Best USB Flash Drives | May 2022

USB sticks (or PenDrives) are portable storage devices, used by most users due to their portability, compactness and economy. Today, in fact, it is very easy to find models with a high storage space on the market at very low prices. In the past, the main weakness of the PenDrive was mainly represented by the low storage capacity of the files and the poor reliability of the memories to which a low speed in the reading / writing phase was added. All these problems have now been solved thanks to technological development and the miniaturization of production processes, which has made it possible to achieve large storage capacities as well as extraordinary reliability. The other great impetus to the widespread diffusion of flash drives was given by the development and use of new connection standards, such as the USB 3 interface, which made it possible to obtain much higher transfer speeds to transfer large amounts of data in less time. PenDrives are therefore the most suitable solution if you are looking for a peripheral in which to store the most important files ensuring maximum portability, since other storage devices, such as portable hard drives / SSDs, certainly offer much more space to store data but their bulk and weight are much more important.

In this buying guide, there are various USB sticks, ranging from basic models with a minimum storage of 64 GB, suitable for those looking for a cheap stick and at the same time with a good storage capacity for the 'storage of documents and files of daily use, to 512 GB or even 1 TB units, useful for those who need to store a large amount of data to always carry with them. The more capacious models, however, are often not very reliable. The guide also offers devices designed specifically for Apple and Android users, namely PenDrive with Lightning connector compatible with iPhone and iPad and USB-C connector keys that can be used on latest generation Android devices and notebooks without traditional USB ports (such as for example Ultra-thin MacBook and Ultrabook).

Most devices, however, are equipped with a standard USB-A connector, still common in most USB sticks, compatible with virtually any computer and backwards compatible with the USB 2 standard. >
There are obviously alternatives to the use of USB sticks such as saving on the cloud, which however has the big limitation of always having to depend on an internet connection. In addition, the free space available is always very limited, in the order of ten GB, unless you pay a monthly or annual subscription. Since the prices of USB sticks are now very low, it is certainly worth investing in them today. The products in the guide are listed in ascending price order.

The best USB flash drives

Kingston DataTraveler Exodia DTX - 64GB Kingston DataTraveler Exodia DTX - 128 GB SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go - 64 GB Pack of 5 ENUODA keys (32 GB) Sandisk Ultra Flair - 256 GB Samsung Duo Plus - 128 GB iDiskk - 128 GB Patriot Memory Supersonic Rage Elite - 512GB

Kingston DataTraveler Exodia DTX - 64 GB

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Here is an excellent proposal from the Kingston brand: a 64 GB model for less than 8 euros, with USB 3 type A connector and compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, with some discrete read and write performance, suitable for all uses: Hard to ask for more at such a price. The same is available in a 128 GB version for less than 13 euros!

Kingston DataTraveler Exodia DTX - 128 GB

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Let's stay at home Kingston with the 128 GB proposal. The PenDrive features a USB 3.0 connector, like the first model in our guide.

SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go - 64GB

Most PenDrives it is equipped with a USB-A port; however, many newer notebooks, such as MacBooks or thinner ultrabooks, only feature USB-C inputs. As already mentioned in the introduction, fortunately there are also USB-C sticks and the model we propose is a practical 2-in-1 solution. The cost will be slightly higher than traditional models, but this is the best solution if you necessarily need to transfer files to and from your PC, smartphone or tablet.

Pack of 5 ENUODA sticks (32 GB)

Usually, sticks are sold individually, but ENUODA offers a pack of 5 drives from 32 GB for less than 20 euros; It's an ideal offering for a family, but the performance leaves something to be desired as it features USB 2.0 ports.

Sandisk Ultra Flair - 256 GB

Sandisk Ultra Flair is a high-end model that offers higher reading and writing speeds than the keys proposed so far. If you are looking for a performing solution, this is the product for you.

Samsung Duo Plus - 128 GB

Samsung Duo Plus is a 2- key in-1 (both USB-A and USB-C), whose strong point is its excellent performance: it can reach a theoretical maximum speed of 400 MB / s in reading and 120 MB / s in writing. It is a model suitable for those looking for maximum compatibility combined with very high performance.

iDiskk - 128 GB

USB-A and USB-C ports are usually the most popular standards, but there are many professionals who work with iPhones and iPads and adapters sometimes cost more than the stick itself. Fortunately, there is iDiskk, a PenDrive 2-in-1 line for Apple mobile devices. Here we recommend the 128GB model, as it offers good value for money.

Patriot Memory Supersonic Rage Elite - 512GB

We conclude the guide with a stick with "supersonic" performance, in fact Patriot Memory Supersonic Rage Elite can reach a maximum speed of 400 MB / s in reading and 300 MB / s in writing via USB 3.1. If you need a very high performance model and are willing to spend the money, this is the product for you.