[ 020 ]
[]- ]-AFFORDABLE USB 3.0 FLASH DRIVESHOW WE TESTED
Each drive had maximum read and write speeds
tested with CrystalDiskMark, averaged over
three runs. Testing was performed with a Core i 7
laptop, running Windows 10. The results give an
idea of max sequential read and write speeds,
but other file transfer types can be slower.10
USB 3.0 FLASH DRIVES
TESTEDKINGSTON DATATRAVELER
MICRODUO 3C
$
http://www.kingston.com
CRITICAL SPECS
Capacity: 16 , 32, 64, 128GB
USB Type A and C
Dimensions: 30 x 17 x 8mmKingston DataTraveler
MicroDuo 3C
A DUAL MODE DRIVE.AT THE TIME of writing, only one store on
GetPrice and staticICE had the 32GB
MicroDuo 3C for under $20, so savvy
shopping is required to pick one up cheaply.
The little flash drive sports a normal USB
Type-A port on one end and a USB Type-C
connection on the other. The 3C also has a
similarly priced brother with a micro USB
connection instead of USB-C. Not only does
the second port allow easy connection to the
latest USB-C-equipped PCs and laptops, the
drive can connect to smartphones and other
OTG compatible devices.
The 3C is available in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
and 128GB capacities, and supports USB 3.0,
as well as 2.0. The drive leaves the larger USB
side uncovered, but has a hinged rubber cover
for the Type-C connection. During testing,
the drive gave decent read speeds of 93MB/s,
but a somewhat slow 14MB/s write.
It measures in at 30 x 17 x 8mm, weighs 6.8g
and is backed by a 5-year warranty.Samsung Flash Drive Duo
A DUAL-PURPOSE FLASH DRIVE?FOR THOSE WHO need a versatile option,
the Samsung Flash Drive DUO has a normal
Type-A USB connector on one end and
microUSB on the other. This means it can be
easily plugged into both computers and other
compatible devices, such as smartphones and
tablets. The USB 3.0 drive is available in 32GB,
64GB and 128GB capacities — no 16GB
available. It’s built inside a tough metal shell,
with a click on plastic cover for the microUSB
port. Handily, it’s water, dust and shockproof
and, from experience, can happily survive a
trip through a washing machine. We tested
the larger 64GB capacity rated at 130 MB/s,
which, in the real world, managed a still pretty
decent 129MB/s read and excellent 92MB/s
write speed. The drive weighs just 5.2 grams,
and measures in at 16 x 37 x 6mm, and is
backed by a 5-year warranty.
While sources such as GetPrice and
staticICE price the Duo from around $25,
it’s possible to buy through marketplaces such
as eBay for under $20, including delivery.4[ BUDGET STORAGE ]The most
affordable
USB 3.
flash drives
ONCE EXPENSIVE LUXURIES,
USB FLASH DRIVES ARE NOW
SO CHEAP AS TO BE GIVEN AWAY
IN INCREASINGLY LARGE
CAPACITIES. WE TEST 10.
[ LINDSAY HANDMER ]FOR ANYONE COPYING large or plentiful
files, older 2.0 specs drives are painfully slow.
These days, though, USB 3.0 is quite common
and high-speed flash drives are very
affordable. To help you choose an upgrade,
we tested 10 of the most affordable USB 3.
flash drives available. We targeted 32GB
capacity, as this is generally the sweet spot
for flash drives, as 16GB is often not available
or not a lot cheaper. With a bit of careful
shopping online, it’s possible to buy any of
the drives (some including shipping) for $
or less. Many of the flash drives are available
in large 128GB or even 256GB capacities.
Most of the drives are from three key
manufacturers — Samsung, Kingston and
Sandisk. All three companies offer free
software that enables features such as
encryption, passwords, automatic syncing
and backups, as well as data recovery.
While it can be tempting to buy very cheap
no-name brand USB drives, they often have
fake capacities and specs, or very low
transfer speeds.SAMSUNG FLASH DRIVE DUO
$
http://www.samsung.com
CRITICAL SPECS
Capacity: 32 , 64, 128GB
Type-A and microUSB
Dimensions: 16 x 37 x 6mm41 / 2WINNERED’s CHOICE
AWARDWINNERAPPROVED
AWARD