The smartphone market in India is booming – Counterpoint reports consumers are shifting towards more premium models as consumers look for phones that can game, run AI and capture higher quality images. Affordable financing schemes and trade-in offers are also driving the move to pricier tiers.
The premium smartphone segment (>₹30,000) has reached its highest-ever share by volume at 20%. Looking at the share by value, this segment accounts for 51% – that is to say that more than half the money spend on smartphones in India are spend on a premium device.
5G adoption continues to climb and...
This week Apple launched new iPad Pros and new iPad Airs – yes, plural, the Air now comes in 11” and 13” sizes like the Pro models. Also interesting is that the Air is in a sense an “iPad Pro SE”, i.e. the 2024 models use the Apple M2 chip that the 2022 Pros used, while the 2022 Air had an M1 like the 2021 Pros.
M4 vs. M2 performance (numbers by Apple)
Is this starting to get confusing? Let’s put aside model numbers and look at early performance benchmarks from the new iPad Pros, which use the brand new Apple M4 chip, and compare them to 2022 Pros. The Geekbench database doesn’t have...
Flexiroam is an eSIM provider that offers connectivity across 200+ countries around the world. While its plans are more expensive than most providers, Flexiroam has a few standout features that set it apart, like the ability to ship a physical SIM to your location if your phone isn’t eSIM compatible.
This provider boasts reasonable speeds and decent coverage across most locations, though the lack of carrier information disclosure before you purchase a plan can be a downside for some. It also provides an alternative to WiFi tethering that eats less cell phone battery, by enabling users to share data directly through the app.
Flexiroam: Plans and pricing
Flexiroam offers a variety of eSIM plans catering to different travel needs, with a global plan starting at just $9 for 7 days. Here’s a breakdown of popular options:
Prices are often higher compared to competitors, but the option to choose multiple carrier options per location is a good addition.
Flexiroam: Features
Flexiroam offers a few distinct features to improve the user experience, here are the ones we liked the best during our time with it:
Free eSIM
Flexiroam offers a free eSIM to every new user of the platform, with the added option to get free data plans each time you refer a friend to the company. That way, you can save money on international connectivity if you’re a frequent traveler.
Network Switching
Flexiroam's modern eSIM technology enables users to switch between mobile operators seamlessly via remote service provisioning. You always have uninterrupted access to the internet, even when visiting regions too remote for your primary carrier.
FlexiShare Functionality
FlexiShare is a unique feature offered by Flexiroam that allows users to share their data plans with others through the Flexiroam X app. This is a great alternative to WiFi tethering because it doesn’t eat away at your cell phone battery at the same speed.
Flexiroam: Installation
(Image credit: Flexiroam)
Flexiroam offers a straightforward onboarding process for its eSIM service. The entire process takes just a few minutes to complete.
Once the eSIM plan is purchased, users receive a QR code or eSIM profile via email. They can then install the eSIM by simply scanning the QR code using their device's camera or following the provided instructions to download the eSIM profile.
The first-time setup process is entirely digital, performed through your phone’s settings. There is also an in-app guide to help you along if you feel confused. Flexiroam eSIMs activate automatically upon reaching your travel destination, so there is no unintended data loss.
Flexiroam: Coverage and speed
Flexiroam offers coverage in over 200 countries and regions, partnering with multiple local service providers in each country for the best possible performance.
In terms of data speeds, some users have reported issues with slow connections or throttling, particularly in certain destinations like Japan. Compared to other eSIM providers, Flexiroam's coverage exceeds even Airalo. However, Airalo partners with local telecom providers directly, which can lead to better speeds.
While Flexiroam offers a wide variety of plans with different validity periods, plans can be priced highly in certain countries. Since you can’t see carrier information before purchasing a plan, experience in remote locations can be a hit or a miss.
Flexiroam: Support
(Image credit: Flexiroam)
Flexiroam offers several customer support channels, including email (support@flexiroam.com), social media (Facebook, Instagram), messaging apps (Line, WhatsApp), and in-app support through the Flexiroam X app.
However, the customer support team gets mixed reviews for responsiveness. Many customers have reported challenges with timely assistance and issue resolution, so there’s surely room for improvement.
