iXpand Go Flash Drive 256GB (for iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac, iPhone Lightning and USB 3.0 connectors, Automatic Backup, iXpand app, Keychain) Black/Silver

Product Overview The SanDisk 64GB iXpand Flash Drive Luxe is a versatile storage solution equipped with both Lightning and USB-C connectors. It is designed to provide seamless data transfer and storage expansion for iPhone, iPad, Android devices, PCs, and Macs. The dual connector design ensures compatibility across a wide range of devices, making it an excellent tool for users who switch frequently between different platforms. Pros Dual Connectors: The inclusion of both Lightning and USB-C connectors allows for easy transfer between Apple and Android devices, as well as PCs and Macs. This versatility is a significant advantage for users with multiple devices. Portable and Durable Design: The compact and sturdy metal casing makes the iXpand Flash Drive Luxe highly portable and durable, ideal for carrying around without worrying about damage. Easy Data Transfer: The drive supports fast data transfer speeds, making it convenient for quickly moving large files such as photos, videos, and documents between devices. iXpand Drive App: The companion iXpand Drive app provides an intuitive interface for managing files, backing up photos and videos, and even directly recording videos to the drive to save space on your device. Automatic Backup: The app allows for automatic backup of photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad whenever the drive is connected, ensuring your data is safely stored without manual intervention. Cons Price: The SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe is priced higher than some standard USB drives, reflecting its dual-connector functionality and premium build. App Dependency: While the iXpand Drive app is user-friendly, relying on it for managing files and backups might not appeal to users who prefer using native file management systems. Lightning Connector Length: The Lightning connector is slightly short, which can be an issue for some iPhone or iPad cases. You may need to remove the case to ensure a proper connection. Detailed Experience I used the SanDisk 64GB iXpand Flash Drive Luxe extensively with my Samsung Galaxy S21 and MacBook Air, and it delivered excellent performance across both devices. The dual connector design is incredibly convenient. Switching between my phone and laptop for transferring photos and documents was seamless and hassle-free. The USB-C connector worked perfectly with my Galaxy S21. Transferring files was quick and straightforward, and the drive was instantly recognized by my phone without needing any additional setup. This made it easy to move large video files and photos off my phone to free up space. On my MacBook Air, the USB-C connector was equally effective. I used it to transfer documents and media files between my phone and laptop, and the speed was impressive. The drive’s compatibility with macOS ensured smooth file management, and I appreciated not having to deal with compatibility issues. The iXpand Drive app, while primarily designed for iOS devices, still provided a good reference for the type of user experience one could expect if using it with an iPhone or iPad. The app allows for automatic backup of photos and videos, which I found convenient, though I didn’t use it extensively with my Android phone. The build quality of the flash drive is impressive. The metal casing feels robust and can easily withstand the rigors of daily use. Its compact size makes it easy to carry in a pocket or attach to a keychain. One minor downside is the price, which is higher than some other USB drives. However, given its dual functionality and durable build, the cost is justified. Another potential issue is the dependency on the iXpand Drive app for certain features, which might not appeal to all users, especially those who prefer using their device’s native file management system. Comparison Compared to other dual-connector flash drives on the market, the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe stands out for its robust build quality and user-friendly app. While there are cheaper alternatives, they often compromise on durability or ease of use. The iXpand Drive Luxe offers a premium experience with reliable performance, making it a worthwhile investment for users with diverse device needs. Conclusion The SanDisk 64GB iXpand Flash Drive Luxe is an excellent choice for users needing a versatile and reliable storage solution compatible with a wide range of devices. Its dual connectors, durable design, and helpful companion app make it a standout product in the market. Despite minor issues with the Lightning connector length and app dependency, its overall performance and convenience make it highly recommended for anyone looking to simplify data transfer between Apple, Android, and PC/Mac devices.

Very small (tiny ) so easy list if not careful but a works great and easy to use

The SanDisk 256GB iXpand Flash Drive Luxe is a compact, well-designed device that excels at transferring files across iPhone, Mac, Android, and PC. Its dual Lightning and USB-C connectors make it incredibly versatile for seamless cross-device use. With 256GB of storage, it’s ideal for managing photos, videos, and documents on the go. On my Mac, it performs flawlessly, delivering consistent and reliable transfer speeds. However, my experience with my iPhone 14 Pro has been less consistent—data retrieval often lags, and transferring videos (even small 200MB files or batches of five videos) can take hours. The iXpand app is user-friendly for backups but has been glitchy since recent updates, sometimes failing to detect the drive despite my iPhone running the latest iOS. While it works well on Android and PC, the iPhone performance issues are a notable drawback.

