The difference between the best types of flash drives currently available on the market
We all have many important files and data that we would like to keep in a safe place for later use or sharing with others. Whether this data is entertainment media or an important set of documents and files related to our professional work.
There are certainly many different storage solutions that we can use to store important and valuable data, and perhaps The Cloud storage services have been able to replace many other storage solutions such as flash drives and hard disks HDD due to their ease of access wherever there is an Internet connection. Also, external storage disks that work with a USB connection are great solutions for storing huge amounts of data that are easy to carry around.
But in the end, there is no more practical, flexible and efficient storage device than USB flash drives. Flash drives have replaced a wide variety of digital storage solutions, most notably floppy disks, CDs and DVDs. Not only are flash drives small and portable, they are also versatile and easy to write and rewrite multiple times.
Comparison of the best types of flash drives available in the market today |
First and foremost, they are very cheap and it is easy to find affordable flash drives with storage capacity of up to 64 or even 128 GB. This is a huge storage space that is enough to store a large number of media and files in various formats. It is difficult to find a storage device that is as small as a house key – except for microSD cards – that comes with such huge storage capacities. This means that it is easy to carry around a large storage device that contains all the important and necessary data without us even realizing it is there.
They are also easy to use and do not require any level of expertise to handle. Any 3-year-old can use them. I mean, you just have to plug in the flash drive and start transferring data or playing media. Besides their ability to store data and play media, they are also useful for installing operating systems and using them as a bootable storage device for self-booting programs. Most importantly, they are reliable storage solutions and have long lifespans even if exposed to rough use or dropped from high altitudes.
Unlike cloud storage services, they do not require an internet connection to access data. In short, there is no storage device as practical and flexible as a flash drive. But like all other storage devices, they come in different storage capacities starting from 32 or maybe a little less and up to 256 GB or more. There are also many brands that manufacture flash drives, Samsung, SanDisk, Kingston, PNY, Patriot, Corsair and many other manufacturers, as well as commercial factories that are not known in the world of data storage.
Ultimately, there are countless types and storage capacities available to suit all budgets. But if you’re looking for the best USB flash drive that can last you the longest possible period of time and has exceptional specifications in terms of writing and reading speeds, you should limit your choices to the leading companies in the field of manufacturing storage solutions. In this article, we will provide you with a quick comparison between the best types of flash drives currently available on the market.
1- Samsung Bar Plus flash drive is one of the best flash drives on the market.
Samsung Bar Plus Flash Drive |
Some people think that all flash drives are the same, and we agree. But when you look at a flash drive like the Samsung Bar Plus, you will immediately realize that there are some additional features that can only be found in this type of flash drive. First, the flash drive comes in different storage capacities ranging from 32 GB to 256 GB.
Waterproof, shockproof, temperature resistant, X-ray resistant and many more features. These are a set of safety standards that are difficult to find in any other flash drive, and they still come in a very small size, so they must be available with us among the best types of flash drives. Since flash drives are easy to lose due to their size, they come with a ring at the top of the metal body that helps you keep them on a keychain.
2- SanDisk Extreme Pro flash drive is one of the fastest flash drives available.
SanDisk Extreme Pro Flash Drive |
SanDisk Extreme Pro flash drives come in a variety of storage capacities and feature a sleek, functional look and durable aluminum body. These flash drives offer exceptionally fast read and write speeds, with read speeds of up to 420MB/s and write speeds of up to 380MB/s. These are definitely very fast speeds compared to cheap, commercial flash drives.
The drive comes with advanced AES 128 encryption which can be accessed through the company’s SecureAccess software. This drive has a lifetime warranty. It is also protected against data corruption through RescuePro backup which you can use to recover accidentally deleted files.
3- Kingston DataTraveler Vault flash drive is one of the best Kingston flash drives.
Kingston DataTraveler Vault Flash Drive |
Kingston has long been known as one of the best manufacturers of various storage solutions, especially affordable USB flash drives. The company offers many different models to suit different uses and business requirements. With the DataTraveler Vault flash drive, you can find storage capacities starting from 4GB to 64GB.
This type of flash drive from Kingston is protected by AES 256 encryption and allows you to secure the flash drive with a password to protect it from unauthorized access. According to the company, the flash drive has SuperSpeed technology, which ensures very high read and write speeds as well as data transfer speeds. The flash drive comes with an ESET tool attached to avoid tracking and virus programs, so it must be mentioned as one of the best types of flash drives on offer.
4- NY Turbo 256GB flash drive is one of the best practical flash drives.
PNY Turbo 256GB Flash Drive |
In terms of appearance and overall shape, the PNY Turbo flash drive is very traditional and does not have the elegant look or the sturdy body of its predecessors. However, it is very practical and comes in multiple storage capacities up to 256GB. The flash drive relies on the USB 3.0 standard to ensure high speeds in transferring files or while unpacking to start writing on it again.
