SanDisk quietly unveils new entry-level portable SSD backed with a three-year warranty - shame about the slow speeds

Date:
Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:33:00 +0000

Description:
SanDisks ELE portable SSD offers durability and affordability, though its outdated 400MB/s read speed risks irrelevance.

FULL STORY ======================================================================SanDisk ELE portable SSD offers convenience, yet struggles with painfully outdated transfer speeds Drop protection and compact design cant mask the drives underwhelming read performance SanDisks warranty offers safety, but premium drives deliver longer coverage periods

SanDisk has quietly unveiled the ELE series, a new entry-level portable SSD intended to succeed the WD Elements SE line following the Western Digital-SanDisk split.

Reports from ITHome (originally in Chinese) note this new series is
positioned as a compact and budget-friendly storage solution.

However, the specifications reveal a trade-off: while offering modern features, the drives speed may leave many users underwhelmed. Specifications suggest convenience but limited performance

The ELE series measures about 64.5mm on each side, is only 8.7mm thick, and weighs roughly 45g.

It connects via a USB 5Gbps interface, yet its sequential read performance tops out at just 400MB/s - which positions it well below current mid-range
and high-end options on the market right now.

In a segment where even modest portable SSD models often deliver speeds exceeding 1,000MB/s, the ELEs throughput feels dated.

SanDisk offers the drive in 1TB and 2TB capacities, priced at 499 yuan (about $70) and 819 yuan (about $115) respectively, clearly aiming at users who
value affordability over performance.

Despite its limited speed, the ELE includes features that could appeal to
less demanding customers.

It supports operating temperatures from 0 to 45 and storage temperatures between -20 and 85, while offering drop protection up to 2m.

These specifications suggest it should handle everyday bumps and
environmental changes without immediate failure.

The device includes a 3-year limited warranty, which may reassure some
buyers, although critics could point out that premium drives often feature longer coverage periods.

SanDisks strategy seems focused on filling a budget gap rather than competing with the fastest models.

While its ELE series may not rival the largest SSD or fastest portable SSD available today, it could still serve casual users seeking basic file transfers and backups.

For professionals handling high-resolution video, large datasets, or other demanding workloads, the modest 400MB/s read speed risks creating workflow bottlenecks.

The portable SSD market has seen rapid performance gains over recent years, with many manufacturers pushing speeds that blur the line between external
and internal drives.

Against this backdrop, SanDisks decision to prioritize cost and simplicity over raw performance may appear conservative.

The ELE series might satisfy users upgrading from slower external hard
drives, but its relevance could diminish quickly as even entry-level SSD products improve. You might also like We've rounded up the best monitors for photo editing on the market today And here are the best monitors for programming we've found Micron and SanDisk set to dramatically increase NAND and DRAM prices



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/sandisk-quietly-unveils-new-entry-level-portable -ssd-thats-backed-with-a-three-year-warranty-but-shame-about-the-slow-speed


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