Which flash drive is better to buy from? A “different” look at choosing a new flash drive

With the advent of computers, a qualitatively new type of information appeared. Today there are many removable storage media. At first everything was stored on punched cards, later on floppy disks, then on laser disks and flash drives. The latter are at the steep peak of their popularity. This is due to the fact that they can be stored in pockets and are convenient to carry with you.

In order to help you make your choice, we have collected the best flash drives of 2018 in our rating.

TOP 10 best flash drives

Transcend JetFlash 700

Pros:

High data exchange speed: recording and transferring information
High performance flash drive
Compact in size and fits into your pocket
Supports integration with the latest connector formats
Good combination of price and quality
Attractive and, at the same time, laconic design

Minuses:

Very fragile body

Transcend JetFlash 780

It was nicknamed “Flash drive for spies” in the Russian community. And why all? Because, according to the manufacturer, fingerprints do not remain on the case. Unfortunately, the actual reality differs from what was stated: the case is easily soiled and scratched. Although, to be fair, the “fingers” really don’t remain on it.

Otherwise, this line has no downsides: a wide range of sizes from 1 to 64 GB and an equally wide range of prices allow you to choose absolutely any drive, depending on your needs and wallet. And in truth, the cost of these flash drives compared to similar models of the same degree of reliability and the same capacity is really low. And it’s a shame to complain about speed and performance.

Pros:

Wide selection of flash drives according to the amount of memory offered
Quite high performance
A good combination of price and quality of the device
High speed of information processing
The case is made so that it does not leave fingerprints on it
Very durable housing

Minuses:

Very easily soiled body
Sometimes the speed of opening a flash drive may freeze

Kingston DataTraveler 100 G3

Kingston has been making flash drives with a retractable mechanism for a while now. And one cannot help but admit that this model is one of the best. Its only disadvantage is the gap between the cap and the mechanism, which over time leads to contamination of the device. If you close your eyes to this, the model has no disadvantages, it is absolutely perfect. Suitable for all types of files, durable, non-marking and beautiful. Can be used as a keychain or as a static drive in a car radio or music center. And its main advantage is the price. DataTraveller 100 G3 is one of the cheapest in this line. So it won’t be difficult to choose just such a flash drive for yourself - unless everything is sold out first...

Pros:

Retractable flash drive housing
Adapted for long-term use
The case is perfectly protected from dripping on the case
Small and compact model
Quite a cheap model
Capable of storing files of any format and size
Manufacturer used high quality plastic in production

Minuses:

Dust and other harmful particles may get under the cap.

Transcend JetFlash 350

For purists and lovers of the classics, what more can be said. A dark, unadorned body, large volume, high-speed interface, simplicity and robust design distinguish this model.

You won’t even see a classic LED indicating the operation of a flash drive here. Elegant as a cigar, this flash drive is suitable for almost anyone, but in particular the manufacturer promotes it as a stylish product for businesswomen and businesswomen. And it must be noted that he is right.

A range of capacities from 8 to 64 GB will suit everyone's taste. But Windows does not immediately recognize this drive. It’s difficult to say what this is connected with, but be prepared to wait, especially if the drive is more than one year old or if it is actively carried in a pocket or purse.

Pros:

The flash drive case is striking in its minimalism
Can be used as a keychain
Great solution for women
Fits easily in your pocket
Attractive appearance
Will serve as a good assistant for those whose work involves compiling files and transferring them from one platform to another
Writes files to its memory quickly enough

Minuses:

Slightly long time for opening the contents of a flash drive through Explorer

Kingston DataTraveler G4

And in this series, the manufacturer decided not to worry about the issue of losing a flash drive. The mounting ring is built directly into the drive body and is a striking design element. One might say, one of the most recognizable features of the Data Traveler G4 series. The color of the ring differs depending on the volume of the flash drive: there are 4 options in total to suit every taste and request. This version of a flash drive is suitable for those for whom carrying data with them is a constant necessity, and carrying a scattering of flash drives in their pockets is inconvenient and unpleasant.

One of the disadvantages is the fragility of the port. You should take out the flash drive very carefully and the main thing is not to lose the cap. Otherwise, the file transfer speed is noticeably reduced, and soon stops altogether.