Perhaps the only downside is that it doesn't have any advanced encryption methods and doesn't have any special file protection and security methods, but it's still very practical, simple, and comes at affordable and medium-cost prices.
5- Samsung 32GB Bar Metal Flash Drive is one of the most popular flash drives on the market.
Samsung 32GB Bar Metal Flash Drive |
Samsung flash drives are known for being highly durable and resistant to external environmental factors such as water, high temperatures, and electrical shocks, and the Bar Metal Flash Drive is certainly no exception.
The flash drive features NAND Flash storage and is based on the USB 3.0 standard and is capable of delivering high read and write speeds of up to 100MB and 130MB respectively. Like the Bar Plus flash drive, the Bar Metal flash drive comes with a metal ring on the front to protect it from loss. If all that isn’t enough to convince you, perhaps the 5-year warranty will.
6- Silicon Power C80 Flash Drive is one of the best types of flash drives .
Silicon Power C80 Flash Drive |
The Silicon Power C 80 flash drive is two flash drives in one body. One flash drive is a USB Type-C port while the other is a Type-A port and both support USB 3.1 Gen1 standards. This way it will be easy to use in any remaining port on your computer. At the same time, it guarantees you very high data transfer speeds.
The advantage of having a USB-C port means that it is easy to use with both old and new Apple MacBooks. Also note that you will not need any special software drivers to identify it on computers thanks to its wide compatibility with all operating systems. The flash drive also comes with a file management application to help you organize and arrange your files inside folders according to a set of different categories, which is why we consider it one of the best types of flash drives currently available on the market.
7- Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth is one of the best flash drives ever.
Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth |
The Survivor Stealth is made from aircraft-grade anodized aluminum to withstand shocks and drops from extreme heights. That’s not all, the drive is also waterproof with EPDM standards that allow you to take it with you underwater at depths of up to 200 meters. The drive comes in different storage capacities starting from 16GB up to 256GB.
Speeds may not be the best thing about the flash drive, with a read speed of only 85MB/s, but considering the safety and durability standards of the flash drive, it is one of the best types of hard drives that can adapt to any harsh environment. You also get a long warranty of up to five years. All these features make it one of the best flash drives ever, and perhaps this is clearly reflected in its price.
8- Patriot Viper Fang Flash Drive
Patriot Viper Fang Flash Drive |
Despite being around for years, Patriot has rarely ventured into the portable flash drive market. However, the Viper Fang was worth the wait and is one of the best flash drives currently on the market – if you’re lucky enough to find one on the retail market, as it’s in such high demand.
The flash drive comes in different storage capacities and is encased in a rust-resistant aluminum metal body with data transfer speeds of up to 400MB/s. The flash drive can take advantage of the maximum speed standards supported by USB 3.0 ports, but at the same time it is fully compatible with USB 2.0 ports, so you can use it on both old and new devices without any problems.
9-year warranty Kingston DataTraveler 100 Generation 3
Kingston DataTraveler 100 Generation 3 review |
Kingston's DT Gen 3 flash drive is one of the fastest flash drives out there right now, taking advantage of the maximum speeds supported by USB 3.0 ports and coming in varying prices depending on storage capacities, which range from 8GB to 256GB.
So you're sure to find the right storage capacity for your needs. The flash drive has a stylish look and has an outer cover to protect the power connectors from damage. Plus, it's protected against damage with a five-year warranty.
What you need to know before buying any USB flash drive
Storage Capacity: The most important consideration when buying a new flash drive is to check the storage capacity you need according to your storage requirements. The difference in storage capacities does not mean much in terms of speed. However, each flash drive has a specific speed that is calculated by the manufacturer. However, the most important thing is that if you are storing a lot of high-quality multimedia such as photos, videos, and music, you may need a flash drive of at least 128 GB.
Speed: If you hate dealing with a slow flash drive, then you should definitely make sure that the next flash drive you get supports the USB 3.0 standard and not USB 2.0, as USB 3.0 flash drives include a very high data transfer speed compared to USB 2.0 flash drives. But at the same time, the speed depends on both ends used in the data transfer process. For example, even if the flash drive is USB 3.0 but you connect it to a USB 2.0 port, the maximum data transfer speed will drop to USB 2.0 standards because of the other end in the transfer process.
Security and Protection: Since we move around a lot with flash drives, they are easily lost, and they are also vulnerable to virus attacks due to being used on multiple devices without ensuring their protection. Therefore, in order to protect your valuable data on the flash drive, you may need to buy a flash drive protected with advanced encryption systems or one that supports biometric authentication methods such as fingerprint or digital panel to secure it with a password. It may be expensive indeed, but it is the only trick to protect it from unauthorized access.
Durability: Durability has become an essential factor in flash drives recently. There are plastic flash drives that are too weak to withstand harsh use or external environmental factors, while there are some that are qualified to withstand environmental factors such as water or high temperatures. Some flash drives also have safety standards to resist electrical shocks. In addition, there are some flash drives that come with an outer cover to protect the power conductor chips.