Unfortunately, there’s no phone support, which further complicates matters for users requiring an immediate solution. However, Flexiroam appears to be actively working on enhancing its customer support. In response to negative reviews, representatives have reached out to customers directly to offer a speedy resolution.
Flexiroam: Final verdict
Flexiroam is a solid choice for an eSIM provider, offering extensive global coverage, a user-friendly app, and a variety of plans to suit different needs. Standout features, like the app-based data-sharing functionality and the multiple carrier choices per location, further polish its offering.
However, customer support is a significant downside of this platform. While the company seems to be working to resolve that, plans still remain expensive compared to other providers.
Flexiroam: FAQs
What does Flexiroam do?
Flexiroam provides eSIM (embedded SIM) solutions that allow users to access mobile data services in over 200 countries without the need for physical SIM cards. It also provides global deployment and connectivity solutions for IoT devices.
How long does it take to activate Flexiroam?
Flexiroam’s activation process is estimated to take around 10 minutes. eSIMs are usable as soon as the activation process is completed. Plans can be purchased up to 3 months in advance.
Where is Flexiroam based?
Flexiroam has offices in several locations, but its headquarters are located in Australia. Its plans are accessible throughout the world, however, with support for multiple global payment methods.
Massage guns are growing in popularity, and Bob & Brad are one of the brands leading that charge. We loved the smaller Q2 Mini last year, awarding it five stars in our review.
Our only complaint is that it needed a bit more power. If you were looking for something that packs more of a literal punch, then the D6 Pro is its bigger brother, and boy does it deliver on this promise, while building on everything that made the Q2 Mini so good.
It’s much less portable than the Q2 Mini, but still comes with a carry case for easy transportation, with a bunch of attachments for various muscle groups. The massage gun is outstanding in every way: it's simple to set up, easy to use, and can really hit the spot, delivering percussive relief from exercise-induced soreness anywhere on the body with its flexible grip and rotation.
There’s a definite learning curve, both with the relatively basic on-device button layout and the pretty thick instruction manual, but I’ve been using it for a few weeks as a post-gym treat and it’s helped me work on an injury, improving ROM and reducing soreness. A terrific device.
(Image credit: Future)
Bob and Brad D6 Pro: Specifications
Bob & Brad D6 Pro: Price and availability
Available now
Priced at $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$380
The D6 Pro arrived back in 2022 and retails for $249.99 or £249.99, which equates to around AU$380 in Australia. It’s available pretty much anywhere in the US and Ul, including Amazon, but Austrailian outlets are scarce.
At some retailers, we’ve seen discounts down to around $180 / £170, so there's scope to score a deal during sales events such as Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday.
This is remarkably cheap for a five-star gun of this caliber. Therabody, the biggest name in percussive message, tends to price higher than Bob & Brad, but both this device and the compact Q2 Mini earned their five stars by offering comparable performance and outstanding value for money.
Value score: 5 / 5
Bob & Brad D6 Pro: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Pretty large for small hands
Minimal buttons
Multiple attachments
The Bob & Brad D6 Pro is portable, in that it comes with a carry case, but it’s still much larger than the Q2 Mini. That does mean it has much more power (more on that shortly), but if you’re using it on yourself, you may struggle. Especially if you have smaller hands: it's clearly built for men, and some women may struggle to hold onto it and hit their shoulders or back.
I’m blessed with pretty large paws and even then it can be a little unwieldy. However, it's a small gripe: the massage gun is remarkably well put together with a matte finish that makes it easier to grip. However, if you are worried about this sort of thing, the Q2 Mini is the perfect solution.
It’s also very easy to switch the attachment heads out. Just pull and they come out, and you can push another right in, sharing the same push-lock mechanism as other Bob & Brad guns. The carry case has enough room for the D6 Pro and all of the heads, so it's easy to transport and sling into the back of a car when needed.
On the upper grip of the gun, there are two buttons and a small display. One button increases the speed and powers it on, while the other can lower the speed and switch to a different mode setting. It’s nice and simple, but when it springs to life it can take a second to get it in position afterward.
I think I’d have liked a dedicated power button to get myself ready before switching it on, but such gripes are small potatoes compared to the efficiency of the gun.
It’s also got a button that allows the neck to be stretched out so it’s more linear, making it ideal for self-massage in harder-to-reach spots.
