Smartphone storage anxiety is real (at least for me!). No matter how much internal storage your phone has, it always feels less -- especially if you shoot a lot of photos, videos or 4K content. I face
this problem regularly. As someone who shoots videos on the phone and keeps multiple apps and files installed, storage fills up faster than expected.That’s where Sandisk, I feel, is trying to step in with its new Creator Phone SSD hard drive. The idea is simple -- shoot more, worry less about storage. And after using this SSD with my iPhone 17 Pro for a while, here is what I have to say about this hard drive.The company says Creator Phone SSD is designed mainly for photographers, filmmakers, vloggers and content creators. Pricing in India starts at Rs 10,999 for the 1TB variant, while the 2TB model is priced higher. The SSD is available to buy on Amazon and Flipkart. SanDisk is also offering one month of Adobe Creative Cloud access, which is a useful bonus for those who edit photos or videos.After using this SSD with my iPhone 17 Pro to record videos, manage data storage, I honestly feel that this product is not just for creators. If you are someone who constantly gets the Storage Almost Full warning on your phone, this is meant for you too.Sandisk Creator Phone SSD Review: Design And BuildOne of the first things you notice about the Sandisk Creator Phone SSD is how small and slim it is. This doesn’t feel like a traditional external SSD at all. It is compact, lightweight and clearly designed to live alongside your phone rather than inside a backpack.The highlight here is MagSafe compatibility. The SSD easily attaches to the back of MagSafe-supported iPhones. The magnet is strong enough for everyday use and during my testing, it did not come off even while walking or recording handheld videos.
However, MagSafe is only used to hold the SSD in place. Data transfer still happens through a cable not wirelessly.SanDisk includes a USB-C cable and the SSD uses a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port. This means it can deliver fast data speeds when connected properly. The cable length is decent and works well for shooting videos while the SSD is attached to the phone.
Oppo Enco Buds 3 Pro Plus Review: Great TWS You Can Buy Under Rs 2,500Build quality is another strong point. The SSD comes with a silicone cover that feels strong and easy to hold. It has an IP65 rating, so it can handle dust and small water splashes. The company also says it can survive drops of up to three metres, which makes it good for travel and outdoor use.
In daily use, this tough design gives a lot of confidence. I used it during short outdoor shoots and while travelling and I was never worried about small drops or dust. It is not one of those devices that needs extra care.In terms of compatibility, the Creator Phone SSD works best with newer iPhones that support external storage recording, especially for Apple ProRes videos. It also works with laptops, Macs, Windows PCs and some Android phones through USB-C. Once you finish shooting, you can simply connect it to your laptop and start editing right away.
Sandisk Creator Phone SSD Review: PerformancePerformance is where the SanDisk Creator Phone SSD really shines. SanDisk claims read speeds of up to 1000MB/s,and while real-world speeds depend on your device, cable, and file type, the SSD feels fast in everyday usage.The biggest benefit for iPhone users is direct ProRes recording. On supported iPhone models, you can record 4K 60fps ProRes videos directly on this SSD. This is very useful because ProRes videos are very large and can fill your phone’s storage very quickly.
I used it with the iPhone 17 Pro and 4K video recording was smooth and stable. There were no frame drops, no recording breaks, and no heating issues. This is important because many external storage devices struggle with heavy video recording but this SSD handled it without any trouble.Transferring files from the SSD to my M4 MacBook Air was also simple. Large video files transferred quickly, saving a lot of time compared to cloud uploads or slow wireless transfers.
Sandisk Creator Phone SSD Verdict: Who Should Buy This SSD?After using it for a over a month, i feel this is a practical and useful product for smartphone users. If you regularly shoot videos on your phone, especially in 4K or ProRes, this SSD makes things much easier. I didn’t have to delete apps, photos or old videos to free up space. I could simply record directly on the SSD, transfer the files later and continue shooting without stress.
For travel vloggers and people who create content on the go, the small size, MagSafe attachment, strong build and fast speeds really help. Even if you’re not a full-time creator, but someone who often runs out of phone storage, this SSD still makes a lot of sense.Yes, it is not cheap. Rs 10,999 for the 1TB version may feel expensive at first. But after using it, I feel the price is justified because of the fast performance and reliability. The free Adobe Creative Cloud trial is a nice extra.Overall, the SanDisk Creator Phone SSD does exactly what it promises. It is not flashy or complicated, it simply solves a real problem -- phone storage issues and it does that very well.