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SanDisk Ultra 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive and Tests

Today I'm taking a look at this 128GB SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 flash drive. To see how it performs, I will be comparing it to a bunch of older drives that I have on-hand.

Check out the video on YouTube for more information: 


Check out the Sandisk Ultra 128 GB USB Flash Drive (SDCZ48-128G-A46): 

As an affiliate of these shops, I earn from qualifying purchases! It's more about time from the click rather than what you buy. Usually anything within 24 hours of the visit. 

The SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 128GB flash drive in its retail packaging.

Unboxing and First Impressions

This is a USB 3.0 compatible drive. One negative of this package is you're going to have to cut it open with scissors. If you do, be careful not to cut too far down and damage the slip for the RescuePRO software offer inside.

The RescuePRO information and activation code inside the package.


The drive itself is very lightweight. You have a spot for some type of key loop or strap. In the center, there is a slider that you push down and out to extend the USB port. It's a retractable design, which means there's no cap to lose. 

Here you can see the hole for a keychain and the button to extend the USB port. 

A key feature is the USB port itself. It has the classic blue plastic inside, which is a common indicator that it's a USB 3.0 device, promising faster theoretical speeds than the older USB 2.0 standard.

A close-up of the connector shows the blue insert, indicating it supports USB 3.0 speeds.

Understanding USB Standards

USB, or Universal Serial Bus, is a standard that defines the cables, connectors, and protocols for connection and power between computers and devices. USB 2.0, released in 2000, has a maximum theoretical speed of 480 megabits per second (Mbps) half-duplex. USB 3.0, released in 2008, introduced a much faster speed of 5 gigabits per second (Gbps) symmetric, which is more than ten times faster. This allows for significantly quicker transfer of large files like movies or backups. (this was generated by Google Gemini Pro AI, but I verified it with Wikipedia).


The Test Setup

To test these drives out, I'm using a program called CrystalDiskMark, specifically version 9.0.1. It is a popular tool for measuring the read and write performance of storage drives.

The main interface of the CrystalDiskMark 9.0.1 software used for benchmarking.

For these tests, I'll be selecting the 'Flash Memory' profile in the settings. This optimizes the test for the kind of memory used in USB flash drives.


The Drives and Their Performance

It is cool to see the differences in speeds for the different drives throughout the years. I tested a variety, from the new SanDisk to some very old USB 2.0 models. Some of my drives will have various amounts of data on them, so the results might be a off from what you'd get on a completely empty drive or one that has less wear. 

A lineup of the various USB flash drives that were benchmarked for comparison.


SanDisk Ultra 128GB USB 3.0 (The New Drive)

First up is the drive this review is about. The package says the drive is rated for 130 MB/s read speed, and my test shows it is over that, which is great to see. The write speeds are more modest but still very usable for a drive in this class.

Benchmark results for the SanDisk Ultra 128GB USB 3.0 drive, showing read speeds over 160 MB/s

PNY 64GB USB 3.0

Next up is a PNY 64GB drive. There aren't really any specifications on it, but it is USB 3.0. This drive has a lot of data on it, but I'm still curious to see how it works. It posted very respectable read and write speeds, even outperforming the new SanDisk in some write tests.

Benchmark results for the PNY 64GB USB 3.0 drive.

SanDisk Ultra Fit 64GB USB 3.0

Here's a SanDisk 64GB ultra tiny one. It's basically just the port with a little bit to grip onto. Despite its small size, it performs very well, with strong read speeds and decent write performance.

Benchmark results for the tiny SanDisk Ultra Fit 64GB USB 3.0 drive.

SanDisk Ultra 32GB USB 3.0 (Older Model)

This one is an older SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 32GB drive. It looks the same as the new one, but is clearly an older generation. Its performance is still solid for a USB 3.0 drive, showing that the 'Ultra' line has been consistent.

Benchmark results for the older SanDisk Ultra 32GB USB 3.0 drive.

I honestly don't know how or why I took that screenshot before the test finished, but you get the general idea of what the drive is capable of. It's labeled as the same model as the new drive, but seems a bit slower in read tests.

Western Digital Easystore 32GB

Here's a Western Digital Easystore 32GB, which is quite a bit older. This came with an external hard drive I bought years ago. Its performance reflects its age, with slower read and significantly lower write speeds compared to the SanDisk and PNY drives.

Benchmark results for the Western Digital Easystore 32GB drive.

SanDisk Cruzer Glide 16GB (USB 2.0)

Now we move to older technology. This is a SanDisk Cruzer Glide 16GB. This is a lot older and has a red port, but it is a USB 2.0 drive. The speed difference is immediately obvious. Both read and write speeds are a fraction of what the USB 3.0 drives can achieve.

Benchmark results for the SanDisk Cruzer Glide 16GB, a much slower USB 2.0 drive.

Lexar 32GB (USB 2.0)

Then the last one, the oldest one that I'm going to try, is a 32GB Lexar. This is a USB 2.0 drive, so this should clearly be much slower. As expected, its performance is at the bottom of the pack, demonstrating how far storage technology has come in this one type of data drive.

Benchmark results for the oldest drive tested, a Lexar 32GB USB 2.0 model, showing the slowest speeds.

Are Flash Drives Still Useful?

Flash drives are still relevant and super functional. You can store games on them, store operating systems on them, music, pictures, games (LAN parties with DRM free GoG games anyone!?), whatever you want to do. You can even probably connect them to TVs if you want to display media.

Obviously, using the internet and transferring stuff through the cloud is an option, but I think local storage is very helpful a lot of the time. Having a physical drive gives you a quick and easy way to move files between devices without needing an internet connection, and for the price, a 128GB drive like this SanDisk Ultra offers a good amount of portable storage. 

I wouldn't consider flash drives long term storage because they are not the most reliable option due to potential data degradation over time, especially if not powered on regularly. So at least keep that in mind. 

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this video. For a closer look at the testing process, check out the full video on my channel.

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