The SANDISK Optimus GX C50 is an officially licensed storage expansion card for the Xbox Series X|S that increases the console’s storage by 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB. It will be available in late August 2026, supports Quick Resume and the Xbox Velocity Architecture, and games run directly from the card. New Game Pass customers receive a one-month trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
The card is the latest addition to the SANDISK Optimus product line, which the manufacturer announced at CES 2026 and which has now arrived at select retailers. This adds another option for the Xbox’s expansion slot, alongside cards from Seagate and the older WD_BLACK C50.
Key Details at a Glance
- The SANDISK Optimus GX C50 will be released in late August 2026 in 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB capacities.
- Officially licensed for Xbox Series X|S, with Quick Resume and Xbox Velocity Architecture.
- Connects via the Xbox expansion slot, internally via PCIe 4.0 x2, with a 5-year warranty.
- Includes a one-month trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for new customers.
- Optimus replaces the WD_BLACK and WD Blue brands. Eight models are now available in stores.
- The name change comes at a premium: In the U.S., Best Buy lists the 1-TB card for $265.99.
Xbox Series X Storage Expansion: What’s Inside the Optimus GX C50
Technically, the card is no surprise—it’s simply the successor to the WD_BLACK C50 under a new brand name. It fits into the console’s dedicated expansion slot, uses an NVMe core internally, and, according to SanDisk, delivers the same performance as the Xbox’s internal SSD. Unlike with an external USB SSD, you don’t have to copy current-generation games back to the console first; instead, you can launch them directly from the expansion drive.
| Feature | SANDISK Optimus GX C50 |
|---|---|
| Capacities | 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB |
| Compatibility | Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S |
| Connection | Xbox expansion slot (internal PCIe 4.0 x2 according to the retailer) |
| Features | Xbox Velocity Architecture, Quick Resume |
| Dimensions / Weight | approx. 55 × 32 × 8 mm / 25 g |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Included | One-month trial each of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Discord Nitro |
| Availability | End of August 2026 |
According to the manufacturer, the 2 TB card can hold about 50 additional games. With titles like Call of Duty or Flight Simulator, the numbers are naturally different, but the need is real: Microsoft has just discontinued the 2-TB version of the Series X, and the remaining consoles have become up to 200 euros more expensive as part of the Xbox price increase that took effect on August 1. Anyone looking to upgrade their storage will have little choice but to get a card.
Prices: Switching brands will be expensive
SanDisk hasn’t yet announced an official price in euros. The U.S. retail market offers a point of reference: Best Buy lists the 1-TB card for $265.99. In contrast, the technically equivalent WD_BLACK C50 is available on German price comparison sites starting at around 95 euros (512 GB), 130 euros (1 TB), and 240 euros (2 TB).
This pattern is familiar from the rest of the product lineup. When the Optimus SSDs went on sale in February, Amazon was charging 347 euros for the 1 TB GX PRO 8100, while its identical predecessor, the WD_BLACK SN8100, was available for 197 euros. With the PS5 variant, the GX PRO 850P, the price gap widened even further in June: 778.99 euros for 2 TB compared to 319.99 euros for the WD_BLACK SN850P. As long as the older models are still on the market, there’s little reason to pay extra for the new name. Our review of the Kioxia Exceria Pro G2 —which delivers the same level of performance as the top-of-the-line Optimus model—shows just how fast the current PCIe 5.0 generation actually is.
You can find current deals on Amazon.
The SANDISK Optimus Portfolio at a Glance
With the C50, Optimus now covers handhelds, consoles, and desktop PCs. The names are new, but the technology in each comes from the well-known WD model.
| Model | Application | Predecessor |
|---|---|---|
| Optimus GX PRO 8100 | PCIe 5.0, high-end PCs, AI workloads | WD_BLACK SN8100 |
| Optimus GX PRO 850X | PCIe 4.0, up to 8 TB | WD_BLACK SN850X |
| Optimus GX PRO 850P | PS5, licensed | WD_BLACK SN850P |
| Optimus GX 7100 | PCIe 4.0, Laptops | WD_BLACK SN7100 |
| Optimus GX 7100M | M.2 2230, Steam Deck, MSI Claw, Surface | New to the portfolio |
| Optimus GX 7100X | ROG Xbox Ally (X) and PC | New to the lineup |
| Optimus GX C50 | Xbox Series X|S, up to 2 TB | WD_BLACK C50 |
| Optimus 5110 | Entry-level, content creation | WD Blue Series (SN5100) |
Conclusion: Good card, questionable price
The SanDisk Optimus GX C50 is the obvious choice if you want to expand the storage of your Xbox Series X|S without any tinkering. Officially licensed, Quick Resume, a five-year warranty, and a one-month trial of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to top it off: from a technical standpoint, there’s nothing to criticize. The catch is the price. As long as the identical WD_BLACK C50 is sitting on the shelf at significantly lower prices, the premium for the new logo is hard to justify. Once the euro prices are set, it’ll be doubly worth comparing it to the previous model.
Sources
- SanDisk: Optimus GX C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S
- SanDisk Press Release, August 2026
