Introduction and specs
As a Droid User with a Samsung Galaxy S4 Active, I find that transferring files is always a nuisance. Partially because I primarily work on a Mac, but also because I find the software that is used to pair my Droid to my computer is just awful.
The SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive is a great way to mediate the challenges of transferring files to and from your OTG-enabled Android device. You just plug in the SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive into your Android, or Windows/Mac OS X computer, and transfer files.
On the Android, the SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive mounts automatically and you can access files from the device directly or copy them locally. On a computer, the SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive pops up just like a normal flash drive, which allows an easy drag-and-drop methodology to transferring files.
The drive makes it easy to manage your files on the go, especially if you’re a power user and never have the time to unload your SD Card on your Android. No prep needed for transferring files here – you just copy and plug in.
Specs
The SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive is a small thumb drive with a slider that enables you to switch between a USB 3.0 connector and Micro-USB connector. When I say small, I mean small, as the SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive itself measures only 0.43 in x 0.78 in x 1.44 in (11mm x 19.8mm x 36.6 mm).
The SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive comes in three different sizes: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. The cost of the different models won’t hurt your wallet. The cost of the SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive 16GB model is $12.35 (£8.31, AU$16.18), 32GB is $18.98 (£12.77, AU$24.86), and 64GB is $36.25 (£24.39, AU$47.48).
Be aware: the sliding mechanism is cheap and feels flimsy. The casing is good, but mine broke when I was taking the device out of my USB port. The drive still works but the casing is shattered. But I guess this is to be expected for such an inexpensive device.
Performance and verdict
The SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive does a good job at auto-mounting on your Android, assuming you have an OTG-enabled device. In terms of data transfer, it handles large files well. Movies for example, are really easy to transfer to your Android device. You simply copy all of the movies you’d like to transfer into the device’s folder and they transfer over to the device itself. You can use the SanDisk Memory Zone app to do all the file copying and moving that you need or you can use any File Viewer app of your choosing.
The Memory Zone App is easy, it selects all files and puts them into categories, and you can easily back up your phone to your flash drive. You can choose to back up your built-in SD or an external SD, and the drive will back up photos, contacts, documents, movies and music. While the Memory Zone App will not do a complete back up to the SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive like the Titanium App would, it does make it easier to back up your Android device without having to root it.
The transfer speeds weren’t exactly USB 3.0 but they were fair. Using ATTO Benchmark, the SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive got the following speeds:
On USB 2.0:
- Average Write was 18Mbps
- Average Read was 33Mbps
On USB 3.0:
- Average Write was 32Mbps
- Average Read was 110Mbps
Verdict
You’re not getting the world with this device. However, you shouldn’t expect miracle tools for such a small amount of money. What you are getting is a capable drive that fits a niche, but important role. Ultimately, the question you’ve got to ask yourself is, do the following pros and cons align with your specific needs?
We liked
The SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive is easy to use and, if you have a Droid, it might make sense to replace your normal USB 3.0 flash drives with this. Why not? The SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive allows you the option of transferring directly to your device on the go.
Not having to Root your device is nice and since the KitKat launch, I find it super difficult to move things from internal SD to external SD because some Android OS write protects the external. WIth SanDisk’s Ultra Dual USB Drive, you don’t need to worry about write protection, rooting, or anything.
We disliked
Write speeds were not amazing but they were fair. The SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive construction is poor. The sliding mechanism is cheap and feels flimsy. The casing is good but mine broke on me when I was taking it out of my USB port. The device still works but the casing is shattered.
This device is ideal for the Android enthusiast, but in all other instances, the drive seems superfluous. For example, whenever I use my Droid, I’ve either uploaded files in one of two ways: inputting the micro-sd card into an adapter (though transfer speeds are poor), or I have set up my Android device as a Wireless Mountpoint to transfer files wirelessly. However, neither of these options is as fast as the SanDisk Drive. So, if speed is something you are concerned with, then the SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive makes sense for you.
Final verdict
The SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive is a cool device, but it may not be worth purchasing if you’re not an Android enthusiast concerned with file transfer speeds. Just be mindful of the drive’s cheap build and, understand that what you’re purchasing is a luxury item and not a necessity. With all of that taken into consideration, it probably makes sense for you to purchase one: it can be bought for as little money as a movie ticket and it may just come in handy one day.
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