Buying guide for Best flash drives
Backing up data from a computer or mobile device has never been easier. You can transmit data to the cloud, save it to an external hard drive, or transfer your data easily and quickly to a flash drive. Now, we’re not going to judge you on how often you’re backing up your data. (We’ll just assume you’re like most people and it’s probably not often enough.) Instead, we want to help you successfully back up your data by figuring out how to pick the best flash drive.
The great thing about flash drives is that they’re easy to use. You can also carry important files with you wherever you go and protect your files with encryption on a flash drive, which makes these devices very versatile.
Best Flash Drives available now
What is a flash drive?
A flash drive is a small portable device that uses a type of electronic memory storage called flash memory to store your data. Flash memory requires no moving mechanical parts, and the flash drive has no moving parts either.
To store individual bits of data, the silicon in the flash drive uses a grid layout. Each section of the grid, called a cell, contains two transistors that work together to store a bit of data. The method of application of an electrical charge between the transistors determines whether the cell has a zero or a one stored in it.
The flash drive needs electrical power to read and write data, but it works so well because it holds the zero or one setting in the cell (the data) even after you’ve removed the drive from its power source.
When researching flash drives, we consider how compact they are. A compact size makes a flash drive easy to carry.
In our search for the best flash drives, we find out what material each case is made of. Those with durable cases are less likely to sustain damage in an accidental drop.
We want consumers to be happy with the performance of their flash drive, so we dig deep for data on real-world read and write speeds.
We carefully note which flash drives are available with different connectors, such as USB-C and Lightning, so our readers can find the one one that’s best for their device.
We give special consideration to flash drives that are built to resist water, high temperatures, and physical shock.
Bonus points go to flash drives with dependable covers or caps. These help prevent dust and foreign objects from damaging the connectors.
We look for the best flash drives in a variety of sizes so you can find one that’s big enough for your needs.
We note how each flash drive we review is formatted. This helps potential buyers understand whether the drive is ready to go or would need to be reformatted.
We make a point to look at some flash drives with advanced encryption, which can help keep data safe from prying eyes.
We note the transmission speed standards to which each flash drive is built. This helps potential buyers understand the maximum transfer speed of the drive.
Flash drives vs. SSDs
A solid-state drive (SSD) also uses flash memory technology to store data, the same technology in a flash drive. However, an SSD offers permanent data storage inside a computer or mobile device, which differs from the portable storage of a flash drive.
An SSD might be a substitute for a hard drive in a computer or it may work alongside a traditional hard drive. SSDs are faster at reading and writing data than traditional hard drives with spinning platters, or read/write heads.
If you drop a hard drive, the platters can break, meaning you lose your data. Because SSDs store data electronically rather than with moving parts, they aren’t susceptible to this particular sort of damage and data loss. However, it’s more expensive to save data on an SSD than on a traditional hard drive.
Did you know?
A permanent solid-state drive uses the same flash memory technology as a portable flash drive.
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Flash drive connection options
The vast majority of flash drives make use of a USB connection to share data with other devices. USB ports are so common on so many types of devices that using USB flash drives gives you a lot of versatility.
Most flash drives use the most common USB Type-C connector. However, you occasionally will see a few other options for connecting a flash drive.
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USB Type-C: USB Type-C is the largest connector option among USB standards, and it’s the most common on computers as well as on flash drives.
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Micro USB: This connector is smaller than USB Type-C and shows up on mobile devices more often than computers because of its size. Micro USB flash drives are not common.
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Lightning: A few flash drives contain a Lightning connector instead of a USB connector, enabling you to use the flash drive with newer Apple mobile devices, like iPads or iPhones.
Some types of flash drives have multiple connection options built into them, giving them an X shape. You may find Micro USB and USB Type-C connections along with a Lightning connection in this type of flash drive.
One other thing we should mention: because a memory card uses the same type of flash memory technology as a flash drive, some people think of memory cards like flash drives. You certainly can use them for backing up data or sharing data between devices, but because memory card slots aren’t as common as USB slots, USB flash drives are more popular.
USB flash drive speeds
USB flash drives use one of two transmission speed standards.
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USB 2.0: This is a common standard for flash drives. USB 2.0 flash drives have a maximum transfer speed of 60 Mbps (megabytes per second), but most drives top out at about 30 or 40 Mbps.
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USB 3.0: Many newer flash drives support this standard, but you’ll pay a little extra for these versus the USB 2.0 drives. The maximum transfer speed is 640 Mbps, but most flash drives top out at 150 or 200 Mbps.
One final thing to note: regardless of the USB standard used by a flash drive, it will still be able to use any USB port to share data. Because USB technology is backward compatible, you can use a USB 2.0 flash drive in a USB 3.0 port on a computer, for example.
Did you know?
A flash drive with a USB connection is also called a thumb drive, jump drive, pen drive, USB stick, or memory stick. Some flash drives make use of the USB 3.0 standard for faster data transmission. Older flash drives use USB 2.0, which is slower.
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Flash drive prices
Storage capacity is the primary factor that determines the cost of a flash drive. Smaller-capacity drives cost less than larger-capacity drives. Flash drive capacity in measured in gigabytes (GB).
The other factor that determines price is the USB standard in use by the flash drive. Flash drives with a newer USB standard and faster transmission speed will cost more. You can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $40 and more for a flash drive.
Inexpensive
You can find USB 2.0 flash drives with 8GB or less storage capacity under $5. You often find these older drives sold in packages of four or more.
You can find 16GB USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 flash drives for $5 to $12, as well as some 32GB USB 2.0 flash drives.
Some newer flash drives protect your data using a fingerprint scanner on the case.
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Mid-range
You can find 32GB USB 3.0 flash drives and 64GB USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 flash drives for $12 to $25.
Most 128GB USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 flash drives cost between $25 and $40, although some 128GB USB 2.0 drives are cheaper.
Expensive
Flash drives that have 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of data storage cost $40 and more. (Understand that 512GB and 1TB or larger USB drives are very rare right now, and their build quality is questionable.)
You also will pay in this price range for flash drives that contain a Lightning port for use with Apple iOS mobile devices.
FAQ
Q. What are some good reasons to use flash drives?
A. Because flash drives are so small, they’re perfect for taking computer files with you from one location to another. Some people use a flash drive as a backup data option for their computer and carry the flash drive with them. You can also copy a file to a flash drive and print it at another location.
Q. Why wouldn’t I just burn data to a CD-ROM?
A. Certainly, some people like burning backup copies of computer data to CDs, but this process takes a lot longer than using a USB flash drive. Also, a flash drive can hold a lot more data than a single CD. You’ll need to use several CDs to match the data storage on a single flash drive. Finally, USB technology is more commonly available in modern computers than CD drives, so you can use the data on a flash drive in more locations.
Q. How can I keep my USB flash drive data safe?
A. If you’re worried about losing your flash drive and someone else gaining access to your data, you have some options for protecting the data. Some flash drives can encrypt the data, and it can only be unlocked with a password or key. You can use various third-party apps or software to encrypt a flash drive on your own, too. Some flash drives require a thumbprint to unlock the data.
Q. Where can I use a flash drive?
A. Any type of computer can access a flash drive, as long as the computer has the right port. You just plug the flash drive into the device, and you should be able to read the files stored on it. Desktop computers, network computers, laptop computers, and some mobile devices like digital cameras and phones can read USB flash drives.
