Which flash drives are the fastest? The best flash drives: review of models and companies, characteristics, prices
A computer flash drive is an accessory that should be on hand for everyone who at least sometimes works with a PC. It's not a matter of fashion, but a pressing need to quickly copy files from one computer to another. But other tasks, such as long-term storage of information or backups, which are often assigned to a flash drive, are best entrusted to other storage media. First things first.
What types of flash drives are there? Types of USB drives
The main characteristics of a USB keychain called a “flash drive”:
- capacity;
- type of connection to the computer;
- data writing/reading speed.
How to choose a flash drive by volume (capacity)
The capacity of a flash drive is the simplest parameter to consider when purchasing. Modern models rarely have less than 4 gigabytes of memory. It is probably more practical and not much more expensive to take a model with a larger capacity - 8 or even 16 gigabytes. Flash drives with even larger amounts of memory, starting from 32 gigabytes, are rarely needed in households, and, as a rule, are much more expensive than slightly less capacious drives.
There is hardly any point in buying a more capacious USB drive model than 16-32 gigabytes. If the task is to transfer files (as it should be), then you should think about purchasing an external hard drive. Firstly, it is more reliable. Secondly, copying and writing data to it is many times faster, which can be very critical with such volumes. Waiting 5-10 minutes for information to be copied is a tedious task. Especially when there is a relatively inexpensive alternative (decent models of external hard drives cost from 50..80 dollars, and their capacity starts from 120-240 fast and reliable gigabytes). The hard drive will cope with copying information in a couple of minutes where a flash drive will take 8-10 minutes. But then you will also need to copy the information... Minutes of waiting turn into hours, hours into days.
You should not pay any attention to particularly large flash drives. 128 or 256 gigabytes - yes, such drives are found in nature. However, very often such numbers are just an unpleasant marketing ploy by dishonest lower-echelon manufacturers. The fact is that there is not so much real memory there - 64, 32, or even 16 gigabytes. But the special “firmware” inside the flash drive—a program that allows the computer to work with it—makes the PC “think” that there is actually more memory. Much bigger. In practice, it is rarely necessary to fill such a giant flash drive completely. As a rule, a flash drive of more than a few gigabytes is rarely required. This data is successfully placed on existing capacity. And the user remains unaware that only 10-20% of the total capacity remains free. After all, the computer “draws” completely different data - like the fact that the flash drive is only 5% full, and the rest of the space supposedly remains free.
So, the reasonable capacity of a flash drive in 2014-2015 is from 8 to 32 gigabytes. If you need more, it’s better to pay attention to external hard drives.
How to choose a flash drive: the dilemma between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0
The abbreviation USB is both a connector through which a flash drive is connected to a computer, and it is also a data transfer interface. The connector can be compared to a regular electrical outlet - electrical appliances “plug” into it, nothing complicated. There are “sockets” located on the computer case, and USB flash drives are connected to them like “plugs”.
There are two types of USB connectors – 2.0 and 3.0. Troika is a much faster interface. This is a relatively recent achievement of human computer science. Just a couple of years ago, flash drives and other devices with a USB 3.0 interface were expensive exotica, but today all modern computers are equipped with at least one or two USB 3.0 connectors. Most flash drives released before 2012-2013 were produced with a USB 2.0 interface. Their production still continues, but they are an endangered species. You can compare them with older versions of Windows - once Windows 98 worked on almost all computers, but by 2002-2005 this operating system had died out almost completely. And now a computer with the number 98 and “windows” looks like an unrealistic anachronism. Very soon, the same fate awaits USB 2.0 flash drives.
When choosing a flash drive for your computer, it is better to forget about the existence of drives with a USB 2.0 interface. They are noticeably slower than their newer counterparts at a comparable cost. Moreover, there is no need to think about whether a USB 3.0 flash drive will fit your computers. It will fit exactly and will work even in old USB 2.0 sockets. True, in this case there will be no gain in speed. Such cases will happen less and less often: all modern PCs are equipped with a high-speed USB 3.0 interface, and very soon the old 2.0 connectors will become a rarity. Same as old/slow USB 2.0 flash drives
The fastest flash drives: choosing a drive by copy speed
It would be more correct to call speed not copying, but writing and reading, but these are unnecessary details. The speed of USB drives depends, first of all, on the type of interface: modern USB 3.0 flash drives are noticeably faster than key fobs with a 2.0 connector. True, only when they are connected to the appropriate connector - more about this in the previous section.
