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SanDisk's new Extreme Pro v2 is the SSD you want if you have a 20 Gbps host system or two that you can use it with. It may not have a new look, but why fix what isn't broken? The previous chassis was a solid design that was more than capable for most content creators on the move, although it lacked a power indicator light and there weren't any other color options. By keeping the design the same, the company could focus more on working under the hood. And a lot is going on.
SanDisk's Extreme Pro has been tweaked, tuned, and refined to ensure it will perform to a professional standard. That includes leveraging the SN730E and a faster ASMedia ASM2364 bridge controller, not only for faster performance but also compatibility with more devices than most portable Thunderbolt 3 SSDs. The hardware can run warm, but the design and firmware work together to not only manage the heat very well during heavy read and write abuse but also to maintain optimal performance.
With the USB 20 Gbps link, the drive even outperformed the Thunderbolt 3 competition under various workloads, resulting in responsive application performance. We were very impressed with the performance too - especially the drive's sustained write capability. Aside from Sabrent's 8TB Rocket XTRM-Q, SanDisk's Extreme Pro delivered among the fastest write performance we have seen. This showing comes as excellent news for those who perform large file transfers often - even if limited to a 10Gbps link, the drive will be just as fast or faster than its predecessor.
While the SanDisk Extreme Pro's performance is enviable, I'm most excited about the improved security features. Secure and easy-to-use AES 256-bit hardware-based full disk encryption ensures your data will be stored securely away from prying eyes when the device is out of your presence. When you need to retrieve or write a file, unlocking the entire SSD works quickly on both macOS and Windows.
However, with a price tag of $500 for our 2TB sample, the SanDisk Extreme Pro v2 is not the most economical option for casual users; instead, it is better suited for those with a professional workflow. Samsung's T7 or Sabrent's Rocket XTRM-Q may be a better value for those on a more limited budget. You'll just have to accept the trade-off of slower and less consistent performance. SanDisk's Extreme Pro undercuts many top-performing Thunderbolt 3 SSDs by quite a bit, but the WD Black P50 is roughly $150 cheaper at the 2TB capacity point and offers similar performance during basic file transfers.
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