The D6 Pro charges via USB-C and there’s a cable and power adapter included in the box. Thank god it's USB-C, as close a thing to a universal charger as we have these days. No specailist cable means it's easy to find a way to charge it when you need it.
Design score: 4.5 / 5
Bob & Brad D6 Pro: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Long battery life
Attachments can offer completely different massages
Packs a punch
I’ve had a few sports massages in my life and used massage guns before, but none have hit as hard as the D6 Pro. It offers plenty of force (over double the Q2 Mini’s output) at such a pace that it regularly and reliably hits the spot after a gym session.
While I’ve been using it post-squats to massage my quadriceps and glutes, I was most impressed with it on my upper arms. I’ve been carrying an injury on my left deltoid, and in lieu of booking a massage appointment, I’d just been living with it. It flares up with shoulder press exercises, but for the most part, I’d been trying to ignore it.
(Image credit: Future)
I set the D6 Pro to tackle it and, despite it being in a pretty awkward position to self-massage, was impressed with the results. It’s still an issue, but it gets better after each session with the massage gun. I’m not saying the D6 Pro can cure whatever it is that ails you, but for my specific use case, I found it very useful indeed.
It doesn’t hurt (well it does, but in a good way) that the heads themselves are softer than some alternatives.
I did find the instruction manual pretty dense with detail. That’s no bad thing, and there’s a lot of information in there, but I think I’d have preferred a companion app to triage a muscle issue and recommend the attachment for the job rather than thumbing through each time. Still, it’s a small nitpick.
Airhub is an eSIM provider that offers mobile data plans in over 190 countries and regions worldwide. Founded in 2020, Airhub has served over 500,000 users to date. It offers a diverse selection of local, regional, and global data plans — some with unlimited data.
With an average rating of 4.5 across different app stores, Airhub is one of the few eSIM providers with voice calling and text messaging features across several regions. You get an international number which you can use to keep in touch with people even when you don’t have access to data.
Airhub is reliable and cost-effective, although a few reviews mention minor drawbacks with its first-time activation process and single sign-on functionality. These issues are easy to resolve, however, as the support team is quite responsive.
Airhub: Plans and pricing
Airhub offers competitively priced eSIM plans starting at as low as $3 for a seven-day validity period. Many plans offer international numbers with voice and text facilities along with data. Here are some popular examples:
While some regions like Latin America may have limited coverage, Airhub's plan variety and affordable rates still make them an attractive option for international travelers.
Airhub: Features
Airhub stands out among eSIM providers for its feature-rich offerings, thanks to strategic partnerships with reputed telecom providers like AT&T and O2:
Network Switching
Airhub's innovative network-switching feature ensures you always have the strongest signal available, regardless of your location. This sets it apart from competitors like Airalo, whose plans are tied to a single network per country, often leading to unreliable connections in remote areas.
Voucher Program
If you’re a small retailer or mobile shop, you can take advantage of the Voucher Program to become one of Airhub’s licensed distribution partners. It’s a great way for small businesses to diversify their revenue streams without physically shipping SIM cards to customers.
Plan Variety
Airhub offers up to 15 plan varieties per country, often including local voice minutes, text messaging, and international phone numbers. This flexibility allows users to choose a plan that precisely fits their travel needs and budget, unlike the limiting plans offered by many other competitors.
Airhub: Installation
(Image credit: Airhub)
Getting started is easy. Just visit the Airhub website and purchase an eSIM plan. Buying a plan is as simple as choosing your destination, data package, and validity period.
Once you've completed your purchase, Airhub sends you an activation code with instructions to activate the eSIM on your device. The process rarely takes longer than two minutes. You can choose to activate your eSIM immediately or keep it installed without activating it until your travel dates.
If you have questions about specific plans, the onboarding process, or your device’s compatibility, Airhub’s customer service team is there to answer any questions round the clock.
Airhub: Coverage and speed
Airhub's coverage spans over 190 countries and regions worldwide, offering reliable connectivity to travelers. The company partners with local networks to design cost-effective plans, ensuring better regional coverage and pricing compared to some competitors.
However, Airhub's coverage in Latin America is limited, with fewer plan options and several unsupported countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Colombia.
