USB Flash Drive Review: SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe
Review of the SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe 64GB
I am reviewing a SanDisk USB flash drive that supports both USB-A and USB-C.
I thought it was part of the Ultra series, but the verification results were unexpected.
Catalog Specifications (Manufacturer's Published Values)
It features a rotating metal body with a width of 12.10mm, length of 44.41mm, height of 8.60mm, and weight of 12.2g. In terms of performance, the sequential read speed is approximately 400MB/s.
Benchmark Test (CrystalDiskMark)
Since it was labeled 'Ultra,' I mistakenly thought it was a mid-range product, but after realizing the catalog specifications were high-end, I performed a benchmark test. As a result, I feel it is unfair to call this an Ultra series product.
Regarding read speed, the performance matches the catalog specifications.
While I felt the write speed and random speed were a bit lacking, I think this is typical of SanDisk's tuning tendencies.
Capacity and Read/Write Test (H2testw)
The read speed shows an average drop compared to the benchmark test, but the write speed shows a significant drop. Looking only at the write speed, it falls into the mid-range category, but the read speed is top-class.
I feel that this also inherits the tendencies of the Ultra series.
In that sense, I thought that might be why it is named 'Ultra'.
Ubuntu Installation and Boot Test
Installation (Write) Test
The installation took 14 minutes and 30 seconds. Since the overall average for verified USB flash drives is 25 minutes and 50 seconds, the measurement results classify it as faster than average.
The reference speed is 22.99MB/s.
Boot (Read) Test
The boot took 37 seconds. The overall average for verified USB flash drives is 2 minutes and 43 seconds. It is a very fast USB flash drive, ranking in the top 3 overall.
The reference speed is 216.22MB/s.
Other Pros and Points of Concern
Pros: It has performance that you wouldn't expect from an Ultra series product
Pros: A rational and simple design that is even copied by other manufacturers
Concerns: Perhaps the fate of a metal body. The unit gets so hot that it is difficult to touch.
The design is so rational and simple that it has been copied by Chinese memory manufacturers. It also has a solid hold when plugged into a USB port.
On the other hand, heat retention is the fate of a metal body; it gets a bit hot, and I feel it takes some time to dissipate the heat.
Summary of SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe test results
In short, the performance and other aspects are as follows.
File Read - ★★★★★ (Among the fastest in the USB flash drive category)
File Write - ★★★★☆ (Faster than average for a USB flash drive)
App Installation - ★★★★☆ (Faster than average for a USB flash drive)
App Boot - ★★★★★ (Among the fastest in the USB flash drive category)
Cost-Performance - ★☆☆☆☆ (On the expensive side for a USB flash drive)
* Cost-performance is evaluated based on the manufacturer's direct sales price as of September 22, 2024.
In terms of performance, it is top-class without complaint. Regarding cost-performance, at 37.81 yen/GB, it is higher than the overall average price, and in terms of price, I consider it to be in the high-end class.
After finishing the verification tests for the SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Luxe
Honestly, it has performance that could justify being called an Extreme series rather than an Ultra series, and I thought it would be very convenient to use.
Compared to the Extreme Go, it is only slightly inferior and has almost equivalent performance. I think the difference lies in the convenience of whether it can be used with USB-C in addition to USB-A.
If I had to point out a weakness, it might be the price. If the cost-performance were a little better, it might be close to the best.