well enough. I find it one of the most convenient ways of instantly transferring files between my iPhone or iPad and computer – especially to my Windows PC. The other features of the drive may be useful depending on how you use your iPhone or iPad, and whether you’re using it together with a computer. The backup feature is particularly useful if you don’t have a computer, and don’t want to use cloud storage.
It’s also one of the fastest ways of copying across some videos to play on your travels – especially if you don’t have much storage. And it gets around the limited support on iOS for playing back these files.
Although it is quite pricey compared to the SanDisk Dual Drive for Android phones, I believe it is worth the money as it is a useful and portable accessory!
