SanDisk today announced that its iXpand Flash Drive is now available in a larger 256GB storage capacity for $279.99, expanding upon existing 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB capacities available for between $49.99 and $129.99.

sandisk ixpand connect wireless
The iXpand Flash Drive connects to the Lightning port on an iPhone or iPad to provide the device with up to 256GB of additional storage space through the SanDisk iXpand Drive app. It has a USB-A port with USB 3.0 speeds for quickly transferring files to and from another iOS device, Mac, or PC.

MacRumors reviewed the second-generation iXpand Flash Drive last year and noted that it was a worthwhile purchase for those who need expanded storage, although the new 256GB size is on the expensive side.

SanDisk also introduced its Connect Wireless Stick in a larger 256GB storage capacity for $279.99. The wireless flash drive enables wireless storage and transfer of files from one iPhone or iPad to another iOS device, Mac, or PC over a password-protected Wi-Fi network. It has a USB 2.0 port.

Both external storage solutions are available now at Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo Video, and select other retailers in the United States and elsewhere.

Top Rated Comments

IvanX Avatar
111 months ago
256GB and USB 2.0 should never co-exist in the same product, unless it has USB 3.0 and 2.0 for backward compatibility. Who thought that adding wireless at the expense of USB speed was a good idea to do?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnysods Avatar
111 months ago
Just in time for apple to remove lightning as it's port.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jimthing Avatar
111 months ago
If the purpose is storing music and videos that you can watch, then USB 2.0 is plenty fast enough. Very few movies take even 2 MB/s. And if I fill a 256 GB drive with movies from my Mac, I'm not going to wait for it to finish even with USB 3.0. I'll start the copy and do other things. Eventually it's done.
Yes, but with UHD 4K becoming a thing even on smaller devices, that's likely to change in the near-ish future.

I don't think the bottleneck is the flash memory. I've seen USB 2.0 push at most 50MiB/s (bytes, not bits). For whatever reason, it's always slower than that on flash drives. I've seen USB 3.0 flash drives push 80MiB/s, and they have much faster read/writes when plugged into USB 3.0 slots instead of 2.0.
[doublepost=1488277760][/doublepost]
Watch them replace it, but not with USB-C.
Yeah, didn't we here recently something about an "Ultra Accessory Connector" (UAC)...??
https://arstechnica.co.uk/apple/2017/02/apple-uac-port

"smaller than Lightning or USB-C, that could be used to charge devices or transfer data."
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Val-kyrie Avatar
111 months ago
Why is this not USB-C instead?

A lot of good type-A connectors are on current Macs....
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Avieshek Avatar
111 months ago
USB 2.0 ...Shows where the vision of this company is.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
weckart Avatar
111 months ago
256GB and USB 2.0 should never co-exist in the same product, unless it has USB 3.0 and 2.0 for backward compatibility. Who thought that adding wireless at the expense of USB speed was a good idea to do?

I have three of the Connect sticks up to 64GB capacity. They max out at 10MB/s write speed via USB. Yup, you read right. Adding USB 3.0 would be the proverbial 'putting lipstick on a pig' since the NAND chips used are so low budget and slow. The wireless bit works well, if slowly, otherwise. Fine for uploading small images but not much fun for large sized files. I honestly do not see the value in high storage capacities until Sandisk beefs up the wireless and I/O speeds considerably.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Just Weeks Away: Eight Reasons to Upgrade

Wednesday August 20, 2025 6:44 am PDT by
We're only weeks away from Apple's annual iPhone event – rumored to take place on September 9 – and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023. By the time the Ultra 3 is unveiled, it will have been two years since the previous model arrived. The intervening period has left plenty of room for enhancements,...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Next Month With These 12 New Features

Wednesday August 20, 2025 1:23 pm PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max should be unveiled in a few more weeks, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

iPhone Driver's Licenses in Apple Wallet Now Available in 10 U.S. States

Wednesday August 20, 2025 12:00 pm PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. This week, Apple announced the 10th U.S. state that has implemented the feature: Montana. Below, we have recapped key details about...
airpods pro 2 green

Apple Releases New Beta Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday August 19, 2025 11:25 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with updated beta firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4, allowing them to test the new AirPods features in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware is only available to developers at the current time, and a device running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, or macOS 26 is required to install the update. The firmware has a build number of 8A5343a, up from 8A5324b. ...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

When Is iPhone 17 Coming Out?

Wednesday August 20, 2025 5:00 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 series is expected to debut in September 2025. This release follows Apple's recent trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. To unveil the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple is expected to hold its annual iPhone announcement event during the week of September 8, 2025, with September 9 or 10 emerging as the most likely...
TechWoven

Apple Rumored to Launch 'TechWoven' Cases for iPhone 17 With 'Crossbody Strap' Option

Wednesday August 20, 2025 8:21 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a new "TechWoven" line of cases for the iPhone 17 series, according to a leaker known as "Majin Bu." Two years ago, Apple stopped selling leather iPhone cases, as part of the company's efforts to reduce its carbon emissions. As an alternative, Apple introduced a new "FineWoven" line of fabric iPhone cases made from 68% post-consumer recycled content, but they were ...
Generic iOS 18

iOS 18.6.2 Update Coming Soon for iPhones

Tuesday August 19, 2025 9:29 am PDT by
Apple's software engineers are testing iOS 18.6.2, according to the MacRumors visitor logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions. Yesterday, an anonymous source with a proven track record said iOS 18.6.2 was incoming, but the update was not present in our logs at that time. Last year, the same anonymous source claimed that iOS 17.5.2 was in the pipeline, but Apple ...