14 Greatest USB Flash Drives (2025): Pen Drives, Thumb Drives, Reminiscence Sticks

{Photograph}: Simon Hill

Different Flash Drives We Like

Now we have examined many different USB flash drives that didn’t make the lower. Listed here are just a few that may be value contemplating for some people.

Buffalo Exterior SSD-PUT Stick (500 GB) for $45: One other SSD in a flash drive physique, this drive hit 450 MB/s in my checks and gives shock safety for falls. There’s additionally a sliding USB-A, and it comes with a USB-C adapter. It’s fairly chunky for a flash drive, so you could discover it blocks adjoining ports. You may also get moderately priced 1- and 2-TB variations of this drive.

PNY Professional Elite V2 (256 GB) for $25: This sliding drive has a plastic cowl to guard the USB-A plug, and was our compact decide for some time. It carried out nicely (learn and write speeds hovered round 415 MB/s and 425 MB/s) in my checks, and has a gap for a lanyard or keyring. I examined the 256-GB drive, however there are 512-GB and 1-terabyte fashions.

SanDisk Extremely Twin Drive Go (128 GB) for $16: This helpful drive swivels to provide you USB-C or USB-A, and is available in numerous sizes and a few enjoyable colours, however the decrease capability drives are sluggish (USB 3.1). You will get the 128 GB drive and up in USB 3.2 Gen 1 for as much as 400 MB/s learn and it’s a strong various to the PNY Duo above.

PNY Elite-X (256 GB) for $22: This super-compact, sliding drive has a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 jack and a loop on the tip to suit on a keyring. It labored advantageous however proved unremarkable in my checks (round 200 MB/s learn, and 130 MB/s write).

Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 (16 GB) for $103: For those who want a safe drive, Kingston’s IronKey boasts FIPS 140-3 certification, XTS-AES 256-bit encryption, and a particular epoxy on its circuitry to make it unattainable to take away parts. On the draw back, it’s costly, the keypad is fiddly, and 10 mistaken entries wipe the drive.

Samsung FIT Plus (256 GB) for $26: It’s better-looking than our greatest tiny drive decide, with a metallic physique and efficiency to match (as much as 400 MB/s learn for 128-GB or 256-GB drives). However Samsung’s drive can be considerably larger and costlier, although it does have a helpful loop for a keychain.

Keep away from These Flash Drives

{Photograph}: Simon Hill

Silicon Energy DS72 Moveable SSD (1 TB): It is a affordable worth for a 1-TB drive with USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-A and USB-C connectors, and it constantly hit 450 MB/s learn and write speeds in my checks (it might probably hit 1050 MB/s and 850 MB/s with the proper gear). It bought fairly heat to the contact, however the purpose I don’t suggest this drive is the silly plastic connector covers. It’s important to bend them again, and so they get in the best way while you’re attempting to insert the drive.

Verbatim Twin (64 GB): This teeny drive is reasonable and has each USB-A and USB-C plugs, however I discovered write speeds have been variable (60 MB/s for USB-C and 90 MB/s for USB-A) and skim speeds have been round 150 MB/s for each. There’s a cowl for the USB-A and a wee strap you possibly can connect, however this drive is nearly too small, and it proved awkward to insert and take away. It additionally is available in 16- or 32-gigabyte choices.

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