SanDisk Professional G-Drive: An In-Depth Review of a Reliable Storage Solution for Creatives.

When searching for a high-quality storage solution, you'll encounter numerous options and suggestions. Some recommend investing in a NAS, while others propose using multiple smaller capacity hard drives. However, if you're a content creator or frequently handle large amounts of data, opting for a reliable and robust professional-grade HDD like the SanDisk Professional G-Drive could prove to be a wise decision. In this comprehensive review, we'll delve into the advantages and drawbacks of this drive to determine its value in relation to its Rs 37,999 price tag.

For the purposes of this evaluation, I specifically tested the 12TB variant of the G-Drive. However, it's worth noting that this drive is also available in other capacities, including 4TB, 6TB, 18TB, and 22TB. The 6TB drive is priced at Rs 23,999, while the 18TB and 22TB options are priced at Rs 51,999 and Rs 64,999 respectively.

It's crucial to emphasize that my assessment of the G-Drive focuses on its suitability for storing finished projects as a content creator. For day-to-day footage storage and other requirements, alternative storage solutions such as setting up a NAS should be considered. By considering these factors, we can provide an unbiased analysis of the SanDisk Professional G-Drive.

A Closer Look at the Design and Use Case of the Durable HDD Tailored for Creatives.

Let's start with the design. The SanDisk G-Drive boasts a sturdy and sleek aesthetic, evoking a futuristic vibe akin to a prop from a Star Trek film. Its metal build enhances its durability, giving the impression that it can endure substantial impacts.

Furthermore, the metal construction of the SanDisk G-Drive serves the purpose of heat dissipation, which is essential for handling the intensive data read and write operations involved. Throughout my testing, the drive consistently maintained cool temperatures and sustained reliable read and write speeds on Windows PCs (although it comes preformatted with APFS for Mac users, Windows users will need to reformat it to NTFS or exFAT).

It's worth noting that the drive itself is quite large and requires external power through a separate power supply unit. As a result, using it as a portable device can present challenges. However, its design is primarily intended for stationary use, such as being part of a dedicated desk setup, where it can serve as a centralized storage location for all your files that don't fit on your desktop. Employing it in this manner will yield the most effective results, as alternative usage scenarios may prove cumbersome.

Impressive Performance: High Speeds for an HDD.

Now, let's address a common question: Can the G-Drive match the speed of an SSD? While it is a hard drive designed for long-term data storage, it doesn't mean it's slow. In our tests using the Crystal Disk Mark benchmark, the G-Drive, operating at 7200 RPM, achieved a write speed of 226 MB per second and a read speed of 218 MB per second.

Although these speeds may slightly fall short of the manufacturer's claims, they are still impressive. The actual performance can also vary depending on your interface. It's important to note that the drive utilizes USB 3.2 Gen 2, which further enhances its speed capabilities.

One aspect that truly stands out is the G-Drive's consistent performance. I have vivid memories of transferring over 110 GB of data from my SD Card, and not once did the writing speed drop—a common issue I've encountered with cheaper external HDDs, including my 1 TB WD Passport drive. The G-Drive's reliability in this regard simplifies your workflow and ensures that you can rely on it for seamless data transfers without any slowdowns or interruptions.

Areas for Improvement: Minor Issues That Require Attention.

Firstly, the G-Drive arrives pre-formatted with the APFS file system for Macs, necessitating reformatting to NTFS or exFAT for Windows PC usage. This could pose an inconvenience, particularly for less tech-savvy individuals who are unfamiliar with the formatting process.

Secondly, despite its enterprise-grade status, the package only includes a USB-C to USB-C cable, lacking a USB-C to USB-A cable. This omission may prove frustrating for users who do not have access to USB-C ports on their systems.

Final Thoughts: A Dependable and Efficient Storage Solution.

The SanDisk Professional G-Drive is a reliable and well-built drive with impressive read/write speeds for an HDD. It offers a balance between entry-level SSDs and HDDs in terms of speed. If you’re seeking a high-capacity storage solution, it might be worth investing in. However, I recommend considering only the storage capacities of 12TB and above, as anything below that, given the price, would result in overpaying for the provided features and specifications.