PhotoFast i-FlashDrive MAX 32GB USB iOS Flash Drive Review

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Since the beginning of April and our review of the SanDisk iXpand, iOS storage solutions have been streaming into the lab steadily, and it doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

The latest iOS flash drive in our hands is the i-FlashDrive MAX from PhotoFast. This solution, like many others, is a dual headed solution with USB 3.0 capabilities on one end while the opposite houses an Apple Lightning connector. Marketing performance is said to be upwards of 80MB/s read via USB 3.0 and 30 MB/s read on the Lightning connection. Compatible devices start with the iPhone 5 and range to the 6 Plus along with the latest iPad solutions including the Air, Air 2, and mini. Operating system support includes iOS 7+, OS X and Windows 7+.

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Packaging for the i-FlashDrive is some of the most secure we have seen with it housed in a hard plastic case with the drive centered.

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Above, we see the drive itself, with the end facing housing the USB 3.0 connection and the other the Lightning connector.

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Like all iOS storage solutions, the app controls operation of the drive. As you can see above, this app is the same one Strontium used with their iOS solution. On the main page, we have media support with music, photo, and video. At the top of the app, you can switch between in-app storage and external storage while capacity is listed below each.

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The second page of the app includes options for setting up Dropbox and Google Drive along with social media backup options.

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Diving into the settings menu options for Touch ID, App Lock and Drive Security are available while further down you can choose to watch a video tutorial.

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For those that want this option, you can "secure" your drive with your personal information, should the unit be lost.

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To test the i-FlashDrive, we used our desktop test system, and as you can see above, we were able to exceed marketing by a good 15 MB/s in read. Write results came in at 20 MB/s.

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Price/performance of the i-FlashDrive didn't fair the greatest. Seen above, the drive ended up at 85% just below the Nitro iDrive and just above the iXpand from SanDisk.

The PhotoFast i-FlashDrive MAX, like other iOS storage solutions, enables consumers to transfer data from their Apple mobile device to any PC or Mac with a USB connection. In this case, the PhotoFast does this quite well. It is one of the quicker solutions we have tested on the iOS side of things while at the same time carrying a good deal of build quality. For some, the glossy exterior could be a turnoff, but otherwise the plastics are of higher quality and fit together quite well.

The performance of the drive as I mentioned above makes the i-FlashDrive MAX on of the quicker solutions we have seen with read operations at 95 MB/s. Price/performance does set it towards the lower-end of our chart. Capacity options range from the 32GB solution we tested here today all the way up to 128GB for those that have intense amount of media they want to take with them.

The app for the i-FlashDrive MAX is the same used with the Strontium solution and as such carries the same features including a built-in media player and automatic backup options for social media, Google Drive, and Dropbox. In addition, there is an iOS backup that keeps media on your phone secure. There is one downfall of the i-FlashDrive ONE app, and that is any media imported to the app via "in-app storage" is not accessible outside the app. That means all pictures, video, and audio can only be used with the built-in media player.

As of this writing, the MSRP for the PhotoFast i-FlashDrive MAX in the 32GB capacity is listed at $99.99 with a one-year warranty.

Tyler's Test System Specifications

• Motherboard: ASUS Z97-A - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• CPU: Intel Core i7 4770K - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
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• Memory: Patriot Viper 3 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3 1600 - Buy from Amazon
• Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Storage: Intel 730 480GB - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Case: Corsair Obsidian 750D - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower 750W - Buy from Amazon / Read our review
• OS: Microsoft Windows 10 - Buy from Amazon