Pros:

On this flash drive you can store anything - from pictures and text files to complex software designed for installing operating systems
The flash drive works equally well with both old and new format connectors.
High speed of processing data stored on the media
Convenient mounting ring that allows you to hang a flash drive on a keychain or bag
Opens quickly when connected to the connector

Minuses:

Sometimes the computer or mobile platform may not immediately open the flash drive, especially when the adapter is a little loose

Transcend JetFlash 790

A nice and very convenient series of flash drives with retractable adapters. According to the manufacturer, this should protect the adapter from physical damage, but in reality, alas, this only makes the connection between the media and the port less stable. The retractable mechanism sometimes jams, and the soft plastic button is quite fragile. But if you handle it with care, it will still last a long time. And the elegant “business” design will make such a flash drive a good gift and a bright acquisition for work or business.

As for volumes, there is a choice from 4 to 32 GB - for every taste, as they say. One can even assume that 64GB will soon hit the markets, since most of the other lines have already been brought to this value.

Pros:

This flash drive is easily readable by both old and new generation USB connectors.
The adapter extends with the press of a button, so no cap is required
Compact little thing
Can be a good accessory for anyone if hung on a keychain
There are no fingerprints on the case

Minuses:

Quite fragile design
Sometimes the adapter may get stuck when pulled out.

Sandisk Extreme USB 3.0

Sandisk often surprises users with unusual designs. You could say. They have become pros in this area. This time it's a foldable flash drive. After all, who among us hasn’t been annoyed when we accidentally twisted an adapter or lost a cap? There is no such problem here: the adapter hides right in the case and “moves out” with a light press of a button. He hides back in exactly the same way. And, unlike the previous model, the design here is very durable and there is no need to worry about the fragility of the moving part.

Bonuses also include a very nice design and a pleasant tactile surface. The plastic of the case is velvety, not slippery, not parky, and the loop for the keychain will help you not to lose the carrier when carrying it with you.

Pros:

The flash drive is quite pleasant to the touch
Adapter extends with the press of a button
A flash drive is capable of recording and processing a large amount of information
Attractive appearance
Large storage capacity
Convenient to carry

Minuses:

Quite large and bulky model
Sometimes the contents of the flash drive take a long time to load
Quite a high price of the device

Transcend JetFlash 500

The JetFlash line from Transcend has already become a classic of the genre. Flash drives of this series have been among the market leaders for several years now - even since the times when the storage capacity did not exceed 512 MB. Remember these times? Now everything has changed: the same media can easily fit tens of times more information, and the reliability and speed of transmission are only increasing from year to year.

JetFlash 500, a new model in this series, once again proves that the classics never get old. USB of any type and any generation is easy to read, processed by the system without delay and, if necessary, encrypted with a password: what else can you expect from the media?

Pros:

Attractive price for most buyers
High hull strength
The manufacturer used high-quality and high-tech materials
A flash drive can hold a large number of files.
Wide amount of internal memory
The media can be successfully read by connectors of old and new generations
Opens fairly quickly
The carrier quickly and efficiently processes incoming information

Minuses:

No deficiencies were identified during testing

Kingston DataTraveler Micro

Metal flash drives have become a part of our lives. And it’s true: they are an order of magnitude stronger than plastic, feel nice in the hand, and have less risk of being damaged by radiation from a mobile phone or magnetic key. Well, Kingston is a recognized manufacturer in the information media market. Kingston + metal case = almost perfect flash drive!

Why almost? Well, because despite all its advantages, it still occasionally slows down, and the greater the volume, the greater the delay. And the aluminum body, shiny and bright at the start, soon becomes scratched and loses its attractiveness. Unfortunately, its polish is fragile. Otherwise, the flash drive, like many other “dwarfs”, is very pleasant and worth the money.

Pros:

Large amount of internal storage space
Tens of gigabytes of information can be stored
Convenient and compact model
Easy to read on all media

Minuses:

Marky building
Sometimes opens with a delay

Sandisk Cruzer Fit

Wow, this really is Thumbelina. How does it feel to fit a library on a device slightly larger than a fingernail? No, really, a flash drive in which the drive is smaller than the port is truly an achievement.

True, we had to sacrifice speeds: do they correspond to the heyday of USB 2.0? but not in the 3.0 era. But there are no complaints about the memory capacity: the flash drive comes in versions from 16 to 64 GB.