In terms of data speeds, Airhub generally provides 4G LTE coverage, with some plans offering 5G in select countries like Thailand. While most users report reliable connections and fast speeds, a few reviews mention occasional inconsistencies or throttling issues.
Compared to other eSIM providers, Airhub stands out for its wide variety of plans tailored to specific regions, often including voice minutes and text messaging. While competitors like Airalo boast broader global coverage, Airhub's regional focus allows for more competitive pricing and plan flexibility in the areas it serves.
Airhub: Support
(Image credit: Airhub)
Airhub offers several customer support channels, including live chat and email. However, user reviews mention that response times across these channels can be inconsistent.
Some users report positive experiences, praising the quick turnaround time and helpful support staff. On the other hand, others have expressed frustration about late replies, changing support representatives, and unresolved issues.
There’s also a detailed FAQ for users to look for solutions to common problems. Some of these contain step-by-step instructions to diagnose and resolve even technical errors. But if you need a professional, email and chat are the only options because this provider does not offer phone support.
Airhub: Final verdict
Out of all the eSIM providers we have reviewed, Airhub is the one with the biggest plan variety. They range from region to global, short-term to long-term. It’s also one of the few eSIM companies offering voice minutes and international numbers.
However, Airhub's inconsistent customer support and limited coverage in some regions could be a drawback for some users. Still, we feel that it’s a solid choice whose benefits outweigh the disadvantages in the end.
Airhub: FAQs
How do I activate my eSIM on AirHub?
Airhub has a straightforward onboarding process with clear instructions to guide you through everything. To install and activate the eSIM, follow these steps:
1. Purchase an eSIM data plan from the Airhub website or app. Select your destination, choose a plan, and complete the checkout process. You will receive an email with a QR code and installation instructions.
2. On your phone, go to Settings > Cellular/Mobile Data. Make sure the Airhub eSIM is turned on.
3. Set the Airhub eSIM to be used for Cellular Data and turn on Data Roaming.
4. Scan the QR code provided in the email to install the eSIM profile. Alternatively, you can enter the activation code manually in your phone's cellular settings.
5. Once installed, the eSIM may show "Activating" for some time, especially if you are not yet in the destination country. This is normal and the activation will complete once you are in the coverage area.
6. You can manage your eSIM by logging into the Airhub app. From there you can check data usage, top up, or make changes to your plan.
What is the convenience fee for Airhub?
Airhub charges a convenience fee of 3.5% on the purchase price of each transaction, which is usually a small amount of $1-2 charged by their payment processing partner.
Where is AirHub eSIM based?
Airhub is owned and managed by Gighub Inc., a company headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States. However, Airhub offers eSIM plans for travelers around the globe.
Huawei recently launched the Pura 70 series in China, opening the next chapter of its development after the US sanctions.
Huawei Pura 70 lineup
A new teardown by Reuters, in partnership with iFixit and TechSearch International, shed light on the internals of the Huawei Pura 70 Pro with an extensive teardown of the phone.
According to the report, the new phones contain more locally-sourced components than any of the company's previous phones. However, the Pura 70 series still falls short of current flagship models, particularly in terms of chipset performance.
The Kirin 9010...
Realme announced a pair of new wireless earbuds alongside the new Realme GT Neo6 with the Realme Buds Air6 and Buds Air6 Pro.
Buds Air6 feature 12.4mm drivers, Hi-Res audio streaming with LHDC support and active noise cancelation (ANC). These earbuds are IP55-rated and Realme claims they can last up to 6 hours on a single charge with ANC on while their case extends the total playtime to 40 hours.
Realme Buds Air6
Buds Air 6 Pro take a dual driver approach with 11mm woofers and 6mm tweeters just like their predecessor and support the high-bitrate LDAC codec. These buds also come...
In a world driven by technology, with GenerativeAI and creative work growing in demand daily and the need for powerful servers in tech companies worldwide, Dell continues to stand strong as a pillar in the computing community. High-quality computers to handle the growing computing demands have never been more critical.
The Precision 7875 Tower Workstation is an incredibly versatile machine. Its base price of $3,299 can be scaled up to a fully loaded $38,904.67 beast of a machine. Unlike even the best business computers I have experienced, this workstation can handle anything thrown at it and more.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell Precision 7875: Unboxing & first impressions
While I was initially unboxing this workstation, it was a powerhouse. I immediately noticed the sheer weight of the computer and quickly recognized the understated yet professional design of the case. It's not flashy and loud like what is trendy in the custom PC or gaming PC world, with RGB lights everywhere and gaudy components. This is a professional workstation, and it looks sleek, minimal, and functional.
