The SanDisk 256GB Ultra Flair USB 3.0 Flash Drive – Metal High-Speed USB Stick – Silver/Black — up to 150MB/s read speed, durable metal casing, USB 3.0 (USB 3.2 Gen 1) USB-A connector, SanDisk SecureAccess 128-bit AES password protection. Compatible with Windows and macOS. Silver and Black. 5-year warranty.
- ✓ Up to 150MB/s read — up to 15× faster than standard USB 2.0 drives
- ✓ Durable metal casing — sleek silver and black, resistant to everyday knocks
- ✓ SanDisk SecureAccess — 128-bit AES password protection for private files
- ✓ USB-A · backward compatible with USB 2.0 · Windows and macOS · 5-year warranty
The SanDisk Ultra Flair 256GB USB 3.0 flash drive is SanDisk’s high-speed metal-bodied USB-A flash drive — designed for users who need a fast, durable, pocket-sized storage device for file transfers between computers, carrying large files, and backing up documents. The 150MB/s read speed is the defining performance specification: at this speed, a 10GB folder transfers in under 70 seconds, compared to the 5–10 minutes the same transfer takes on a standard USB 2.0 drive. The metal casing is the key durability differentiator over SanDisk’s plastic-bodied Ultra range — the aluminium and stainless steel construction is more resistant to cracking and flexing from being carried in pockets, bags and keyrings than a plastic body. SanDisk SecureAccess software creates a password-protected vault on the drive using 128-bit AES encryption, allowing private files to be stored securely alongside accessible files on the same drive. The drive is USB 3.0 (officially USB 3.2 Gen 1) and backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports — it connects to any USB-A port on any Windows, macOS or Linux machine, at USB 3.0 speeds where the port supports it and at USB 2.0 speeds on older hardware. 5-year SanDisk limited warranty.
150MB/s Read · USB 3.0
Why Read Speed Matters on a USB Drive
The 150MB/s read speed specification determines how fast files can be read from the drive — opening files directly from the drive, copying files from the drive to a computer, or loading an operating system or application stored on the drive. At 150MB/s, a 4GB video file copies from the drive to a laptop in approximately 27 seconds; the same file at 10MB/s USB 2.0 speed would take just under 7 minutes. The practical impact is most noticeable when copying large numbers of files or large individual files — for small documents and occasional casual use, the speed difference between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 is less meaningful. USB 3.0 and USB 3.2 Gen 1 are the same standard — the same 5Gbps maximum bandwidth, the same physical connector. USB 3.0 was rebranded USB 3.2 Gen 1 in 2019. The Ultra Flair is backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports and will connect to any USB-A port on any device manufactured in the last 20 years, operating at the port’s supported speed. Write speed on the Ultra Flair is lower than read speed — typical real-world write speeds are in the range of 40–60MB/s for large sequential files at 256GB capacity, still substantially faster than USB 2.0 drives.
Metal Casing · Build Quality
Why the Ultra Flair Costs More Than the Ultra
SanDisk’s USB drive range includes the plastic-bodied Ultra (CZ48 and CZ48) and the metal-bodied Ultra Flair (CZ73). The performance specifications are similar — both offer up to 150MB/s read. The Ultra Flair’s premium is the casing material. USB flash drives are subjected to significant mechanical stress in everyday use — they are removed and inserted repeatedly, carried loose in pockets where they flex and knock against keys and coins, and occasionally dropped. Plastic casings crack and break under repeated flex stress; the USB connector can become loose from the body after extended use. The Ultra Flair’s metal casing distributes impact and flex loads across the full housing, resisting the cracking and deformation that affects plastic-bodied drives. The sliding metal cap protects the USB connector when not in use, replacing the separate cap that is commonly lost on conventional flash drives — the cap is integrated into the drive’s slide mechanism and cannot be misplaced. The silver and black finish is visually distinctive from generic plastic drives and reflects SanDisk’s positioning of the Ultra Flair as the premium option in their flash drive range.
