SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 1TB Review: Worth It?

SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD V2 1TB (SDSSDE61-1T00-G25)

Photos coming soon.

The short version

Buy it if

Photographers and video shooters offloading cards in the field
Anyone carrying large files between a laptop, desktop and tablet
People who want a drive that shrugs off a drop or a splash

Skip it if

You plan to keep your only backup on it
Your computer has only USB 2.0 or 5Gbps ports, which cap the speed
You need Thunderbolt or 20Gbps speeds

What owners like

Real transfer speeds near the rated figure on a 10Gbps port
Tough, compact build that suits travel and field work
Long 5 year warranty

Common complaints

Reports in 2023 of drives suddenly disconnecting or losing data across SanDisk's portable SSD line, which led to a firmware update and a class action suit
Some benchmarks land a little under the quoted speeds
Pricing sits close to the Samsung T7, so it does not win on cost alone

Based on StorageReview's hands-on review, the Newegg listing for this model number, and The Register and Blocks and Files coverage of the 2023 failure reports. No owner forum threads were read, so the praise themes lean on editorial testing..

Research scores

Performance 8.0 measured about 920 to 1040 MB/s, close to the rated 1050 MB/s

Build quality 6.5 rugged IP65 shell, but the 2023 failure reports and lawsuit weigh on trust

Ease of use 8.0 small, ships with a USB-A adapter and works across Windows and macOS

Value 7.0 fair mainstream price with a 5 year warranty, close to the Samsung T7

Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.

Ownership

Times bought1

Price range$$

Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.

What it does

A pocket sized 1TB external SSD with a rubberized shell, a USB-C 10Gbps connection and a carabiner loop.

Small enough for a pocket, with a carabiner loop for a bag or belt
Rubberized shell rated for drops and splashes
Hardware encryption with an optional password
Ships with a USB-A adapter for older computers
Works with Windows 10 and later and macOS 10.13 and later, per the Newegg listing

A fast, small and rugged drive for photographers, video shooters and anyone moving big files between computers. Measured speeds land close to the rated 1050 MB/s, but the 2023 wave of sudden failure reports across SanDisk's portable line means it should never hold the only copy of anything.

How it compares

Samsung T7The rival StorageReview prices it against, a sensible pick if you want to avoid SanDisk after the 2023 reports$$

Samsung T7 ShieldSamsung's rugged version, the closer match if drop and splash resistance is the reason you are buying$$

Crucial X9 ProAnother compact 10Gbps drive from a different maker, worth comparing on price on the day$$

Specs

Capacity: 1TB (also sold in 500GB, 2TB, 4TB and 8TB)
Rated speed: Up to 1050 MB/s read, 1000 MB/s write
Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), USB-C port
In the box: Drive, USB-C to USB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A adapter
Water and dust: IP65 per current listings (the 2020 launch review lists IP55)
Drop protection: Up to 3 meters per current listings (2 meters at launch)
Encryption: 256-bit AES hardware encryption with password protection
Size and weight: 100.8 x 52.55 x 9.6 mm, 52 g
Warranty: 5 year limited

Worth knowing

Western Digital released a firmware update in 2023 after reports of drives disconnecting and losing data. Check for firmware updates and keep a second copy of important files.
IP65 is splash and dust resistance, not a rating for submersion.

Questions

Was the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD affected by the 2023 failures?

Western Digital issued a firmware update in May 2023 for the Extreme Portable SSD V2, Extreme Pro Portable SSD V2 and My Passport SSD to fix unexpected disconnects. Coverage names the 4TB Extreme Portable and several Extreme Pro sizes most often. Update the firmware and keep a second backup.

How fast is the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD in real use?

StorageReview measured about 920 MB/s read and 950 MB/s write in Blackmagic, and about 1 GB/s in a multi thread sequential test, on a 10Gbps port.

Is the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD waterproof?

No. Current listings rate it IP65, which covers dust and water jets, not submersion.

Does it come with a USB-A cable?

It comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable plus a USB-C to USB-A adapter.

Sources

Researched 2026-10-02. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.