The second big thing I noticed was dual (NVIDIA® RTX™ 6000 Ada, 48 GB GDDR6, 4 DP) graphics cards. Third, I saw an intense power cable in both cable thickness and plug. Most computers, laptop bricks, and monitors (except Apple) all utilize standard C13 IEC power cables. However, this Precision 7875 Tower Workstation uses a C19 connector and C20 inlet to allow for higher amperage and, therefore, more power to the computer.
After booting up, I was reminded that my Precision 7875 Tower has been equipped with Windows 11 Pro (currently version 23H2) and that it has 128GB of RAM installed to work hand in hand with the AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WX (96-Cores).
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell Precision 7875: Design & build quality
As I briefly mentioned, this workstation is simple yet robust. It's well-built, has excellent ports, and is a professional workhorse just by looking at it. If looking directly at the front of the unit, the left side has a panel that can be removed to expand to utilize the six expansion bays quickly. There are also two SATA/M.2 Flex bays on the front of the tower, a place for a slim optical drive, and a handful of USB-C and USB-A ports that are all USB 3.2, plus an SD-Card slot, power button, hard-drive activity light, and a headphone and microphone combo port.
Specs
As Tested
Processor: AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7995WX (384 MB cache, 96 cores, 192 threads, 2.5GHz to 5.1GHz, 350 W)
On the back, I was thrilled that my unit had some expansion ports filled. With those expanded ports, my Precision 7875 has a power port (C20 Inlet for 1350 W PSU), an audio jack, two RJ45 ethernet ports on the top (1 GB and 10 GB), two more 10GbE NIC ethernet ports built into the Intel X710 network card, three more USB-C 3.2 ports, three more USB-A 3.2 ports, and eight display ports split between two graphics cards.
Though this computer is an absolute beast in components, ability, ports, and power, it is still a standard-size desktop tower. All components are relatively easy to navigate around and expand, which is more than I can say for some competitors.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell Precision 7875: In use
While testing the Dell Precision 7875, I attempted to run every benchmark I could throw at this machine - I wanted to know if it really was one of the best workstations or were appearances deceptive? Ironically, several tests I use to benchmark PCs failed due to too many cores. After fiddling with the number of cores to allow PCMark and others to use, I finally got some testing done.
I noticed right away that even while being tested, it takes quite a bit to get the Precision 7875 to break a sweat. During the entire testing process, I barely even heard the fans kick on. Now, granted, if I were utilizing this in its intended purpose to be my machine to work with GenerativeAI, intense programming, or creative apps for an extended period, I might have gotten this computer to give me more than what felt like a mere sigh, but that's impressive in and of itself.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Navigating around applications, web browsing, working on documents, and other daily admin tasks are an absolute breeze. Even jumping back to other high-powered computers I am testing, they feel slow after working on the Dell Precision 7875. The port offering is incredible, and I appreciate that I can use this computer vertically or horizontally due to the rubber feet that Dell has included all around the case.
Another huge component of this computer's ease of use is that it has just about everything I could need already built in. It has a high-speed Wi-Fi module, an SD Card slot, a large number of USB-C and even USB-A ports, an absurd number of Display Ports, headphone jacks, plenty of Ethernet Ports, and even a disk drive, not to mention how helpful it is to have onboard storage that I would have to work hard to fill.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
This computer is designed for those who need a high-powered, best-of-the-best computer that can handle the most demanding applications and workflows.
Dell Precision 7875: Final verdict
The Dell Precision 7875 is a fantastic option for professionals who need a robust and reliable workstation. Dell engineered it to handle the most demanding programs and workflows, making the expensive investment worth the price for those who require unmatched performance and dependability.
Yes, it is not for everyone; it may not even be for most people. However, if you are a part of the demographic that needs the best regarding your choice in Windows-based workstations, you should check out the Dell Precision 7875 Tower and try kitting it out to fit your needs and wants.
