Battle of Dual-USB Drives: Transcend vs Lapcare vs Sandisk review

External storage devices have more or less replaced the aging compact disks (CD) over the past 3 to 4 years and now gradually we have seen a changing trend in how we consume content which is primarily via smart devices like smartphone and tablets. The PC market has been shrinking for quite some time now and keeping the future in mind brands like Transcend, Sandisk and Sony among others have re-invented the concept of USB drive with a dual-purpose device that caters to both laptops as well as smart devices via microUSB port.

How does it work?

Well, for starters there is no rocket-science as to how these can be used. The dual-USB drive comes with a USB 2.0 port on one side and microUSB port on the other. These drives currently are compatible with Android and BlackBerry running devices. The drives are available in 8/16 and 32 GB variants.

How much do they cost?

The drives starting with 8 GB model are priced upwards of Rs 550 and goes as high as Rs 2,600 for some companies.

Transcend JetFlash 380 (32 GB): The JetFlash 380 is the company's first ever multi-purpose USB drive that caters to both: notebooks as well as mobility devices. The drive comes in a sleek petite form built around metallic body. On the one side you have USB 2.0 while on the other you have a microUSB port which gets hidden underneath a port cover. It fits in to the port on either of devices without much of a fuss, however the heating that the drive emits is on the higher side and we are concerned about the device's performance. The drive is available in gold and grey color options.

Lapcare Infinity Duo 8 GB: We have a new entrant to dual-USB market in the form of Lapcare. This may not be a household name in the storage space but with its dual-USB drive the company is looking to shed that tag away and offer quality products at competitive pricing. Talking about the design of a dual-USB drive, it follows the traditional form pattern of a drive which makes it look sturdy and compact, however on the heavier side in comparison to other options available in the market. We like the protective casing on both sides, something others can also offer.

Sandisk Ultra 16 GB: Finally, we have the Sandisk Ultra dual-USB drive which was launched earlier this year as well. Just like other two drives, this one comes with USB 2.0 on side and microUSB on the other for dual-purpose connectivity. The drive carries all Sandisk attributes and comes packed under a solid well-built body. The ports are protected underneath a stylish slide-through casing that switches from one side to another, when not being used. Easy to carry around, the drive works with devices running on Android.