Works well on iPhone. Very useful to free some space on your phone and store your pictures and videos. Thank you

The SanDisk 256GB iXpand USB Flash Drive Go for iPhone and iPad with Type C Adapter has been an invaluable tool for expanding my device's storage and transferring files effortlessly over the long term. As an iPhone and iPad user, the limited storage capacity of these devices can often be a hindrance, but the iXpand USB Flash Drive Go provides a convenient solution to this problem. One of the standout features of this flash drive is its versatile design, which includes both a Lightning connector for iPhone and iPad compatibility and a Type C adapter for broader device compatibility. This allows me to easily transfer files between my iOS devices, Macbook, and other devices with USB Type C ports, eliminating the need for multiple adapters or cables. With a generous storage capacity of 256GB, the iXpand Flash Drive Go offers ample space for storing photos, videos, music, and documents without worrying about running out of storage on my iPhone or iPad. The ability to offload files onto the flash drive frees up valuable space on my device, improving its performance and responsiveness. The iXpand app, available for download from the App Store, enhances the functionality of the flash drive by providing seamless file management and backup capabilities. The app allows me to automatically back up my photos and videos, ensuring that my precious memories are safely stored and easily accessible whenever I need them. Additionally, the app supports various file formats, making it easy to view, organize, and share files directly from the flash drive. In terms of performance, the iXpand Flash Drive Go delivers impressive read and write speeds, allowing for quick and efficient file transfers. Whether I'm transferring large videos or numerous photos, I can count on the flash drive to handle the task with ease, saving me time and frustration. The durable and compact design of the iXpand Flash Drive Go makes it ideal for on-the-go use, whether I'm traveling, working, or simply moving between devices. The sturdy metal casing provides added protection against bumps and drops, ensuring the safety of my valuable data. Overall, the SanDisk 256GB iXpand USB Flash Drive Go for iPhone and iPad with Type C Adapter has exceeded my expectations with its reliability, versatility, and performance. It has become an essential tool in my digital toolkit, allowing me to manage and transfer files seamlessly across my devices while providing peace of mind knowing that my data is safely backed up and accessible whenever I need it.

This is a very well constructed and solid metal USB device. That is about as positive as I can get for this review. If I could give zero stars I would. Sadly the software that goes with it is not well constructed nor robust. The fact that it has gone from £40 to £32 overnight since it arrived hasn't helped me to warm to it! Had I not destroyed the packaging getting in to it I would have returned it for a refund. Let me say that if you're wanting to simply plug a device into your iPhone and make sure that the images are backed up automatically this (sort of) works. "Sort of" because the file names still get mangled as you'll see. I purchased this because I'd tried to use an SSD with my iPhone and that wasn't supported. This was designed for iPhone connectivity so I was expecting a USB space that I could simply drop files into folders with. When I plugged it in it told me I needed to get an app for it. I got the app: iXpand Drive. The app wanted access to my photos, and music, and contacts, and calendar (it can back up all of those). It started to backup and did backup my photos. See the first image with some very odd and very long file names. I also wanted to get these to my iPad. Remember this says "Easily move files" in an image showing two phones, a tablet and a laptop. When I plugged the device into the iPad I got another set with more names as it merged what was on the iPad with what was on the phone. Very messy. Abandoning the iPad transfer for the moment, I went back to the iPhone. This time I went to the Files app to try to move things. I found that I could not access the device. Indeed I get errors much of the time if I try but when it does show the folders I can not browse into the folder for backups because that is protected. Nor can I create folders. I can see the device and what is on it but not "use" the device properly. I'm used to using OneDrive via Files so this was an odd restriction. My only option is to be in the Photos app and "share" to the iXpand Drive at which point I can create a folder (yes you read that correctly - I can't create a folder in Files but I can create a folder using the Share to iXpand). At least that route I got the correct file names. Access to what is shown as a USB flash drive is extremely limited. Copy files within the iXpand app will allow you to select and copy files but even that will mean that the file names get adjusted. For example IMG_6543.DNG (i.e. a RAW file on the phone) gets changed to IMG_6543~photo.DNG for no obvious reason. At least that is more readable than the first attempt but I still wonder why this is happening. Oh and you can only copy 50 files at a time so if you're using your phone as a camera at all you'l have fun trying to backup other than via their automatic mechanism - the one that mangles file names. Most of the time if I go into Files app there is an error that the iXpand Drive is not found even though it is plugged in. If I hit "OK" and unplug/re-plug it the error may persist or I might get to see the files. Again, to be fair, I connected the device to my PC via a USB port and in Windows I could access it as a drive and created folders on it. I connected it again to my iPhone and can see those folders. Managing them on the iPhone is another matter. I contacted Tech Support in case I was just using it wrong. Apparently that's how it is designed. They've fed back my issues. Given this is "working as designed" the design is so awful that I figured it ought to be brought to the attention of anyone wanting to buy it. Just save your money.