We tested the best business laptops - and these are our top picks for a productivity boost
Realme’s latest GT series phone is here with the GT Neo6 and it offers flagship territory specs at a fraction of the price. It features Qualcomm’s recently announced Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset at the helm which should deliver ample performance just shy of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
GT Neo6 is built around a curved 6.78-inch 8T LTPO AMOLED with FHD+ resolution, a 1-120Hz refresh rate, and up to 6,000 nits peak brightness for HDR content. The panel also features an embedded fingerprint scanner, punch hole cutout for the 32MP front-facing camera, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2...
Capacities available: 4TB, 8TB, 16TB Size: 99.2mm x 99.2mm x 40.2mm Weight: 268g Enclosure material: Plastic Connector: USB-C Technology: SSD Warranty (in years): 3-Year Limited Warranty Rated R/W speeds (MB/s): Up to 1000MB/s / 900MB/s Software bundle: Acronis True Image for Western Digital backup software
The SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB is small and quiet, unlike traditional boxy and large desktop storage drives that are commonplace in workspaces worldwide. It is altogether smaller and more stylish, with an ultrafast internal 8TB SSD and a promise of a 16TB version to be released later this year.
The drive is, in principle, a straightforward desktop drive for use with a single computer with a USB Type-C connection to ensure speed and an external power source provided through a standard AC socket rather than drawing BUS power from the computer's USB ports.
In use, the drive is simple enough. It is plug-and-play for most computing systems and arrives formatted in the ExFat file system. This means that it's easy to swap between Mac and PC systems if required; if not, it can be reformatted into one of the more secure options, such as NTFS or APFS, which will also boost the performance and some computing options for those systems.
This drive will really appeal to laptop users who are often limited on internal space. The Desk Drive not only expands the space for large-scale 3D, image, and video projects but also offers transfer speeds through the USB Type-C connection so that it can be used as a working drive as well as for archiving files.
Like any of the best portable SSDs we've tested, once connected, the drive will appear as any other external drive. It can be used for file backup with Time Machine on the Mac or Acronis True Image on the PC. Alternatively, it can be used as a straight storage drive with an off-site solution. The beauty here is that the transfer rates are at a speed that the drive and capacity are not only sufficient for archiving your files but also as a viable working drive for large file types such as video, image, and 3D.
As large-capacity storage solutions go, the SanDisk Desk Drive perfectly balances speed, capacity, and price, making it ideal for any home or small office as a fast, reliable storage solution.
SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB: Price & availability
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB has a SRP £663.99 / $699.99, and the smaller 4TB version is available for SRP £359.99 / $379.99. Later in the year, a 16TB version will also be available, although the price is still to be confirmed. The drive is widely available and can be purchased directly from Western Digital
Score: 4.5/5
SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB: Design & build
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB is considerably smaller than most desktop hard drives, which makes it easy to place on the desk or neatly under the monitor. The actual design is simple, and with the slightly concaved top rather than flat, it seems perfectly formed for small office items such as paperclips and coins!
The size and shape also make it easy to pick up and move, and at 268g, it has just enough weight to act as a convenient paperweight when not in use. That weight also helps with positioning it around the desk, meaning that while lightweight, it's not lightweight enough to be easily knocked from position.
Connection-wise, the drive features a single USB Type-C connection directly into the machine and an AC power socket that fits directly into a standard AC wall socket in the same way as any traditional desktop drive. These two cables keep things relatively neat at the back with no mess of extra cables. Unlike some larger drives, there are no additional USB ports for linking, pass-through, or hub features; this is simply a direct external drive for use by an individual at their desk.
Once the drive is in position and connected to power and the desktop, it quickly appears on the Mac desktop or can be accessed through Windows, depending on your system of choice. The drive comes preformatted in the ExFat file system for maximum compatibility but can be reformatted quickly to suit your preferred system. If you use both, you can stick with ExFat.
Once done, the drive can be used as with any other desktop drive or linked into a backup solution such as Time Machine on the Mac or with Acronis True Image for Western Digital backup software, which can be downloaded from the Western Digital website.
