Review: SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive USB boosters

One of the dilemmas of iPhone users is the storage capacities on these devices.

 Since iPhone devices come to the mortal world and bring changes to the world of smart devices of universe, one of the things that still doesn't change is storing files without using external slots, especially Micro-SD cards.



Hugo Barra also acknowledged the principle of IOS devices that do not use the Micro-SD card in implementing the Xiaomi device in the Mi series that did not bring any Micro-SD cards, instead, the Nexus series from Google also did not include Micro-SD cards. Therefore, there are only a few ways to add storage capacity for IOS devices, namely by having a SanDisk IXpand Flash Drive USB drive which was launched in Malaysia last May.

The SanDisk IXpand Flash Drive USB drive is a driver that is created specifically for IOS devices that use Lightning and also includes a USB port for the purpose of transferring images and files in the driver to another computer. In terms of design and packaging, it is present in the body and aluminum packaging with the same color as other Apple devices. At the top there is a flexible Lightning cable and on the bottom there is a USB cable.



On the right side of this driver there is an indicator light to show the battery stage and the status of the driver is the same as it is operating or vice versa. This driver has a built-in battery but it is not intended to check the user's IOS device. The battery provides power for the purpose of transferring files. To check this driver, the user only needs to stick it to the USB port on the computer. Although this driver uses Lightning, it only supports USB 2.0 so transferring files from this driver to the computer does not accelerate. It can be said that this is also one of the critical disadvantages because every day more and more computers are supporting USB 3.0 and the speed of USB 2.0 for drivers created for this premium product is one case that should not have happened.

One rather annoying thing is that this large size of the driver that can take up space while blocking the use of other.

 Like the picture above, it can block the use of audio, Thunderbolt, and also HDMI. But watching the user may at times only thrust this driver for the purpose of refilling and transferring files to the computer, it is not a rather serious matter.

For using this driver, users need to load the IXpand Sync application from the AppStore. 

After checking the driver, the IXpand application will be launched and users may choose files such as pictures and videos in Photos to be transferred to this driver. Users may choose whether they want to move it manually, or automatically. If using manual transfer, the user only needs to select the desired image and put it into the corresponding Folder. Users can also create new folders on this driver, while making it easier for the organization of images.

If users are more ordinary with transfers such as Photos for Mac, automatic transfer can be done and this application will also remove images that have been moved from an IOS device to this driver. 

Authentication notification will be given to the user authorizing the same if there is a wish to save the image that has been moved or not. Users can also set a security file that is stored, by encrypting the file, while making it difficult for those who do not have access to it, it is difficult to see and move the file.

This application will also be exposed to the information of the boosters battery stage,

 

The stage of the stationary capacity on the iOS device used and the stage of stationary capacity available on the driver. Apart from transferring files, users can also play audio and video files on this driver continuously and support WMV, AVI, MKV, MP4 and MOV formats. One example of usefulness is for mothers who bring the design of childhood hobbies but lack of standardized capacity, this device may be used to store the design.

Apart from that, this booster can also be used as a place to store and move the list of peer data. Diffusing the Transfer Contacts option, users may choose 'Backup' to make a copy of the data and store it in the booster. Users only need to press the 'Restore' button to copy the invoice information stored on the driver to the IOS device.

This driver has even been sold in leading stores such as Radio Shack, Switch, Machines and also Mac Studio. The SanDisk IXpand Flash Drive driver also comes with a guarantee for two years, at a price of RM289 for 16GB, RM379 for 32GB, RM549 for 64GB and RM829 for 128GB.

Pro

Easy to use
Settlement for deposit capacity on iOS

Cons

Expensive
USB 2.0
Wide size