SanDisk Desk Drive 4TB
Score: 39/100
SanDisk Extreme PRO 4TB USB4
Score: 92/100Rankings
The 4 TB SanDisk Extreme PRO Portable SSD uses USB4 to deliver near-internal SSD performance with up to 3800 MB/s reads, while offering rugged IP65 protection and hardware encryption. It shines on Thunderbolt-4 hosts but can fall back to slower speeds on older machines, and its larger size makes it less pocket-friendly.
The SanDisk 4TB Desk Drive SSD is a desktop-focused external NVMe drive offering high capacity and fast USB-C 10 Gbps performance, with backup software and Time Machine support. It requires an external power adapter and lacks rugged features, making it best suited for stationary workstations.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
4,000 GBbest | 4,000 GBbest | |
1,000 MB/s | 3,800 MB/sbest | |
900 MB/s | 3,700 MB/sbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 268 g | 172 gbest |
36 months | 60 monthsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Performance(3) | ||
Interface | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | USB4 |
Sequential Read Speed (MB/s) | 1000 MB/s | 3800 MB/s |
Sequential Write Speed (MB/s) | 900 MB/s | 3700 MB/s |
Security(1) | ||
Hardware Encryption | false | true |
Build & Design(1) | ||
Weight (g) | 268 g | 172 g |
Warranty(1) | ||
Warranty Period (months) | 36 months | 60 months |
Power & Connectivity(1) | ||
Power Source | external adapter | bus-powered |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the Desk Drive for its top-tier benchmark scores, 10 Gbps USB-C throughput, and large capacity options that cater to creative professionals. They note the external power requirement and higher cost per gigabyte as trade-offs for the performance and desktop-oriented design.
Everyday users appreciate the fast transfer rates, compact desk footprint, and seamless Time Machine integration, but repeatedly complain about the need for an external power adapter, heat buildup during long sessions, and the lack of portability.
“Great SSD for the price”
“sustained 3000 MB/s speeds on a MacBook Pro”
Professional reviewers commend the Extreme PRO USB4 SSD for its blazing peak speeds and rugged build, but repeatedly warn that real-world performance hinges on a fully compatible 40 Gbps host. PCWorld and The SSD Review note that without BIOS or firmware updates the drive often falls back to slower USB 3.x rates, and some USB4 implementations cap at 32 Gbps, keeping it slightly behind rivals like the Samsung X5. Nonetheless, on Thunderbolt-4 Macs the drive consistently hits its advertised 3800 MB/s reads.
Everyday users, especially video editors and photographers, praise the drive's speed, plug-and-play ease, and durable design for on-location work. The average rating hovers around 4.5 / 5, though recurring complaints focus on initial connection hiccups, the larger form factor, and occasional speed throttling after the cache is exhausted.