The next feature is also related to the size: it is highly recommended to hang a keychain or ribbon on it: otherwise, there is a considerable chance that it will simply be sown one fine day. Yes, and grabbing it with your fingers to remove it from the port is also quite a task. Although if you buy it as an additional drive that constantly sticks out in the port of the system unit, car radio or music center, then SanDisk is what you need: and the design will not suffer: you simply won’t notice it if you don’t know where to look.

Pros:

The device is capable of providing reliable protection of personal files
Large amount of internal memory
You can create backup copies in the cloud on a flash drive
Many security utilities available
Opens when inserted into any slot

Minuses:

Quite slow speed of writing and reading files

Conclusion

We looked at popular flash drive models. These removable storage media have become reliable companions in our lives, so their choice is greater than ever. For the most part, there is no significant difference other than the amount of memory. We hope the list helped you make your choice.

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How to find a good model and not regret the purchase.

Why buy USB flash drives now?

We are almost convinced that external storage media are a thing of the past. The Internet changes everything, doesn't it? However, the speed and stability of the network connection do not yet make it possible to completely abandon physical drives. Laptops still use their own memory rather than storing everything in the cloud, as was predicted a few years ago. Accordingly, the demand for portable media is still good.
When is it logical to use USB flash drives:

1. Transfer data between computers

Internet and wireless technologies are not yet available everywhere. Employees of a small company with an office on the outskirts, computer users in the provincial outback, employees of government agencies. All of them are potential owners of USB flash drives.

2. Installing/reinstalling the OS

More advanced users use drives to reinstall operating systems on computers. Now it is difficult to find those who install the system from a disk, just as it is difficult to find computers with the appropriate drive. Have you ever seen USB flash drives that don't require any effort?

3. Data backup

Not everyone wants or can use it for convenient backup. It is much cheaper to buy a flash drive of a suitable size and save backups on it.

4. Expanding the memory of devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets)

No one is disputing the capabilities yet, but memory expansion on the iPhone and iPad has caused a lot of controversy and discussion. The fact remains that by using a removable drive you can save on the amount of memory on your device.

5. Use with TVs, projectors, media players

The household appliances market lags behind the computer market. The use of wireless technologies in TVs and media players has not yet become widespread, and it is almost impossible to find such equipment without a USB connector. Don't forget about the price of the issue. For the difference in the cost of a TV with and without Wi-Fi, you can buy a couple of good flash drives.

6. External storage (paired with a compatible router)

Many routers are equipped with USB ports and have the ability to turn a connected drive into a network drive. This way you can create a common data storage for all family members or employees in the office.

7. Secure data storage

Not all users can risk storing their data online or leaving it on their work computer. A flash drive in this case is the only convenient solution for transferring everything you need. For those who are worried about theft or loss, manufacturers have released a number of models with security mechanisms.

What types of USB flash drives are there?

We decided on the need to purchase the device. It is unlikely that there will be many readers who will not be suitable for at least one of the listed scenarios for using a removable drive. Let's figure out what types of flash drives exist and how they differ. The USB standard has existed for more than 20 years, during which time it has gone through several stages of evolution, the most recent of which is happening today. Along with the standard, connected devices and flash drives changed.

USB 1.0– data transfer speed from 1.5 Mbit/s. up to 12 Mbit/s;
USB 1.1– has minor improvements compared to the previous standard and similar speed indicators;
USB 2.0– data transmission at speeds from 25 to 480 Mbit/s;
USB 3.0– information transmission speed up to 5 Gbit/s;
USB 3.1/– transmission speed can reach 10 Gbit/s.

It is not possible to visually distinguish the first three types of connectors. They have the same shape and structure. Manufacturers of cheap peripherals from China and sellers of equipment in the metro still use this. It's very easy to buy a flash drive with a 20-year-old port. USB 3.0 has one significant difference from its predecessors. The inside of the port is blue (a number of manufacturers use red, but such devices are extremely rare). Five additional contacts on the inner row provide higher data transfer speeds. Otherwise, the new connector is similar to the previous ones.
To achieve the declared data transfer speed, the flash drive and the port in the computer/tablet must be of the same standard. When connecting a version 3.0 drive to a 2.0 port, you can get a maximum speed of up to 480 Mbit/s (2.0 standard limit). All listed standards from 1.0 to 3.0 are compatible with each other. However, when connecting, the restrictions of the younger one will apply. This applies to both data transfer speed and power consumption. A new large-capacity flash drive with the 3.0 standard may not work with an old TV whose port has USB 1.1. But this happens very rarely. The USB 3.1 or Type-C version stands apart in the USB series. As you remember, the 12-inch, introduced in 2015, has exactly this port. It is strange that the standard did not receive a new leading digit in its name, since it is not compatible with all previous ones. More precisely, it is possible only if there is a special one.
Just six months ago, all analysts said that Apple was in a hurry with the release of equipment equipped with USB Type-C. However, at the last exhibition CES 2016 We saw a large number of new ones with such a connector. That is, the port not only has a future, it is an inevitable future. There are other types of drives that are equipped with a non-USB connector. We will be interested in those that. Most manufacturers equip such flash drives with two connection options at once, but there are also narrowly focused solutions.

