Photo: Simon Hill
Some Flash drivers we like
We’ve tested many other USB flash drives that didn’t make the cut. Here are a few that might be worth looking at for other people.
Buffalo external SSD-PART (500 GB) for $45: Another SSD in the body of a flash drive, this drive hit 450 MB / S in my tests and provided alarming protection against falling. There is also a USB-a slide, and it comes with a USB-C adapter. It is a very good flash drive, so you can find it in the ports close to it. You can also get 1- and 2-TB versions of this drive.
Pny Pro Elite V2 (256 GB) for $25: This slide-in drive has a plastic cover to protect the USB-plug, and it was our joint choice for a while. It performed well (read and write speeds were drawn at about 415 MB / S and 425 MB / s) in my tests, and can be opened with a lanyard or keyring. I tested the 256-GB drive, but there are 512-GB and 1-terabyte models.
Sandisk Ultra Dual Drive Go (128 GB) for $16: These portable drives offer you USB-C or USB-a, and come in various sizes and various colors, but the low capacity drives slowly (USB 3.1). You can get a 128 gb drive and up to USB 3.2 Gen 1 up to 400 MB / S FUT ALSO AND AVAILABILITY OF PHY DUO above.
Pny Elite-X (256 GB) for $22: This large, sliding drive has a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 jack and a loop at the end to fit. It worked well but it seemed that it could not compare to my readings (about 200 MB / S / 130 MB / S Write).
Kingston Irokey Keypad 200 (16 GB) for $103: If you need a safe drive, Ironston’s Irowkey is packed with 140-3 certification, XTS-AES 256-Bit encryption, and a special epoxy around it to make it difficult to remove elements. In low performance, it’s expensive, the keypad is fiddly, and 10 wrong entries wipe the drive.
Samsung Fit Plus (256 GB) for $26: It looks better than our best drive Pick, with a metal body and compatible performance (up to 400 MB / S FUK fun for 128-GB Drives). But the Samsung drive is also much larger and more expensive, although it has a useful keychain loop.
Avoid these flash calls
Photo: Simon Hill
Silicon Power DS72 portable SSD (1 TB): This is a valid price for a 1-TB drive with USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-A and USB-C, and it hits a speed of 450 MB / S. It’s too warm for something, but the reason I don’t recommend this drive is the stupid plastic connector. You have to bend them back, and they get in the way when you try to insert the drive.
Verbatim Dual (64 GB): This twelve drive is cheap and has both USB-a and USB-C plugs, but I found that the write speed was variable (60 MB / s for USB-a) and 90 MB / SPS for USB-a) and the Read Speeds were about 150 MB. There is a USB-a cover and a wee strap that you can attach, but this car is almost too small, and it proved to be ATKWARD to install and remove. It also comes in 16- or 32-gigabyte options.
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