SanDisk 256GB Ultra Fit USB 3.1 Flash Drive - SDCZ430-256G-G46, Black

Like the large storage capacity. Outer plastic case cracked and now is broke. Still works but plastic case falls off. Metal would be better but probably would increase the manufacturing cost.

Capacity is great. Small profile is great. That claimed 130MB is read speed. Please note... write speeds state UP TO 15X over USB 2 speeds. Key words here are UP TO. I use this device to store flac music files for playback in my car. I have plugged this drive into USB 2, 3 & 3.1 ports for writing purposes. I have seen extremely marginal performance differences between USB 3 & 3.1 (fluctuates between 35 - 55 MB when writing anywhere from 200MB - 2GB at a time). On a USB 2 port I get speeds around 20 MB on average. I will post test results and adjust figures as needed later as I am going from memory at this point. On another point, the frame of this no longer appears to be made of metal. I would say it is made of some type of composite material. I believe this was done with a purpose on the manufacturer to alleviate the heat issues with the previous model (which I also own) While it still gets warm while writing, it no longer gets hot to the touch like the previous model did. The heat dissipates much quicker. Given that, I do worry about the longevity and duability of this device should it have to be used and plugged in frequently in many devices. Overall, it serves my purposes. Write speeds could be better and durability could be an issue. Hence, my reason for three stars. **********Edit********** I have included Crystalmark tests (1 @ 500MB in size for USB 2 & 3). I did 5 tests while having it plugged into a USB 3.1 gen 2 port (1 of each @ 500MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB & 8GB). Speeds start dropping down the larger the test file was. Speed breakdown for the images is as follows for those that were wondering: USB 2.0 image is the read speed of 40.22 & write speed of 17.01 USB 3.0 image is the read speed of 126.2 & write speed of 50.41 USB 3.1 gen 2 images are the remaining 5 images as well as the windows copying images Just for a test, I copied over an approximately 4GB video file to the drive via the USB 3.1 gen 2 port (see the windows copying images). At the halfway point of the file, the speed starts to drop off and never recovers. Looks like the video file maintained a good 64 MB until the halfway mark.

I can keep this little drive attached at all times and not accidentally karate-chop it off like I have with drives that stick out two inches. Adds an instant 500G to my computer inexpensively.

Dont sync to much. One by one it great.

Drive would not accept 6gb. 5.7gb video file. Smaller files (1gb) no problem. See future headaches w this contriction. Other 256 usb drive I purchased worked fine.

Great price, fast, small and easy to use. What more can you expect from a small thumb drive.

Dead on arrival. Tried the flash drive on 3 different computers and not one would recognize it. Will exchange and may change rating depending on how the next drive functions. Update: Received a new flash drive in 2 days. The drive is advertised at 512 GB but you only get to utilize 460 GB. The flash drive seems to function well so far for the first few hours of backing up files.

The capacity and speed are fine. Whats not good is the oh so thin plastic casing of the drive. Its cracked open and almost broken away. Not good Sandisk!

Forget using a USB stick in a vehicle, with the thing sticking out so far you cant change gears. This memory thumb drive is small enough that no one will even notice its presence.

I purchased the USB in February 2019 and it failed in Nov 2019, ten months hmmm. From new it required far more pressure to insert then my other USB drives and the housing became noticeably warm when in use. At that point, I should have sent it back but instead dismissed it as the consequence of its small architecture and poor manufacturing tolerances. After less than fifty applications the housing broke but more annoying the stored data became unrecoverable. I have several full size SanDisk and other maker USB drives and none have exhibited the above noted concerns or failures. Unfortunately four days ago my wife purchased the SanDisk 256 model and it also requires more insertion force than should be required, foreshadowing dear reader. Would I recommend this product? Absolutely not. Will I continue future Sandisk purchases? Probably, but not their miniature series. SanDisk, if you wish to offer me recompense, I will gladly include your response as an appendix to my review. Cheers E Update: Nov 25, 2019 The day after submitting my Amazon review I contacted the SanDisk warranty department by email requesting recompense as the USB was less than 5 years old. I provided them a copy of my Amazon purchase order and the next day I received a follow-up email from SanDisk® Global Customer Care stating SanDisk did not have a 128gb replacement in stock (in the warehouse) but would I settle for two 64gb instead to which I replied, yes. Within a day or two I received another SanDisk email this time different in tone. It referenced my Amazon.com review and included the following highlighted in blue, Note: Refurbished, physically damaged or non-authentic products are not covered by SanDisk warranty. The email also included an RMA (Return to Merchant Authorization) but no mention of the previous replacement offer. So what happened, a SanDisk employee armed with my Amazon purchase receipt trolled the Amazon.com website and located my review. Upon reading it they identified I had mentioned the USB casing had broken and presto SanDisk feels the warranty claim is disqualified, hence the blue highlighted script. To appear as a good corporate citizen they now offer me an RMA (Return to Manufacturer Authorization) so we can go through the process. Okay I will, with the clear understanding that I intend publish every SanDisk response regardless of the outcome. Other critical Amazon reviews about this product identify similar concerns, it runs hotter than a full sized USB, it is a tight fit especially in USB 3.0 ports, the housing cracks and this device prematurely ends in software/hardware failure. See a similar Amazon.com posted review provided by Gennaro M. on March 15, 2018. It is one of the many provided by dissatisfied consumers. My complaint, like those generated before me, does not originate from consumer misuse, abuse or accident but by product failure and warranty issues. Stay tuned for SanDisks response which I intend to publish when I receive it. Cheers E On 2019.11.27, I received the following email from James P.. a SanDisk® Global Customer Care rep, Thank you for writing back to us. Please be informed that the statement which was sent in the e-mail is a standard statement which we use in all automated RMA approval e-mail for letting customers know that Refurbished, physically damaged or non-authentic products are not covered by SanDisk warranty. Also we understand that you are not very satisfied with the model of flash drive which you were using earlier i.e. SanDisk® Ultra Fit USB 3.1. Therefore we would like to offer you an alternative product i.e. SanDisk® Cruzer Glide USB 3.0 128GB (SDCZ600-128G) in replacement. Please suggest if you are agreed for the alternative model. I agreed to accept their offer and on 2019.12.10 I received without cost to me a full size USB SanDisk® Cruzer Glide USB 3.0 128GB (SDCZ600-128G) delivered to my door. In the end SanDisk® or the parent company Western Digital Technologies Inc honored the warranty. I will continue to use SanDisk® as long as the honor they warranty. However I would not again purchase or recommend this specific product the SanDisk® Ultra Fit USB 3.1. cheers e.