How to choose a USB flash drive

# Connection standard. What USB do you have?

Before choosing, you should decide on all usage scenarios. It's a good idea to decide whether you're willing to shell out more money for a promising solution or whether you want to save money and replace the drive later. Naturally, take a standard drive 1.x there's no point. USB 2.0 has also lost its relevance, and the opportunity to get 1.x instead of 2.0 makes all devices unattractive for purchase. Today you only have to choose between USB 3.0 and USB Type-C. Even if your computer does not have a single blue-labeled port (USB 3.0), it is still worth paying attention to more promising drives.
Choosing between 3.0 and Type-C easy to do. If you have at least one device with a new connector, or plan to purchase one, feel free to choose the USB 3.1 (Type-C) standard. With a high degree of probability, you will update your arsenal of gadgets in the near future and will pay attention specifically to the presence of a new connector, and the speed of operation, even if only on one device, will please you every day. If compatibility with other gadgets is important, you can consider these options:

It’s still difficult to find these, but by mid-2016 they will be sold in all electronics stores. For those who do not yet plan to update their device fleet, A regular 3.0 flash drive will suffice. The difference in price will be in your favor, you can use the media without adapters and the difference in data transfer speed is not that big. In the few years before you decide to purchase devices with USB Type-C, a flash drive will serve you well.

# Appearance. Big, small, fashionable

You should immediately give up flash drives in the form of minions, heroes from the Star Wars universe, food and other original products. Most often, such drives use outdated modules with low data transfer rates. The appearance of the device will delight you for the first week, but the copying speed will frustrate you for several years of use.

Of course, there are original USB flash drives with an interesting design and good “filling,” but they are extremely rare and are more expensive than analogues with a simple design. If a flash drive is purchased for a girl, sister or mother, you don’t have to dissuade them from using funny and amusing drives. It is their nerves that will be spent on long waits during copying, which will pay off with the original design of the device.

Sooner or later, any technical thing becomes something familiar, and as a result, when buying it, most people think more about appearance and capacity than about characteristics. Actually, this happened a long time ago with USB flash drives - many of my friends, who are ready to discuss the speed characteristics of some SSD to the point of a fight, when asked: “which flash drive is better to buy,” they wave their hand and buy a pretty one from a well-known company (most often Kingston or Silicon Power). Because “...what is there to choose? A flash drive is a flash drive."

Meanwhile, the choice is simple. The read and write speed of individual USB sticks can exceed the industry average by 4 times. At the same time, you can buy a fast flash drive quite inexpensively.

So, how will we choose? First, go to the website Usb.userbenchmark.com, where users from all over the world upload test results for their USB drives. We choose a volume of 32 gigabytes (as medium-comfortable and as the one most often present on the domestic market among the models under consideration). We sort the results obtained by reading speed and are surprised to find in first place the not very well-known Lexar JumpDrive P10 USB 3.0

Read speed – 250 Mb/s, write speed – 215 Mb/s. For comparison, its 64Gb counterpart (the leader in writing speed among flash drives of different sizes) can write data at a speed of 235 Mb/s and read at 231 Mb/s

Lexar JumpDrive P10 is the fastest USB 3.0 flash drive

But is this flash drive the best choice? For comparison, we will do three things:

Since tests are tests, and daily use is a little different, we will use the concept of “effective speed”, which, as userbenchmark.com writes, means the following: most USB sticks are used for backing up and storing photos, videos and audio. Accordingly, the effective speed is weighted as 50% linear read, 40% linear write, 5% read and 5% write of random 4Kb areas.
Let's filter 32 flash drives using this parameter. Let's choose the top ten, discarding brands that are rare for Russia.
To be completely sure, let’s enter its average price next to each flash drive according to Yandex.Market.