I'd spent years messing around, trying different leads etc., just trying to take photos and videos off my iPhone reliably. Had issues with the iPhone not showing up in Windows when I plugged it in and when it did show up it would often only be able to copy a small number of files before the connection conked out. Tried this device and it absolutely nailed it. The software is user-friendly and well thought out and I've not had any issues copying files from my iPhone to it (I don't typically need to go the other way, although that also seems to work well). The one stand-out gotcha here is that you'll need to make sure your phone is well charged before copying a lot of files, as you don't want the phone losing power half way through. But of course you can't charge your iPhone while this device is plugged in because the socket you'd normally charge through is occupied. Perhaps you might be able to use one of those charging pads if you phone supports it. As far as I can tell, though, data from applications aside from videos and photos (e.g. "Voice Memos") are not shown in the software, so I doubt this device will help with those situations. (I'm not actually sure what will). An extra feature I've not yet tried is the ability of the software to sign into your Google Photos (presumably accessing everything you have stored online) and copy those to the device. This sounds nifty, but at this stage I can't yet vouch for it. Apparently it can also back-up your phone's contacts and calendar. Not sure I need that to be honest. It goes without saying that the iXpand will be useful if you're going on holiday and need the ability to empty the photos and videos off your phone part way through. You can move your photos off the phone onto the iXpand device (do a copy and it asks if you want to delete the originals on the phone when copying is complete), or just do a copy (keep a copy on your phone and one on the iXpand) and use that as a way of backing up your photos just in case you drop the phone in the ocean or something. There probably are extra features they could add, but what it does, it does well.