Score: 4.5/5
SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB offers plenty of storage capacity, with the 8TB version that we're looking at in this review being suitable for most medium-sized usage individuals who might shoot images and video as part of their workload and need the speed to access those files quickly as well as archive them with the ability to gain access to them at speed without the need to dig through a server. The 4TB version, although smaller, is still a substantial capacity and would be better suited to those working with documents and the occasional use of image and video files. The larger 16TB version would be ideal for videographers in small businesses who just need plenty of storage to back up their projects after an edit or need the additional capacity for working projects.
One of the features that really makes the SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB stand out is the fast transfer speeds, with read speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 900 MB/s, making it significantly faster than traditional desktop hard disk drives and many of the other solutions offered by Western Digital at present.
For many users, the SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB will also make a perfect solution for backing up all their work through applications such as Apple Time Machine or the downloadable Acronis True Image for Western Digital software. Both of these applications can be used to back up your desktop machine to the SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB to ensure that you always have two local copies of your files. Of course, it's always good practice, especially in a business environment, to have another backup of your files either to a NAS or off-site cloud solution.
One of the most appealing aspects of the Desk Drive is its small size, which makes it far easier to position than many of the more traditional desktop hard drives. The fact that it also utilizes its own power supply means that its performance is more consistent than that of portable external hard drives.
Out of the box, the SanDisk Desk Drive comes in the exFAT file format, which is compatible with both Windows and macOS systems. It uses a USB Type-C connection for connectivity.
Finally, the drive comes with a three-year limited warranty to ensure that your investment is sound for at least a few years.
When it came to testing the drive, the advertised transfer speeds offered a few more options than more traditional HDD desktop drives. So, alongside the speed tests, the drive was used as a working drive for some of the best video editing software and best photo editors available to see if it could facilitate the delivery of large files and complex computing.
Starting with using the drive on a PC with Adobe Photoshop and copying 1TB of image files from an OWC CFExpress Type-B card, the transfer rate was impressive. Files crossed over through the Atlas CFexpress 4.0 Type B reader in a little under two minutes.
In use, the drive worked perfectly for photography, with the speed of downloading the image files from a CFExpress Type-B card to the storage helping to speed up the workflow. A full selection of files from a day's shoot, some 1200 files, both JPEG and RAW, could be downloaded in a little under two minutes. When opening Adobe Bridge to browse the files, the application and drive worked fast enough for the thumbnails to generate and display in good time; likewise, opening and saving files was seamless without pause or delay.
Switching to the more intensive video workflow and again using 4K video captured on the Canon EOS R5 C, the drive fed the files to Final Cut Pro at a rate that enabled smooth video editing without dropped frames. The machine (MacBook Pro 16-inch M1) started to struggle with projects greater than 10 minutes in length rather than any issue with the speed of the content delivery from the drive.
To back up the real-world tests, where the small drive performed well, the benchmark tests also showed impressive results across the board, with the overall transfer rates exceeding those stated by Western Digital.
When it comes to other features, the SanDisk Desk Drive is somewhat limited - you have access to all the backup features offered by the Acronis True Image software, and this is simple to use. On the drive are installed link files for both Mac and PC, and although these are executable files, they simply take you to the download page on the Western Digital website. Once there, you scroll down to the download link for the Mac or PC version - it's simple enough, but the downloads page is generic for all of their products, so not all software on this page is appropriate for this drive, which is worth noting.
While Acronis is a great piece of software, and the implementation here is excellent, enabling you to set source and destination locations for your files, this software really is about the backup of files rather than management. When it comes to security the software does enable you to do a clean wipe of the drive, however, if you're storing sensitive data on the drive there is no default facility to do this other than using a third party software option. For a drive of this type, some type of integral security would have been nice to see.
Likewise, simplicity makes this drive easy to use. As a desktop drive, it will probably be plugged either directly into a hub or the machine it's being used by. It would have been nice to see an additional USB Type-C port so other accessories or card readers could be daisy-chained into the drive.
However, the pure simplicity of the design and ease of use is what should make this drive so appealing to anyone running a small or home office looking for decent amounts of storage capacity.
Score: 4/5
Should you buy the SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB?
The SanDisk Desk Drive 8TB is best suited for professionals in creative industries who handle large media files regularly and require quick, reliable access. It's also a great choice for those needing a robust backup solution for important data, combining speed with large capacity in a user-friendly format. This drive excels in environments where speed and capacity are critical, making it ideal for photographers, videographers, and digital artists.