The table below shows the results of this work ( prices updated as of mid-March 2017):

No.	Name	Effective speed, %	Read, MB/s	Recording, MB/s	Average price Y.market (RUB)
1	Lexar JumpDrive P10 USB 3.0 32GB	90,9	250	215	out of stock
2	SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0 32GB	88,6	202	117	1990
3	Corsair Flash Voyager GT USB 3.0 32GB	51,7	227	65,7	1500
4	Verbatim Store n Go V3 Max USB 3.0 32GB	49,7	175	80	890
5	Kingston DataTraveler R3.0 USB 3.0 32GB	42,1	183	37,5	1463
6	SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.0 32GB	40	138	55,9	826
7	Adata Nobility N005 Pro USB 3.0 32GB	39,2	180	48	out of stock
8	Kingston DataTraveler R3.0 G2 USB 3.0 32GB	38,8	150	41,9	1363
9	Adata Dashdrive UV128	36,1	125	55,2	760
10	Adata DashDrive UV150 USB 3.0 32GB	34,1	127	48,1	813

*At the time of publication, I found only one offer for the Lexar JumpDrive P10 with an inadequate price of 7,500 rubles. On Amazon, such a flash drive costs about $60, so I took it upon myself to set the price at about 4,000 thousand.

Update March 17, 2017: I have been updating this page regularly for two years now. During this time, I never met the recognized speed leader in Russia, the Lexar JumpDrive P10. They just don't sell it. But SanDisk Extreme is sold everywhere and its price does not change much.

As for inexpensive flash drives, they regularly disappear from sale and are replaced by new models. It is interesting that once fast flash drives, such as the SanDisk Ultra Fit, begin to show lower speeds with a large number of measurements. This means that over time, manufacturers begin to use cheaper components, which affects the speed of work.

Now let’s make a small visualization showing the price/speed ratio. To do this, we multiply the values of the write and read speeds, and use the effective speed as a correction factor:

The upper right point (block 1) is our leader with a sky-high price. Then, the next block is SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0 32GB. As you can see, SanDisk is the only successful purchase in this segment. This is our golden mean.

SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0 32GB - the best USB 3.0 flash drive in terms of price and speed

The rest of the flash drives, in fact, are in the third block, and here the most successful purchase would be the Verbatim Store n Go V3 Max USB 3.0 32GB. It is inexpensive, but has maximum operating speed compared to its competitors.

Our previous favorite SanDisk Ultra Fit, unfortunately, has slipped lower. This means that the latest batches use cheaper chips, which do not allow them to work as quickly as happened before. This may be due to numerous complaints about overheating and the manufacturer’s desire to solve this problem by slightly reducing the recording speed. However, this does not prevent it from remaining the cheapest and most common offer from our TOP-10 flash drives.

To be fair, it should be noted that the editorial copy of Ultra Fit “died” after about a year of active use. Fortunately, SanDisk has a pretty good warranty, and they replaced the flash drive with the same copy for free (all I had to do was send the dead flash drive to the manufacturer’s address and receive a new one in the mail). Let's see how long this one lasts.

conclusions

If you need the fastest USB 3.0 flash drive with a capacity of 32 gigabytes at an adequate price, then the best choice would be the SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0 32GB, but if you just need to buy a 32 gigabyte flash drive, and preferably the fastest cheap one, then the best option would be the Verbatim Store n Go V3 Max USB 3.0 32GB.

Updated: 07/13/2018 16:43:24

Flash drives, or USB drives, are convenient storage media that allow you to transfer files from one computer to another in the easiest way. However, when choosing such an accessory, it is advisable to take into account many parameters that will determine ease of use. To make your search for a suitable drive easier, we have compiled a rating of the best flash drives.

What you should know when choosing a flash drive

Choosing a flash drive is not as simple as it seems. Of course, if you plan to use the drive mainly for transferring documents, you can take the first one you come across (or the most beautiful one). But if it will store large files or multimedia with a high bitrate - movies in Full HD resolution, for example - then you should approach the choice responsibly.

Flash drive connectors (USB Type-C, USB Type-A, Micro USB)

The flash drive connector determines the hardware compatibility of this drive with the computer. The most popular standard is USB Type-A. This is a classic 4-pin rectangular connector that is used in almost all computers.

