SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C is the all-metal and small USB-A and USB-C mixed portable drive, very small, probably among the smallest drives in the world, if only the first. ) to reach the space of 1 TB, as we have already explained in our preview a few days ago.
1 TB corresponds to a lot of space, a lot if we think that most computers on the market have half if not a quarter of the space available on SSD or Hard Disk, so it is worth not only dwelling on the quality of the hardware, but also on its intrinsic use.
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C, the review
Stick in olive oil
Who remembers the old advertisement “170 grams of goodness in olive oil”, famous in the eighties? Not that it has to do with the stick, but the parallelism is there: 1 TB of space in 3 × 1 cm, something we were not used to until now.
We start from this consideration to evaluate a product that still holds many surprises, but more than anything else changes our consideration of space and document management a little.
Entirely in metal
Contacted by the parent company, we were among the first ever to test the larger model: the shape is rounded, with rounded corners so as not to bother in the pocket and a weight, 12 grams due to the entire metal construction.
Very sober and with a particularly business look, the stick has a USB-C connector on one side and USB-A on the other, with a protective tab that rotates manually, leaving one or the other free.
A small hole in the tongue allows you to attach a cord (not included): in our opinion this detail is vital, because the key is small and there is the possibility of losing it, without a lace.
Performance
The key arrives, as is customary, in the FAT32 format: perfectly readable by macOS, Windows and practically any device that has a USB connector, it has some limitations that should be emphasized.
This format supports documents with a maximum weight up to 4GB and offers limited performance on both macOS and Windows, but can also work on car stereos, TVs and other devices.
We have carried out tests both in this format and by initializing the key even in the most efficient HFS +, with better performance but in this case limiting the use to Mac only.
The data, detected using AJA System Test, speak of good read and write measurements, superior to many units on the market (although not among the fastest ever, but speed is not among the priorities of this unit) and comparable to example to a USB mechanical disk.
The data among other things are very similar both using the USB-C connector and the USB-A one: things have improved in writing using the HFS + format by a good 20% compared to FAT, each user at this point can evaluate if they are interested more speed or compatibility.
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Read speed with USB-A connector on drive In FAT32 
Read speed with USB-C connector on drive In FAT32 
Read speed with USB-C connector on drive In HFS
Usage
While the drive is available in denominations starting at 32GB, it is clear that the focus is on the larger denominations, 512GB and 1TB.
Carrying such a large space around your neck changes the paradigm of the USB stick, until now for the writer it has remained more than anything else a document transport unit, from one place to another when there was no network available, or when the network it was there but it was needed not to clog it or to move.
Among other things, with the arrival of the iPad Pro with USB-C connector, the use of these devices becomes more important, because the iPads are able to actively manage the keys (in the format macOS Extended journaled, FAT32 and XFAT, both in reading than writing) and the passage of data with a simpler Mac, especially for large archives.
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C instead offers enough space to store an entire archive, a backup (Time Machine perfectly recognizes the drive), a selection of documents of constant use (a huge music library, a photo archive, an export security of a database) that can be used actively (directly on the key) or copied as needed to the main disk whenever needed.
From our point of view, however, such a device cannot and must not become the main storage system: the data recorded inside it must also be in another place (this in a general sense, never leave a data in one place) because the key is small, it can be lost and obviously as a laptop it is more prone to bumps and bad weather than any external Hard Disk or SSD, which is typically more protected, although obviously SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C is much more comfortable .
Sustainability
The all-metal shape fits well when on the go, doesn't fear bumps and the protective tongue works well and is comfortable to use, as it offers a better grip than the bare stick.
When used with metal computers, like our Mac mini 2018, after a while it tends to heat up a little, a lot if used intensely (metal is a great conductor of heat, so if the Mac gets hot, the part of the heat passes to the key) but if you have a cord the problem does not exist.
The price is a little higher than the average, higher for example than the previous model compared to which, however, has a better and safer connector switch system, as well as being faster).
Having said that, in the 512 GB cuts the competition is a bit scarcer while from 1 TB practically absent, even if the market presents very cheap alternatives to keys of this cut which, however, in the end are not usable devices, as the very high degree compression of the memories makes the product unusable (we will not put any links of these examples, saving readers from a bad temptation).
From here we understand SanDisk's effort to present a stick up to 1 TB with performance suitable for a demanding public.
Considerations
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C is a good product, with great looks and wide compatibility in the market. In the small and medium cuts it represents, as is SanDisk tradition, an example of quality while in the larger cuts a great opportunity for everyone, at an important price also given by the uniqueness of the product.
There have always been such large units that are proportionately cheaper, (much) faster and also (much) more capacious but none of these can be easily worn around the neck or in a shirt pocket.
Pro:
• Metal construction • Convenient and fast enough • Cuts up to 1 TB
Cons:
• With a metal computer it occasionally gets very hot • The 1 TB denomination has an important price
Price:
• 32 GB € 19.99 • 64 GB € 29.99 • 128 GB € 48.99 • 256 GB € 82.99 • 512 GB € 138.99 • 1 TB € 301.99
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe USB-C and all Western Digital and SanDisk products can be found at shopping malls and computer stores across the peninsula. Learn more at Western Digital's official website, where you can also make your purchase, as well as on Amazon.it. For all news and reviews on SanDisk products visit this macitynet page.