Drives within the same generation also differ in speed. The differences here are not many times greater, but, at best, tens of percent. For example, especially high-speed flash drives produced by company “A” are capable of recording a set of files in 100 seconds. Their slower counterparts will complete the same task in 105 or 110 seconds. The difference in speed is not fundamental here, and choosing a flash drive based on speed becomes an unnecessarily difficult task.
In addition, speeds vary greatly depending on the task. Writing or reading from a flash drive 100 files with a small volume of 1-5 megabytes will take much longer than working with one large file of a gigabyte or two.
How to choose a flash drive by manufacturer: brands and brands of USB drives
USB key fobs for storing data are produced by hundreds of companies: from unknown “Chinese” to thoroughbred Verbatim or Kingston. There have been no frankly bad flash drives for a long time. However, in general, the overall level of their reliability and quality is decreasing from year to year. Once upon a time, flash drives were expensive and not so common items. Huge amounts of money were invested in their production, and USB drives were of better quality than they are now. Over time, manufacturers were forced to look for ways to reduce production costs. After all, if you use the same high-quality and expensive materials, you won’t be able to withstand the competition: less scrupulous brands will be able to crush a high-quality product with a low cost.
Therefore, in the era of mass production of flash drives, almost all of them are quite unreliable. But the cost of USB drives is such that purchasing a new one to replace the old one will not be difficult or a significant financial investment. You can compare the availability of flash drives with inexpensive wall clocks or ballpoint pens. If such an item breaks, it’s easier to buy a new one. True, there is a threat of losing a much more valuable thing - data. You should always have a backup copy of all files stored on the flash drive.
So what about flash drive manufacturers? Leaders and outsiders practically do not exist here. Write and read speeds rarely differ by more than ten percent, and even then: in some tasks one flash drive will be faster, in others - a completely different one. Reliability is relatively low among all flash drive manufacturers. Therefore, choosing a flash drive based on manufacturer is not entirely justified.
Tales and myths about computer flash drives
The first myth about flash drives: the larger the volume, the better. Once upon a time this was indeed the case. In that era (7-8 years ago), when these data transfer devices were expensive, and a gigabyte seemed like a serious amount, this volume was often not enough for everyday tasks. Now, with the “growth” of a typical flash memory drive to 4-16 gigabytes, this space is rarely needed. As a rule, only 2-3 gigabytes are filled, and the rest of the capacity is idle.
The second myth about flash drives for computers: There is no need to buy USB 3.0 drives for the following reasons:
- USB 3.0 flash drives do not work in older computers;
- USB 3.0 devices are significantly more expensive than older ones;
- The speed gain for USB 3.0 flash drives will not be noticeable.
The first “reason” does not stand up to criticism. A 2.0 flash drive will also work in the new 3.0 connectors. 3.0 flash drives will also work if you connect them to the old USB 3.0 interface.
The second part of the myth about flash drives, concerning their high cost, is already outdated. If at the beginning of the life cycle of USB 3.0 flash drives they were both rare and expensive devices, then, starting around 2012, the price difference between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 is minimal, if not completely absent.
There is also a legend that no one needs USB 3.0 flash drives, since they do not provide more or less tangible superiority in copying speed. It's not like that at all. A computer flash drive with a USB 3.0 connector, connected to the appropriate port on the PC (by the way, these ports differ from ordinary ones in the blue color “socket”), is many times faster than outdated colleagues. But it’s difficult to give specific data transfer speed figures; a separate article on our website is devoted to this: The whole truth about computer speedUSB flash drives.
You just need to connect the USB 3.0 drive to the corresponding blue port. The performance increase will be noticeable to the naked eye. Even if you watch the process of copying to a flash drive with just one eye.
The third myth aboutUSB flash drives: These devices work great as a backup drive. In other words, flash drives can be used for backup - a copy of data that will save you if the main hard drive fails.
Unfortunately, this is not the case at all. The reliability of modern flash drives is too weak to seriously count on them. These devices only serve to transfer data between computers. You should not copy important files to them for storage. The probability of failure is very high. For backup, it is better to use external hard drives or cloud data storage on the Internet.
Having copied important data to a flash drive today, you should not be surprised if tomorrow the same device simply refuses to work. Of course, most likely the flash drive will last more than one month (or even a year). But it may not work even for a week.
Hello, dear readers!
From this article we will learn what USB drives are, how to choose them, and list the TOP 10 popular manufacturers.
Do you remember the times when a PC owner's shelves were full of floppy disks and CDs? Today, Flash drives are used to store information and provide convenience.
Flash memory is a very convenient tool with large storage capacity and high data transfer speed. Today there is a huge range of storage devices. That is why, when purchasing such a gadget, you need to understand the device with what characteristics you need.