In 2018, flash drives with a USB Type-C connector are becoming increasingly popular. This is an oval, symmetrical connector. Flagship smartphones, ultrabooks and hybrid laptops are equipped with this connector. For example, the MacBook Pro 2017 uses only USB Type-C, so you cannot install a “regular” flash drive in it.

Micro USB is a gradually becoming obsolete standard. It is used in smartphones and ultra-low-cost hybrid laptops. If you plan to work on the go and open files from a flash drive on a mobile device, you should purchase a drive with two connectors: USB Type-A and Micro USB.

Adapters between connectors exist, as well as flash drives equipped with two connectors at once.

USB generation (1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.1)

The maximum data transfer speed to and from a flash drive is determined not only by the performance of the built-in drive itself, but also by the generation of USB used. So, the limit values are as follows:

USB 1.1 – up to 12 Mbit/s;

USB 2.0 – up to 480 Mbit/s;

USB 3.0 – up to 5 Gbps;

USB 3.2 – up to 20 Gbps.

It is self-evident that if you plan to copy a large amount of information to or from a flash drive (several GB at a time), then it is better not to skimp and take a USB 3.0 or 3.1 drive. For documents, small files, etc. Less recent generations will also fit.

By the way, USB 3.2 is only supported on USB Type-C.

Actual data volume

The actual capacity of a flash drive is always less than that indicated on the packaging. This is not only a marketing technique, but also a technological feature. Flash drive manufacturers believe that 1000 bytes is 1 kilobyte. The operating system is sure of something else - 1 kilobyte is equal to 1024 bytes.

As a result, the actual amount of data is always less than the nominal amount. And if you plan to store 30 GB of information on a flash drive, then a 32 GB drive will no longer be suitable - you need to take a 64 GB one.

The actual capacities of flash drives are listed below:

A 1 GB drive is actually 0.95 GB;

For 4 GB – 3.72 GB;

For 16 GB – 14.9 GB;

For 32 GB – 29.8 GB;

For 64 GB – 59.6 GB.

Actual data transfer rate

Two factors affect the actual data transfer speed:

The first is drive performance. This parameter varies between models (and often copies of the same series) of flash drives, and it can only be calculated experimentally.

The second is the minimum generation of USB. If you insert a “fast” 3.0 flash drive into a slow 1.1 port, the maximum transfer speed will be limited by the speed of port 1.1. Conversely, if you insert a slow 1.1 flash drive into a 3.0 port, the transfer speed will be limited by the speed of the 1.1 drive.

This is important to consider when purchasing a flash drive. If you plan to use the drive to record movies on it from a computer and then play it on a TV, and both devices are equipped with USB 2.0, you should not purchase a 3.0 drive - it’s a pointless overpayment.

Housing material

This parameter is worth considering if you are purchasing a high-speed USB 3.0 flash drive or if you plan to use the future drive very actively (for example, for ReadyBoost technology). When writing quickly, the flash drive becomes noticeably hot. And this heat needs to be removed somehow.

The best option is to buy a flash drive in a metal case. It acts as a radiator, cooling the drive and extending the life of the device.

For slow or rarely used flash drives, this parameter is not particularly important; any material or design of the case will do.

Rating of the best usb flash drives

Nomination	place	Name of product	price
The fastest flash drives	1		5,040 ₽
	2		12,665 RUR
The best flash drives for 16 and 32 GB	1		1 200 ₽
	2		429 RUR
	3		RUB 2,439
The best Flash drives with a capacity of 64 and 128 GB	1		4,230 ₽
	2		5,299 RUR
The best high-capacity flash drives	1		51,900 ₽
	2		16,890 RUR
The best Flash drives with two connection options	1		-

The fastest flash drives

Why first place: Read speed – 420 MB/s, write speed – 380 MB/s.

Description: The rating is topped by the really fast SanDisk Extreme Pro flash drive. Thanks to hardware optimization and support for the USB 3.1 standard, it provides sequential write speeds of 380 megabytes per second. Reading is even higher - 420 megabytes per second. Therefore, it is suitable for transmitting 4K video, and even for launching and actively working with databases. This speed is ensured thanks to pSSD technology, that is, the device is not a flash drive in the classical sense of the term, but rather a compact SSD drive.

