The 32 GB SanDisk Ultra Backup is a USB key that has a button to automatically launch your backups.  This system is a very simple way of protecting all your photos, videos and other important files. 

Like the rest of the manufacturer's latest keys, this one does away with a cap and replaces it with a slide-out USB connector.  It's available in four different sizes: 8, 16, 32 and 64 GB.

Disappointing write speeds

Sandisk Ultra Backup 32 GB Transcend JetFlash 160 4 GB

We found unusually varying write speeds on the 32 GB Sandisk Ultra Backup.  When copying a few large files, it performed excellently (19 MB/s), but when it came to medium-sized files it fell to 4.1 MB/s and then again to 0.9 MB/s for small files.  Overall, the average write speed struggled to reach 8 MB/s; the best keys manage 12 MB/s.

We initially thought that this was a problem with the model we tested, so we asked for a second key which SanDisk provided ... and it produced exactly the same results.  Nevertheless, the Ultra Backup makes up for this with faster read speeds, with an average of 22.7 MB/s, just behind the excellent 32 GB Maxell SSD.

Software

As with its other keys, SanDisk includes U3 software, which allows you to install your favourite programs on the USB key so you can use them on any computer without having to reinstall them.


The Backup button, the special feature of this key, opens up SanDisk's backup utility that is part of the U3 system and allows you to choose the filetypes and folders you'd like to save.