Best USB Flash Drives - January 2021
In this buying guide, we will offer you several USB sticks: from "basic" models with a storage of 32 GB to 512 GB units. 1/2 TB solutions are also available on the market, but they are usually not reliable, so we advise against them.
In addition to the classic USB-A peripherals, we have also included models with USB-C input; the latter are "necessary" for the latest generation notebooks that are slowly giving up legacy ports (eg MacBooks).
An alternative solution is cloud saving, however this requires an internet connection and the space available leaves something to be desired (unless you pay for a subscription). Given the current prices of the PenDrives, it is still worth investing in them. The products below are listed in ascending price order.
The best USB drives
Kingston DataTraveler 100 G3 - 32 GB Kingston DataTraveler 100 - 128 GB SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go - 64 GB Pack of 5 ENUODA (32 GB) Samsung Duo Plus keys - 128 GB Sandisk Ultra Flair - 256 GB Patriot Memory Supersonic Rage Elite - 512 GBKingston DataTraveler 100 G3 - 32 GB
Here is an excellent proposal from the Kingston brand: a 32 GB model which costs less than 6 euros! If you are looking for a cheap and reliable PenDrive, you have found it.
Kingston DataTraveler 100 - 128GB
Kingston is one of the leading companies in the flash memory sector, and among the consumer offerings, there is this excellent USB 3.0 key with a storage space of 128 GB.
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go - 64GB
Most PenDrives are equipped with a USB-A port, however many newer notebooks (such as MacBooks) only feature USB-C inputs. What to do? Fortunately, in recent years, USB-C flash drives have also been introduced and the model we propose is a practical 2-in-1 solution. Transferring files from PC to smartphone / tablet will no longer be a problem.
Pack of 5 ENUODA keys (32 GB)
Usually, the keys are sold individually, but ENUODA offers a package with 5 units (and different colors) of 32 GB for less than 20 euros. It is an ideal offering for the whole family, but the performance leaves something to be desired as it features the USB 2.0 standard.
Samsung Duo Plus - 128 GB
Samsung Duo Plus is a 2-in-1 key equipped with a USB-A adapter (the black end disconnects from the stick) to be affixed to the USB-C port. We recommend this model for its excellent performance: it can reach a theoretical maximum speed of 400 MB / s in reading and 120 MB / s in writing.
Sandisk Ultra Flair - 256 GB
This PenDrive is available in black and white. Compared to the competition, it offers higher read and write speeds, so if you are looking for a more performing solution, this is the product for you.
Patriot Memory Supersonic Rage Elite - 512GB
We conclude the guide with a key with “supersonic” performance, in fact Patriot Memory Supersonic Rage Elite can reach theoretical speeds of 400 MB / s in reading and 100 MB / s in writing (USB 3.1). If you are looking for a high performance model and are willing to spend the money, this is the product for you.
