The SanDisk iXpand Mini is just like the Sandisk iXpand, but like the name suggests is a bit more compact. It features the same 2-in-1 design with a lightning connector for your iPhone and iPad on one end and a full sized USB Type A connector on the other end.
It is one of a number of a lineup of 2-in-1 flash drives offered by Western Digital owned SanDisk, which also includes options for android phones like the SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive m3.0 and SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive USB Type C.
Despite its simple and compact design the Sandisk iXpand Mini offers the same storage capacities as the iXpand. While our review unit is the 128GB capacity model, you can also buy the flash drive in 32GB, 64GB, and 256GB capacities.
The iXpand Mini Flash Drive is a great device for freeing up space on your iPhone and iPad. It will also automatically backup your videos and photos.
Unboxing the SanDisk iXpand Mini Flash Drive
The flash drive comes in a familiar pack. Just cut open the pack and break the transparent seal to access the thumb drive.
SanDisk iXpand Mini Flash Drive Specs
- 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB Capacities
- Up to 90 MB/s Transfer Speed
- exFAT Native Format
- Dual Port (Lightning Connector and USB Type A (USB 3.0))
- Dimension: 53.1 x 12.19 x 4.57 mm (2.09″ x 0.48″ x 0.18″)
- Plays 4K, MP4, MOV
- Compatible with iPhone and iPad with iOS 8.2 and higher
- Compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Chrome OS, Mac OS X v10.9 and higher
The Design
While at its core the iXpand Mini keeps the 2-in-1 design of the earlier iXpand, the hook-like curve back design has been replaced with a simple and clean build.
Though simple, the design is stylish with interesting contours.
The lightning connector end has a transparent cap that protects the connectors.
You remove the cap to plug-in the flash drive to your Apple smartphone or tablet.
The Performance
Sandisk iXpand Mini is a device that will help you expand the built-in storage of your iPhone or iPad, given that Apple does not offer built-in support for storage expansion.
Once you download the SanDisk iXpand Drive app from the App Store and install it on your device, you will be able to free space on your device by moving some of your videos and photos to the flash drive.
Once connected to your device, the iXpand Mini is more or less like a part of the device. For example, you can store photos and videos directly on the flash drive while you shoot them.
Just like the iXpand, the Mini also supports automatic backup such that each time you plug it into your iPhone or iPad it will automatically backup your device.
The flash drive also supports file encryption with password protection.
Like the iXpand, you get native exFAT file formatting. This means no file size limitation, so you can store full sized 4k movies on the flash drive.
The flash drive is compatible with computers running on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Mac OS X v10.9 and above.
It also supports any lightning connector enabled iPad or iPhone running on iOS 8.2 or higher. This includes latest models like the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro Max as well as models as early as iPhone 5.
During the tests, we were able to achieve a maximum read speed of about 79 MB/s and a write speed of about 41 MB/s. It took around one minute to read and write a 1.22GB file respectively.
SanDisk iXpand Mini Flash Drive Price and Availability
SanDisk iXpand Mini Flash Drive price in Nigeria starts at around 11,000 Naira for the 32GB capacity at leading online stores. You can buy it for as low $23 at global online stores.
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Conclusion
The SanDisk iXpand Mini Flash Drive is a handy device for expanding the built-in storage on your iPhone or iPad. You can easily free a lot of space on your device’s storage. More so you don’t need iTunes to do all this.
Its versatile design that combines a lightning connector and a USB Type A means you can share the flash drive between your iPhone or iPad and your computer (Windows or Mac).
That said its lack of hook for a lanyard when combined with its portable size can be problematic if you are not a very organized person.
But still, the SanDisk iXpand Mini ease of use makes it no doubt one of the best flash drives for iPhone and iPad.
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