The SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0 and Cruzer Facet USB 2.0 flash drives have very little in common, except for one distinct, valuable feature preinstalled on both devices - SanDisk Secure Access.
This software creates a password-protected folder on the drives so the user can share selected files without exposing more sensitive content. The folder is admin free; you simply need to drag and drop your files into a private folder or "vault" on your USB flash drive. I found this feature to be a big plus, as ever-increasing security threats mean people constantly have to worry about important documents being stolen.
Another added bonus of this software is access to 2GB of secure cloud storage from online storage and backup solution YuuWaa, adding an extra layer of security for your data. YuuWaa syncs your USB drive with a secure online server, ensuring your most important files are always reliably backed up.
This is as far as the similarities go. The two drives not only differ in appearance and size, but there are also stark differences in terms of performance.
Look and feel
The Extreme USB 3.0 has a sleek, black design. It comes with a slider that snaps the USB connection in and out, which is a positive in my book, as it ensures the device is protected and you don't have to worry about losing the USB cap.
The Cruzer Facet USB 2.0 is considerably smaller, with emphasis placed on its slightly more fashionable appearance. It carries an eye-catching, textured design with stainless steel casing. Its aesthetic prowess means it fits nicely onto a key ring, without adding any extra weight.
Performance
The Extreme USB 3.0 wins hands down in this category, which is probably a determining factor for most consumers. It's consistently faster in transferring files of different media formats (video, MP3, word files and photos) on both a Mac and PC. With speeds of up to 190Mbps, the Extreme outdoes the Cruzer's 8Mbps reading speed and 4Mbps writing speed.
During a test, a 4GB video file took just under two minutes to transfer onto the Extreme USB 3.0 using a MacBook Pro, and 11 minutes to transfer onto the Cruzer. That's a huge difference when you are in situation where time is of the essence and have to transfer multiple files simultaneously.
One drawback about the Extreme USB 3.0 is that, at 56.8 x 21.3 x 10.8mm, it obstructs adjacent ports on a computer, a problem you will not have with the Cruzer, which is less invasive at 45 x 12 x 4.5mm.
Conclusion
With that said, I prefer the SanDisk Extreme 3.0 (available up to 64GB) for its quick functionality and available storage capacities. The Cruzer (available up to 32GB) looks good and is tailored more for design- and aesthetics-inclined users, but it falls short on performance.
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