SanDisk Desk Drive USB SSD review: High capacity, 10Gbps performance
At a glance
Expert's Rating
Pros
Available in large 4TB and 8TB capacities
Good 10Gbps performer
Attractive and unusual, if somewhat large, heat-shedding design
Cons
Requires AC adapter
Our Verdict
More capacity is always better when it comes to storage, and the Desk Drive USB SSD from SanDisk delivers that in either 4TB or 8TB flavors, along with good 10Gbps performance.
SanDisk’s new 10Gbps USB Desk Drive is all about capacity. In fact, it ships only in larger 4TB and 8TB flavors, for $380 and $700 MSRP, respectively — demonstrating a real commitment to a marketing strategy that frames the product as a hard drive replacement.
The Desk Drive is also on the large side for an external SSD and requires external power to function, which while not unheard for an external USB drive of this capacity is a bit unusual for a drive that is only 10Gbps. Perhaps SanDisk is trying to make hard drive transitioners more comfortable?
Further reading: See our roundup of the best external drives to learn about competing products.
What are the Sandisk Desk Drive’s features?
I’ve already spilled some of the beans on this subject — however, as to its size, the Desk Drive measures a rather solid 3.9-inches wide and long, and about 1.5-inches between the slightly concave top and anti-skid bottom. It’s colored in SanDisk’s familiar dark gray, with orange piping encircling the unit near the vertical mid-point of the enclosure.
The back of the Desk Drive has the Type-C USB port, AC adapter jack, and a Kensington lock port. And yes, the drive requires an external power source which the company provides. We did try to use the drive without it, and no dice.