If Speed Matters: The Fastest Flash Drives

Verbatim Store n Go V3 16Gb

The most affordable model in our TOP 5 is available in a compact case with a matte finish. Therefore, firstly, it does not prevent the connection of other drives or cables to neighboring USB ports of the computer. And, secondly, its case is resistant to scratches, so that the device will keep a neat appearance after several years of operation. Another important detail is that the drive has a retractable USB connector. When folded, when you carry the flash drive with you, its opening is protected from damage.

The Verbatim model is available in four variants — from 16 to 64 GB. It is suitable for various tasks: from carrying working documents to storing a small film library for playback on a media player or TV. In addition, you can choose one of several colour options: a dark case with a bright insert (purple, green, yellow, etc.). The low cost affected the quality of the device's assembly – some users complain of a slight creaking of the case during compression.

On the other hand, high-speed reading indicators correspond to more expensive devices. Verbatim provides access to information at a speed of 60 Mbps with a minimum access time, which is typical for all flash memory drives. And the average write speed is in the range of 10-12 Mbps. In terms of reading speed, the device leaves behind most flash drives that comply with the USB 2.0 standard. And the low write speed corresponds to the price positioning of Verbatim Store 'n' Go V3.

Transcend JetFlash 780 32Gb Price from 958 up to 1 802 ₴ →

JetFlash 780 stands out for its high speed performance. Tests of browsers and users show that a 32 GB drive has a data read and write speed that almost reaches the claimed 210 Mbps and 75 Mbps, respectively. And the 64 GB model is capable of writing files even faster. The manufacturer notes that files are copied literally in seconds thanks to the use of high-performance MLC memory. At the same time, the JetFlash 780's high-speed performance with a volume of 8 and 16 GB is inferior to the more capacious versions of this model. Their data is read at a speed of about 100 MB /s, and written at a speed of 20 and 40 MB /s, respectively. Another feature of the USB key fob is proprietary software, which can be downloaded from the manufacturer's website. The Transcend Elite programme is useful for creating backups and restoring data (including with subsequent uploading to cloud storage). It can also encrypt files using a 256-bit AES key and create "bookmarks" for quick access to them.

The flash drive has a pretty appearance: a pattern resembling a chessboard, and chrome edging. It has a hole for a strap or a keyring. JetFlash 780 is compact, according to reviews, in some cases it can only prevent the connection of large USB drives (like Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0) to the adjacent USB port of the laptop. And the only subjective disadvantage of the device is that the removable cap is not attached to the body.

Transcend JetFlash 780 with a capacity of 32 and 64 GB have a good price-performance ratio. These models have excellent speed indicators (especially when reading data) and they are more accessible than competitors from SanDisk and Kingston in our review.

Silicon Power Blaze B10 64Gb

The Silicon Power model is notable for its unusual design. At first glance, this is an ordinary flash drive with not the most practical glossy case. The uniqueness of the drive is manifested when connected to a PC. When copying information and heating the Blaze B10, the pattern on its body, vaguely resembling the tracks on a printed circuit board, changes its colour from blue to red.

Despite the relatively affordable price of the model (even for variants with a large amount of memory), it shows excellent write and read speeds thanks to the use of the NEC controller. However, for the same reason, the flash drive can noticeably "load" the processor (if it is not very performant). On laptops and PCs with a USB 3.0 connector, the device usually shows a speed of about 70 Mbps when reading and 40 Mbps when writing. When copying large files, the speed may be higher. For example, according to reviews, when reading it sometimes reaches 140 Mbps.

Proprietary utility SP Widget is able to create backup copies of data on a USB flash drive and encrypt them to protect information from unauthorized access. And it can also check files for viruses and malware. So your data will not be stolen or damaged by intruders.

SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0 32Gb

SanDisk drives are highly appreciated by professionals and ordinary users. Whether it's a USB flash drive or an SSD drive, rest assured — you pay not only for gigabytes of memory, but also for speed and reliability. Extreme USB 3.0 meets each of these criteria.

The flash drive is available in the form of a classic USB key fob in a practical matte case. It has a hole for attaching a strap or a key ring. It is long, but not wide, so it does not prevent devices from connecting to neighboring computer ports. The USB connector is hidden inside the case, and a retractable mechanism is provided for its extraction. In the open state, it is securely fixed. With careful handling, the mechanism will remain operational after 2-3 years of continuous use.

The drive uses SanDisk memory, which provides incredible read speeds (up to 245 Mbps) and write speeds (up to 100 Mbps) for the 64 GB version, as for a flash drive. Of course, when connected to a USB 3.0 port. This data is confirmed not only by tests of popular resources, but also by user reviews. So the device is suitable not only for carrying files, but also provides high-speed operation of portable programs recorded on it (portable soft) and when installing the operating system from a USB drive.

The flash drive comes with SanDisk SecureAccess proprietary software, which can be useful for encrypting data and protecting it with a password. And the rather high cost of the model is justified by its thoughtful and robust design, as well as the highest speed indicators.

HyperX DataTraveler 3.0 64Gb

Kingston produces a lot of flash drives, among which there are interesting models that combine a protected case and fast operation. DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 is available in a relatively large rubberized case with metal inserts. The device will withstand falls and bumps, it is difficult to break it accidentally. The package includes a strap for attaching a USB flash drive, for example, to a keychain, so that it does not get lost. On the other hand, due to the considerable size of the drive, when connected to a computer, it can prevent other devices from connecting to the nearest USB ports. In addition, the removable cover is not attached to the case in any way, so it is not difficult to lose it.

In terms of protective properties, the model is slightly inferior to the Kingston DataTraveler R3.0 drive. And in terms of speed indicators, DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 leaves behind not only this "armored" model, but also all of the above devices, being the leader in our TOP 5 and among the models available for sale. After all, the data reading speed of DataTraveler is 225 Mbps, and the writing speed is 135 Mbps. So even large files are written and read in seconds. By the way, the storage capacity is also impressive — 64, 128 and 256 GB. The weak point of the flash drive is the arbitrary recording of many small files, which takes longer than we would like. Although this is a standard problem with most of these drives and we will not consider it a disadvantage of this model.

Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 justifies its high cost by the fact that it is one of the fastest USB keyfobs. In addition, it has a strong case that will protect the data and the internal hardware of the device. Therefore, the DataTraveler from the HyperX series is suitable for those for whom not only the speed of copying information is important, but also the reliability of its storage.