The flash drive is made in a metal case with a laconic design. Two versions are available - 128 and 256 GB. The package includes special software that allows you to encrypt data on a flash drive and protect it with a password.

Despite the metal casing, the flash drive is not protected from aggressive external environments. It is better not to wet it or drop it in the dust.

Advantages

High speed;

High-quality materials and reliable design;

LED operation indicator.

Flaws

Limited functionality of the controller (no display of rewrite cycles, for example);

Noticeable heating during use;

Megabyte sector layout out of the box, formatting will be required to optimize space.

Why second place: Write speed – 300 MB/s, read speed – 400 MB/s.

Description: Second place in the ranking goes to the special corporate flash drive Kingston IronKey S1000 Enterprise. It is distinguished not only by its high speed of operation, but also by its wide functionality. The flash drive is built on a USB 3.0 interface and therefore provides sequential writing at 300 megabytes per second, and sequential reading at 400 megabytes per second. It is presented in only one version – with a capacity of 64 GB.

The flash drive is housed in a metal, waterproof case. Supports hardware encryption and password protection of data using bundled software.

The kit also includes Iron Key software, which creates an online interface for remote access to data on a flash drive. Therefore, you can centrally administer multiple drives, which will be greatly appreciated by corporate users.

Advantages

Protected housing;

Useful software included.

Flaws

Heats up noticeably during operation;

Iron Key only works if the flash drive is inserted into the computer and the client is installed on it;

The connection connector is protected by a removable cap, which tends to get lost.

The best flash drives for 16 and 32 GB

Why first place: Best combination of price and quality: USB 3.0, metal case, hardware encryption.

Description: High-speed flash drive, which is based on USB 3.0 technology. Thanks to this, writing is carried out at 20 megabytes per second, and reading at 135. The capacity of the flash drive, as the name of the model implies, is 16 gigabytes. The data transfer speed is sufficient, for example, for streaming video in Full HD 30 fps.

The flash drive is housed in a metal casing. There is no layer to protect it from moisture and dust, so it is better not to drown it or drop it in the mud. However, the flash drive has hardware data encryption and protection against unauthorized access using a password and bundled software. That's why she tops our rating.

Advantages

Full hardware data encryption and password protection;

Reliable metal case;

Minimum heating level.

Flaws

The decryption software only works on Windows and Mac OS; it will not be possible to remove protection on other operating systems;

Incorrect translation of the bundled decryption software;

The connector is closed with a removable cap, which tends to get lost.

Why second place: Slightly lower speed than the previous flash drive, but also the lowest price.

Description: Transcend JetFlash 790 is a good solution for those who need “just a flash drive.” At a low price of several hundred rubles, it supports the USB 3.0 standard, which provides a write speed of about 12 megabytes per second, and a read speed of about 90 megabytes.

The flash drive is housed in a plastic case with a retractable connector. There are no seals to protect against moisture or dust. The case has a built-in data transfer indicator - an LED flashing when copying or pasting.

The flash drive comes in various versions depending on the memory capacity - from 16 GB (minimum) to 128 GB. The technical characteristics of all configurations are the same. The Transcend JetFlash 790 is a good all-round device, which is why we included it in the rating.

Advantages

Convenient configuration with retractable connector;

Minimum heating.

Flaws

Flimsy mechanism for extending the connector and locking it (which is typical for all Transcend JetFlash models);

Wide body, may take up too much space when used on laptops;

The LED indicator may seem too bright.

Why third place: Fast and secure, but relatively expensive flash drive.

Description: The last place in the rating is one of the most secure flash drives on the market – Corsair Flash Survivor. It is housed in a waterproof case (withstands immersion to a depth of 200 meters) made of high-strength duralumin with rubber shock-absorbing gaskets and a hermetically screwed cap. Therefore, it can be dropped, drowned, driven over by car - nothing will happen to the data. The manufacturer is so confident in the security of the flash drive that it gives it a five-year warranty.

The flash drive supports the USB 3.0 standard, thanks to which the data writing speed is about 40 megabytes per second, and the reading speed is 80 megabytes.

The model also features a rich set of equipment. It comes with a chain and a token, which will appeal to “preppers” and will make this drive a good gift.

Advantages

Maximum housing protection;

Optimal read and write speed;

Quality of materials.

Flaws

Bulky, large-sized body;

Tight screw cap;

The flash drive module itself inside the case is not firmly fixed; it is better not to bend it near the connector.