SecureAccess · 128-bit AES
Password Protection for Private Files
SanDisk SecureAccess is a software application that installs from the drive and creates an encrypted folder — a vault — on the Ultra Flair. Files placed inside the vault are encrypted using 128-bit AES encryption and are only accessible by entering the correct password. Files stored outside the vault are not encrypted and remain accessible without a password. This two-tier structure allows the drive to carry both accessible files (documents, photos, presentations that anyone can open) and private files (sensitive documents, credentials, confidential work files) on the same drive, with the private files secured behind a password. 128-bit AES is the encryption standard used by financial institutions and government agencies — it is computationally infeasible to brute-force decrypt, meaning the vault’s security is limited only by the strength of the password chosen. SecureAccess software is available for Windows 7, 8, 10, 11 and macOS 10.9 and later — a software download is required for Mac use. The vault password cannot be recovered if forgotten — files in the vault become permanently inaccessible without the correct password, so keeping a secure record of the password is important.
Right choice if you…
✔ Transfer large files regularly and want USB 3.0 speed — 150MB/s read makes a practical difference for files above 1GB
✔ Want a durable drive for daily carry — metal casing handles pocket and bag use better than plastic-bodied alternatives
✔ Need a slide-cover connector — no separate cap to lose, connector protected when closed
✔ Need optional password protection for sensitive files — SecureAccess vault available on the same drive
Consider something else if…
✖ You need USB-C connectivity — the Ultra Flair is USB-A only; a USB-A to USB-C adapter is required for USB-C-only laptops and tablets
✖ You need very high write speeds for large ongoing backups — consider SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.2 for 420MB/s write
✖ You need waterproof protection — the Ultra Flair is not rated for water submersion; the SanDisk Extreme Go has waterproofing
Technical Specifications
| Brand | SanDisk (Western Digital) |
| Model | Ultra Flair USB 3.0 Flash Drive |
| MPN | SDCZ73-256G-G46 |
| EAN / GTIN | 0619659154189 |
| Capacity | 256GB |
| Read Speed | Up to 150MB/s |
| Write Speed | Lower than read speed |
| Interface | USB 3.0 (USB 3.2 Gen 1) · USB-A · backward compatible USB 2.0 |
| Casing | Metal — Silver / Black |
| Connector Protection | Integrated slide cover |
| Password Protection | SanDisk SecureAccess · 128-bit AES encryption (software download required for Mac) |
| OS Compatibility | Windows 7+ · macOS 10.9+ · Linux |
| Colour | Silver / Black |
| Warranty | 5-year SanDisk limited warranty |
In the Box
SanDisk Ultra Flair 256GB USB 3.0 flash drive — Silver/Black (SDCZ73-256G-G46)
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this work with a USB-C laptop?
The Ultra Flair uses a USB-A connector. Most USB-C laptops (MacBook, Dell XPS, Surface) have at least one USB-A port alongside USB-C. If your laptop has USB-C only, a USB-A to USB-C adapter connects the drive without any performance loss — the drive operates at full USB 3.0 speeds through the adapter. A USB hub with USB-A ports is the alternative for permanent desk use.
What is the actual write speed?
SanDisk specifies read speed (150MB/s) but not write speed for the Ultra Flair — write speed is lower than read. Real-world benchmarks for the 256GB Ultra Flair show sequential write speeds typically in the 40–60MB/s range for large files. This is substantially faster than USB 2.0 (8–10MB/s write) but lower than the read speed. For copying files onto the drive, allow more time than copying files off it.
Does SanDisk SecureAccess work on Mac?
Yes — SecureAccess supports macOS 10.9 and later, but a software download is required for Mac. On Windows, SecureAccess launches directly from the drive. Visit SanDisk’s SecureAccess support page to download the Mac version. Once installed, the vault works identically on both platforms — files encrypted on Windows are accessible on Mac with the same password.
Is the Ultra Flair waterproof?
No — the Ultra Flair is not rated for water exposure. The metal casing provides impact and flex resistance, but the drive is not sealed against water ingress. Accidental brief splashes may not cause damage, but submersion or prolonged moisture exposure is not recommended. For waterproof flash drive options, the SanDisk Extreme Go has a water-resistant design.
Condition
Brand New — Retail Packaging
Warranty
5 Years · SanDisk Limited
Delivery
4–5 Working Days · Fully Tracked
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