We know perfectly well what a USB drive looks like, but what is a flash drive anyway? A Flash drive is a removable storage medium with a specific type of file system that has no moving elements in its structure.
Criteria for choosing a USB drive
Which device is better (why)? When choosing a flash drive, you should pay attention to its type, data transfer speed and, of course, memory capacity.
Types of information storage devices
There are only three types of USB drives: 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1. But flash drives are divided into types based on appearance:
— With a removable cap. The most popular plate protection option.
Caps are made from different materials to prevent debris and moisture from entering.
- Rotary. Such a drive consists of a bracket and the body of the device, and they rotate sideways in relation to each other. In this case, the plate is protected from scratches, but is susceptible to debris and moisture.
— Sliders. In such a device, the connector is hidden inside the housing. Protection from mechanical damage is good, but not from moisture and debris.
Devices with a combined protection system are considered the best. For example, a metal body with a rubberized base. These are the most reliable flash drives, but, of course, they are more expensive.
It is also necessary to take into account that the fewer moving parts a flash drive has, the longer it will last, because after a month or two of using it nothing will break.
Data transfer rate
One of the main criteria when choosing a device is the data transfer speed. This criterion includes the write speed to the flash device and the read speed of the flash drive. The speed of interaction between the drive and the computer depends on them. The USB drive can be rewritten many times, so the maximum data transfer speed will be appropriate.
This parameter is expressed in megabits per second (Mb/s) and is always indicated on the packaging. High-speed drives cost more.
Memory
How to choose a usb flash drive from memory.
The volume of the device is the most important characteristic that is important for the person who purchases a flash drive. This characteristic is expressed in gigabytes. Today, USB drives are designed for 32/64/128/more GB, and if necessary, you can purchase 2/4/8 GB. That is, today the maximum capacity of a flash drive is 2048 GB.
Do not forget that a flash drive is a compact device for storing information.
Based on memory capacity, the following types of drives can be distinguished:
- cheap, but with a small volume - 2-8 GB;
— affordable price and optimal volume -16-64 GB;
- high cost, but large volume - 128 GB or more.
USB storage performance
Also, one important criterion when choosing a device is its performance, which depends on the following factors:
Chips used in flash memory. The most common trade-off is between high-speed, expensive chips that have single-level cells, and low-cost flash chips that have few levels with multi-level (MLC)/triple-level (TLC) cells at regular speed.
Flash memory device controller. The flash memory controller is a special chip that controls the interface and controls all actions with the drive. If the controller supports fast data transfer, it saves time.
The host device to which the device connects. A limited host device will not provide high drive performance. Let's give an example: if the computer supports speed 2.0, then a usb 3.0 flash drive will not work at the required speed.
Rating of USB drive manufacturers
You already know that today a huge number of companies are engaged in the production of USB drives. Everyone who wants to purchase such a device wonders which flash drive is best for a computer. Yes, yes, specifically for the computer, because there are special storage devices (SD) for cameras and phones. Of course, they also connect to the computer, but only through special adapters (card readers).
Well, let's look at the TOP 10 companies whose flash drives are preferred by users:
1. Transcend. This is a well-known company that began its work back in 1988. Flash drives from this company are known for their individual style and long service life.
2. Silicon Power. Devices of this form are sold in more than 90 countries around the world.
3. Kingston. This company is an old-timer among manufacturers of USB drives. It was created back in 1987 and today is not inferior to other manufacturers.
4. Team Group. Regarding this company, it is worth noting that its range is growing every year.
5. SanDisk. Another fairly old company on the market. Devices with a simple design and at a reasonable price.
6. Apacer. The company produces flash drives, which are famous for the quality of data storage.
7. Pretec. And the drives of this company are used for military and industrial purposes. This is probably the very indicator of quality and reliability that many users are looking for.
8. Adata is a company with the motto: “Trust and reliability.” And I would like to note that since its formation in 2011, the company has lived up to it.
9. P.Q.I. And this company began its work with the production of USB drives.
10. Corsair. This company produces exclusive products, such as flash drives with a body made of natural rubber, whose flash drives are long-lasting.
The most reliable flash drives
Of course, it is better to buy devices for storing information, especially large volumes, from official stores, because today a huge number of fakes are produced in China. Let's look at the five most reliable USB drives:
1. . A device with a simple design. This model is suitable for users who need high performance at a low price.
This device is distinguished by its cell design, allowing data processing to be performed at a high level.
This model is simple and practical and has a sliding plastic body.
A flash drive that is perfect for work or school because it is small in size and convenient.