The best Flash drives with a capacity of 64 and 128 GB

Why first place: High data transfer speed, hardware encryption.

Description: 64 GB flash drive configuration, which took first place in the ranking of drives with a capacity of up to 32 GB. Like its “little brother”, this model offers high read and write speeds – up to 40 megabytes per second and up to 135 megabytes per second, respectively; USB 3.0 interface; dense metal case and hardware protection.

Data protection is implemented through hardware encryption - all files on the drive are encrypted, and you can access them only after entering a password. The corresponding software is included with the flash drive and runs on the most popular operating systems: Windows and Mac OS.

The flash drive, of course, does not need to be encrypted in order to provide access to data from various third-party computers.

Advantages

High read and write speed when using the USB 3.0 interface;

Support for hardware encryption;

Durable metal housing.

Flaws

Heats up noticeably during use;

There are no gaskets to protect against water or dust;

The connector is closed with a cap that is easy to lose.

Why second place: Maximum read and write speed, but relatively high price.

Description: HyperX Savage is not exactly a flash drive. The drive uses SSD technology, providing the highest data transfer speed in the rating. So, writing occurs at 250 megabytes per second, reading at 350. Of course, if you use a flash drive with a USB 3.1 interface.

Like other SSD drives in flash drive format, this model is initially divided into megabyte segments. Therefore, if you plan to store small files on it, it is advisable to format it immediately after purchase, setting the standard sector sizes for the required file system.

The body of the flash drive is made of plastic and does not have gaskets to protect it from moisture or dust. In addition, the outer shell is covered with soft-touch material, which is pleasant to the touch.

Advantages

Maximum data transfer rate;

Low heating during operation;

Pleasant to the touch plastic.

Flaws

Relatively slow recording in random access mode;

The soft-touch coating “collects” dust and lint;

Relatively heavy and bulky.

The best high-capacity flash drives

Why first place: Terabyte flash drive.

Description: The Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate GT terabyte drive is based on SSD technology, which allowed the developers to fit 1024 GB of internal memory into a compact case and provide high read and write speeds. In particular, sequential copying of data to it is carried out at 200 megabytes per second, and from it at 300 megabytes. To ensure this speed, the USB 3.1 protocol is used.

The flash drive does not support hardware encryption, as it requires frequent rewriting of segments, which is critical for SSD drives. The device body is made of metal with plastic inserts. The connector is retractable, and the ejection mechanism is implemented very reliably and will not fail even after many years of use.

Why second place: 512 GB - half that of the leader in the rating.

Description: Another SSD drive in flash drive format. All devices manufactured under the HyperX Savage brand have the same technical characteristics. Therefore, like the 128 GB version, the 512 GB model has a sequential write speed of 250 megabytes per second and a read speed of 350 megabytes per second. Random access (for example, when copying small files) is a little slower, but still at the level of USB 3.1 interface speeds.

Similar to the 128 GB version, this flash drive does not support hardware encryption due to SSD technology limitations on the number of sector overwrites and is housed in a plastic case with a soft touch coating. Out of the box, the segment size is 1 MB, so for storing small files it is better to format it with other cluster parameters.

Advantages

Maximum read and write speed;

Pleasant to the touch body;

Low heating during operation.

Flaws

Heavy and bulky;

Needs formatting;

Low speed when writing small files.

The best Flash drives with two connection options

Why first place: Combination of USB 3.0 and Lightning speeds, original design.

Description: The top-ranking ADATA i-Memory UE710 flash drive is a good solution for quickly transferring data from a computer to an Apple smartphone or tablet without the need for copying via Dropbox or iTunes. The Lightning interface is used for these purposes. The flash drive communicates with the computer via USB 3.0, which provides high speed file copying.

To view data on a flash drive from a phone or tablet, you will need to install a special application downloaded from the AppStore. It is compatible with a huge number of file formats, so the drive is suitable for streaming music, watching movies or working with documents on the go.

The flash drive is made in a plastic case with two retractable connectors. There is no hardware encryption or protection from water or dust.

Advantages

High speed of file copying;

Special software included;

Original design and compact dimensions.

Flaws

It is not a full-fledged “flash drive for iPhone”; it is useless without a special application or when opening incompatible file formats;

No hardware encryption;

No protection against water and dust.

Attention! This rating is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.