SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Review

One of the problems most users have with their iOS devices is the limited storage. These devices don’t have support for microSD cards and will fill up anytime soon. And with that happens you’re forced to transfer your files to your PC which is a cumbersome thing to do. SanDisk wants to solve that problem with the iXpand Flash Drive which has a built-in Lightning cable and regular USB.

Design and Construction

The iXpand Flash Drive is a premium looking piece of accessory as it features an aluminum body that matches the premium build of the latest iOS devices. It’s wider than your standard flash drive but it is slim which makes it easy to store.

Encased inside it is a black hard plastic shell to house the internal components and in the middle is a short but flexible rubber strip for the Lightning cable. Above it is the USB port covered by a transparent high-quality plastic.

The iXpand has a built-in rechargeable battery that’s why on the right-hand side is a pinhole for the LED. It glows green when charged, orange when charging, and red when it’s running low. To charge, just plug it to any USB port like your PC, power adapter, even a power bank. We’ve been using it for two weeks now and so far the battery is still green.

Usability

The iXpand requires an app, specifically the iXpand Sync, before it works. Once plugged, the app will ask your permission if it could access the iXpand. Just hit “allow” and you will be taken to the iXpand’s file explorer where you can see folders for Music, Photos, Videos, and Contacts Backup.

From there you can create regular or password-protected folders, select and manually transfer or copy photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad’s gallery, or transfer contacts. You can also make the iXpand to automatically sync new photos whenever you plug it in and it will prompt you if you want to delete the photos from your iOS device to free up some space.

Another cool feature of the iXpand Sync is it allows you to view documents like PDF and MS Office files and play media straight from the iXpand Flash Drive. Aside from MP3, it supports a wide variety of video formats like WMV, AVI, MKV, MP4, and MOV, so all you have to do is put your files in the iXpand and listen or watch it from there.

File sharing is also easy as you can upload photos and videos to your camera roll, open the files with apps installed on your iOS device, or just Airdrop it.

Conclusion

The iXpand Flash Drive is a very handy tool for iPhone or iPad users who are hampered with their device’s limited internal storage. It also provides a very quick and convenient way to transfer files from the iOS device to your PC. Not to mention, it looks and feels premium too.

On the downside it’s biased towards iOS devices. SanDisk could have made a killer storage solution by equipping it with micro USB plug for Android devices with USB OTG function, bridging a gap between iOS to Android. Unfortunately, they didn’t.

Lastly, it’s expensive as it starts at Php3,299 for the 16GB version and up to Php9,999 for the 128GB. But if you have the money and in dire need of a quick and portable solution to your iPhone or iPad memory problems, the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive is worth getting.

SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive specs:
~ Interface: Lightning and USB 2.0 connectors (one connector used at a time)
~ 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB
~ Some DRM-protected content cannot be streamed. Check with content provider for playback restrictions.
~ Mobile device compatibility: iPhone and iPad with Lightning connector and iOS 7.1 and higher
~ PC/ Mac computer compatibility: Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Mac OS X v10.6+.
~ Supported video formats: WMV, AVI, MKV, MP4, MOV
~ Li-ion Battery (3.7V): pre-charged, ready to use
~ Operational Temperature: 0~60° C
~ Dimensions: 64.17mm x 36.78mm x 11.80mm
~ Two year limited warranty

Prices:
* Sandisk SDIX-016G-P57 16GB iXpand Flash Drive – Php3,299
* Sandisk SDIX-032G-P57 32GB iXpand Flash Drive – Php4,599
* Sandisk SDIX-064G-P57 64GB iXpand Flash Drive – Php6,199
* Sandisk SDIX-0128G-P57 128GB iXpand Flash Drive – Php9,999

What we liked about it:
* Premium build
* Slim design
* Easy to use
* Supports playback for music and videos

What we didn’t like:
* Pricey
* Designed for iOS
* No microUSB OTG function

The SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive is available at PCWORX Stores (BRANCHES: SM Megamall, Festival Mall, Gilmore Building Corporate Center 2nd Floor PCWORX 2, and 3RD Floor Gilmore PCWORX 3)