This model has a convenient fastening system.
Do not forget that defects occur in production, and therefore the rating changes.
So, when you finally decide to buy yourself a USB drive, first decide what it is intended for in order to decide on the device that will suit you. If you need a flash drive to copy work files, then a device with a memory capacity of 8 GB is suitable.
When purchasing, consult with a consultant, because, as a rule, people only look at the memory capacity. You can purchase a device with a memory capacity of 128 GB, but the speed will be low and the movie will take a very long time to copy.
- 573 ratings
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It turns out that for most users, choosing a flash drive is not an easy task. On many forums people ask questions about this. What parameters should they take into account so that the device lasts as long as possible, works quickly and the price is reasonable. For some, using a flash drive is very important, as it is related to their work. Therefore, there is a list of special technical points that you should pay attention to when choosing a flash drive. Now there is simply a huge number of flash drives on the market from different manufacturers. It's no wonder that some users are confused when they come to buy a USB drive.
Now they are choosing a flash drive - I saw a beautiful design, a large amount of memory, everything is good, you can take it. But few people pay attention to such technical characteristics as the interface, recording speed and data transfer. Today I will tell you about the main points when choosing a flash drive, what you should pay attention to, and what you can ignore.
Manufacturer
Today there are a huge number of flash drive manufacturers. The difficulty is that each of them has their own group of fans. Therefore, it is difficult to choose at least a few manufacturers. Personally, I chose two brands for myself regarding the production of flash drives: Adata and Kingston. Both of these manufacturers have been around for a long time and have proven themselves only from the best side. If you are interested, the official Adata website contains information regarding read and write speeds for fast flash drives.
In turn, Kingston publicly provides the document DTFamily_RU.pdf, which shows the speeds of all types of drives from this company. This document is continually updated as changes are made to the models.
But, besides these two manufacturers, you should also not deprive attention to such brands as: Apacer, Silicon Power, Corsair, Transcend, TeamGroup, Sandisk, Lexar. Everyone will find a good product among these manufacturers. But you shouldn’t rely only on the brand when choosing a flash drive, or any other equipment. After all, any manufacturer has both very good models and low-quality models. Everyone makes mistakes, even giant companies.
As for the read and write speed, it mainly depends on the series of the USB drive.
Some users strongly complain about Chinese counterfeits, explaining that the components are cheap, the soldering is weak, and therefore flash drives quickly fail. I think it was already clear that a Chinese product with a strange name, which looks like some well-known brand, a priori cannot boast of good quality. Although, in defense of flash drives from China, I would still like to say a few words. Sometimes you come across a really high-quality product. But, since this happens extremely rarely, it is still better to give preference to a more well-known brand.
What amount of memory should I choose?
You can see information about the memory capacity on the flash drive itself or on its packaging. Most often, buyers believe that the larger the flash drive, the better it is. But from the point of view of saving money, this opinion is not correct at all. But, if you need a flash drive with a large amount of memory, at the same time with a high speed of writing files and you have a lot of money, then you don’t have to limit yourself. The more memory a flash drive has, the faster it is! Still, if your main goal in choosing a storage device is as large as possible, then I recommend that you buy an external hard drive. But, if your budget is extremely tight, then it is better to give preference only to certain characteristics, including the appearance of the flash drive.
So that you understand what I mean, I will give a specific example. Some 128GB flash drives cost the same as a 1TB external hard drive. Of course, the operating principle of these devices is very different. If you are really “major”, then I recommend paying attention to SSD drives. But, if you still need a flash drive, then its size should be selected in the following ranges:
- from 4 to 16GB, the volume is not large, but the price is low;
- from 16 to 64GB, good quality at a reasonable price;
- from 128GB, for a specific purpose at an inflated price.
Flash drive read and write speed
This parameter, unlike the capacity of a flash drive, is very rarely indicated on the product packaging, and never on the flash drive itself. Therefore, it is not always possible to immediately find out about the speed of reading and transferring information. But those manufacturers who are confident in the quality of their product will definitely indicate this parameter. Always, data regarding the speed characteristics of flash cards and USB drives are indicated in the form of a special rating. For example, 200x, where x means 200Kb/s. Accordingly, the speed of such a flash drive will be 30 Mb/s. You can easily find a flash drive speed rating table on the Internet.
This parameter characterizes the reading speed of the flash drive. As for the recording speed, it is generally rarely seen in the specifications when purchasing. You will already recognize it when you test the flash drive on your computer. But, from my experience of using flash drives, I can say that cheap flash drives have a write speed that is half as fast as their read speed. This difference is very significant. That's why you shouldn't buy very cheap flash drives.