I started to use these in 2018 and had been meaning to review since. Well, where to start? I honestly think they deserve 0 AND 5 stars!! I’ve given 3 but that’s because I can’t use half stars otherwise I’d sit right in the middle with 2.5. I honestly don’t know if I can recommend them or not; in some ways absolutely and in other ways I think they’re a load of unmitigated sh….ame could be better!!! Brief overview: I use them with an iPhone 8 with iOS updates since 2018 and my experience has remained the same from the beginning. I consider the best way to rate something (not in any order) is as follows: • Concept and execution • Functions & features • Performance • Reliability • Build quality • Cost I think the best way to review then, to avoid too much waffle (I’ll probably end up waffling anyway) would be to address these then highlight the pros & cons then where I think they can be improved and finally suggest improvements so, here goes: Concept The concept is outstanding and when I discovered them they were a real game changer as I have thousands of photos. It’s also good that most file types, including non-photos work and integrate with Windows & Apple systems. The software interface is easy to navigate and intuitive with a decent amount of options in settings. In terms of use the concept is executed very well; however, do note performance & reliability below! 5 stars for this. Functions & Features This is also one of the 5 star areas. The file management is really well thought out and flows seamlessly with Windows and offers lots of functionality such as: • Create & rename folders. • Move and copy between folders. • Easily copy, between the phone and laptop via the drive using drag and drop. • Same file and folder structure remains between the device and Windows. • Auto backup (I don’t use it) • Can create folders on the device or a PC & keeps file structure on both. Another useful feature, when using on the phone: if there is a crash (this happens with an unbelievably high frequency) during a file transfer process they are not corrupted and the system recognises what’s already been copied so you only copy the remainder when you redo. There is an option to delete or retain the copies on the phone. Also, recognises the folder structure on the phone so you can save photos into ‘real’ folders rather than the ‘albums’ on the phone. The software recognises copies and allows for overwrite, skip or duplicating file names just like Windows. File navigation views can be changed too (e.g. list or tiles) and photos have preview thumbnails. Security I consider this as a subset of functions & features. Password protected vault works on the PC and on the phone and also utilises touch ID. Took me a while to realise I could use it on the phone but security is top notch. Another 5 star rating. Performance Okay, here we go then. What can I say? It can be very slow to seemingly frozen (often has) during file transfers. I haven’t done any measurements so I don’t say this objectively & I can be transferring a couple of files or hundreds in one go. Sometimes it’s quite fast and other times I just feel I can go & make a cuppa and something to eat while it transfers not that many files! As I mentioned above, I’ve gone through a few iOS updates so don’t think it’s that. It’s been like this since my phone was new so I don’t think it’s phone processing power either. I wonder if it’s due to the Lightning connecter or the iXpand software but I don’t know. In any case I give this area 3 stars. Reliability This is the biggie! This is the thing that makes me want to take a hammer to the thing and wonder why I bought them! I define reliability separately from performance because a car can perform very well but keep breaking down. This single aspect makes these things absolutely HORRIBLE to use. I really hate them for this alone but I’ve already invested in them so… I don’t know why they’re so bad. I have had 4 in total (returned a couple) and all exhibit the same problems. Here is a list of the main things: • Extremely unstable - spontaneously ejects even during transfers & need to re-insert (can happen several times in a row), • Slow to read when copying from phone, even for a few (say 10 or 20) photos. Can take a couple of minutes at times so lousy when you’re in a hurry. • Fail to register when inserted- often several attempts required, • Not showing folders on phone so requiring re-insertion. Reliability gets a solid 0 stars! Absolute trash! Build Quality But for a single small area it could have been a contender! Why the iXpand Luxe is all metal and this isn’t I will never know! There are other, cheaper all metal devices available but I was sold on the Sandisk name and security when I decided to buy these. The problem is an extremely fragile plastic collar at the neck of the lightning connector; it has broken (been returned & replaced) on 3 devices with hardly any stress put on them! This results in the innards all sliding out of the casing requiring it to be replaced (still works) or super glued in place, which you shouldn’t have to do on a £50+ device! Build quality overall being decent is severely undermined by that plastic collar. I’ll generously give 1 to 2 stars Cost There are cheaper options out there but I don’t know how they compare overall even though some (notably the iDiskk) are all metal. I do think more than £50 (128 Gb) is too expensive but I’ve already invested and am impressed with the security and user interface. Cost merits 3 stars. And now the pros and cons. Pros I think the good points above capture the pros but, of course portability is also one. Packaging has changed since 2018, from seemingly bomb proof plastic and card to what appears a cheaper (& more environmentally friendly?) card with light film/plastic covering. I’m happy with that although I did wonder if I’d got a genuine product when I saw the new packaging. Cons There are significant cons of which many are captured in reliability issues above, at least in my experience. I don’t know why and this could be due to one of the points I mentioned above; iOS, Lightning connector, the iXpand drive itself or the software. In addition: • Blocks other apps on start-up. This is really annoying (why does Apple allow this?). When inserted a banner pops up to say ‘ignore’ or ‘allow’ the device and you can’t switch to another app until you select. Yes, I know all I need to do is select but it shouldn’t have dominion as if it’s the one app to rule them all! • Cannot tap to jump to the bottom of the screen, • App/device seems to pause transferring files if you switch to another app (I mean, seriously?!) These cons (included with reliability) also merit 0 stars as they are infuriating! And finally, room for improvements (hopefully): It can take, seemingly forever to select through imported photos especially if there are lots. So… • Select a group of photos by tapping first & last of a range, • Swipe select like on the phone, • After selecting ‘select all’ be able to easily ‘unselect all’; this is really significant, • Tap to jump to top or bottom of the screen like on the phone • Charge whilst in use (ok I can live without this one) • During transfer/copy show ‘live’ amount copied (not crucial but would be nice). • Enable clearer position slider in sidebar when viewing photos with ability to remain there when switching apps. • Change to all metal body (or at least that plastic collar). So, there you have it; reviewed after more than 3 years!