If you visit this site, you will be able to see the results of testing various types of flash drives, from different brands and with different characteristics. This site will help you find the best flash drive option, making it clear which drives are of the highest quality today.
Especially disappointing are flash drives whose stated characteristics do not correspond to reality. Most often this happens with cheap flash drives. But even among expensive goods there can be such a setup. However, relatively cheap media usually use MLC, TLC or TLC-DDR memory, while high-speed media use DDR-MLC or SLC memory in addition to MLC. This is why USB 3.0 flash drives are backward compatible with USB 2.0. But, do not forget that you can only copy large and memory-demanding files at the advertised speed using the USB 3.0 port.
For example, if a USB drive has high performance, which provides read speeds of up to 260 MB/s and write speeds of up to 240 MB/s, then you can copy 1000 photos or a full-length film of good quality in a matter of seconds.
Additional features of a USB flash drive
You know the main purpose of a flash drive. But now they have so many additional functions that it’s even hard to believe. Most of them are just an extra “show-off” and a marketing ploy. But some additional functions really turn out to be useful. There are many additions to the standard flash drive software. For example, access to information on the flash drive is allowed only after scanning a fingerprint, the ability to compress data to enlarge data storage density, special protection applications, with the ability to set a password for access to data and much more.
Most manufacturers supply their devices with special software that allows you to secure data on a flash drive and make it easier to use.
But in fact, all these additions provide very little benefit; basically, they only complicate the use of a USB drive. It is difficult to find a flash drive with truly usable and useful software. If you see a colorful description of additional software on the packaging, then most likely this is an advertising ploy, and nothing more. The main task of such software is to extract more money from the buyer for unnecessary, and sometimes ridiculous, functions.
Flash drive housing
It would seem that it could be easier to choose a flash drive. But in fact, everything is not so simple. There are a number of points that are worth paying attention to. And the variety of enclosures for USB drives is now very large. But among them you can choose the main types of cases. These include:
Flash drives with an open connector. Typically this type of case is found on small flash drives. Using such a flash drive is very convenient; it fits in any pocket and takes up almost no space. But on the other hand, the contacts are not protected, which means that scratches will soon appear on them. If there are too many of them, the flash drive will soon stop working.
Flash drives with a cap. This type of flash drive case is especially popular among users. Personally, I think that this type of hull structure is the most practical. Caps for such flash drives are made from different materials: rubber, plastic, metal. Rubber caps are considered the best because they protect working contacts from moisture and dust. Also, such caps do not require fasteners. They hold up great as is. Many users lose protective caps that are made of plastic or metal. But on YouTube you can find many videos that tell you how to make such a cap yourself.
Bracket body. The design consists of a housing and a bracket, which is fixed on the outside and can be rotated from side to side, which makes it possible to close the USB connector in a certain position. But with such a security bracket, such a flash drive cannot be protected from external factors at all. And you may eventually lose the bracket, since it is attached extremely unreliably.
Flash drive sliders are also very popular among users. The case is designed in such a way that the working connector is hidden in it and removed using a movable key. The disadvantage of such a case is that the latch, which allows you to slide the flash drive in and out, may break. It is extremely inconvenient to use the drive in this state. Despite the fact that the flash drive is hidden in the case, it does not have proper protection. From moisture and dirt for sure.
Of all of the above, I advise you to take a flash drive with rubber protection. This way you will be sure that neither dust nor dirt is harmful to the drive.
There are flash drives whose body is made of rubber. On the one hand, this protection is reliable. But any break in the case will render the flash drive unusable. Therefore, it is necessary to choose models that have a base on a rigid body. Even if you drown such a flash drive in water, even if you throw it from a height, no damage will be done to it. Recently, there have been more flash drives that have a drive full indicator.
Before you buy a flash drive, you need to decide what specifications it should have so that you can fully use this device. After all, a high-quality flash drive saves your time. It is better to choose from brands that are known to everyone. Skip dubious manufacturers immediately. Don't be fooled by low prices from unknown brands.
Before purchasing, visit the official websites of flash drive manufacturers and study the functionality of their product. I advise you to choose several models to compare them with each other. You can also compare selected flash drives with the same characteristics with flash drives that are slightly cheaper. You might be able to save a lot of money.
I hope my tips will help you choose a USB drive to your liking. Thank you for being with us.
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 based on 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, yet 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 only uses USB Type-C, so you can’t 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 controller functionality (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-around 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 appear 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, you can drop it, drown it, drive it 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 in nature, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.
