The best USB flash drives in 3.0 format will become an indispensable assistant in everyday life, which will help transfer information from one device to another when this cannot be done via the Internet. Flash cards differ in volume, form factor and interface (the fastest are 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 formats). But remember that for maximum data transfer speed the connection must be made to a similar connector on your PC.
Modern computer flash drives are distinguished by their modest weight and size, compatibility with various equipment, resistance to magnetic fields and adverse mechanical influences. They can store data autonomously for up to 10 years. To make it easier for you to make your choice, we have prepared a rating of flash drives by speed and reliability in 2022. The TOP includes 10 of the highest quality and fastest USB flash drives.
The emergence of a “different” view on choosing a flash drive
Very often, friends and acquaintances, knowing the specifics of my work, ask me about choosing a good/reliable/stylish drive for storing data. Some people need another flash drive, others need a memory card for a new gadget or camera. I usually answer that all carriers are almost equally unreliable, but as a rule, such an answer suits few people and is perceived as an act of disrespect and indifference towards the questioner. The most persistent ones continue to insist: “This is how you choose flash drives and memory cards?” And I decided to answer...
I choose drives from which, if something goes wrong, I can most likely recover data.
The specifics of my work are as follows: our company receives completely new Flash drives for research, and the main task is to simulate the failure of this flash drive and restore the contents from it. It was restored quickly, with the help of existing developments - good, it was not restored - we need to figure it out and replenish the base of knowledge and experience. Thus, a situation has arisen in which a list of manufacturers of flash drives and specific models of media from which data recovery, in the event of a hardware failure, occurs without any problems has been determined.
This is important, since it should be noted that today there are flash drives, data recovery from which has not been studied not only within our company, but also since we closely communicate with all the leading specialists around the world and keep our finger on the pulse, we know that some devices are not yet recoverable in principle.
An idea came to mind. Why not review flash drives from this batch on behalf of a data recovery engineer? Perhaps this information will be useful to someone, and they will read it before the flash drive dies, burying files that were not backed up in time.
Flash drive manufacturers
In fact, all flash drives on sale do not differ much in functionality and capabilities. But the number of brands producing such accessories is growing almost every year. Therefore, before looking for the best option for purchase, it is worth conducting a short guide to the manufacturers. The best flash drives in 2022 were presented by the following companies:
- SanDisk is an American corporation that has been operating since 1988. The main direction is storage media based on flash memory. In the market for such goods, the brand ranks third in sales. The production volume is more than 200 million units. The company now produces 15 million units for sale each quarter.
- Transcend is a Taiwanese company founded in 1988. Manufactures various RAM modules, various data storage devices, solid drives, hard drives. Multimedia gadgets and related accessories under this brand are also in great demand. Today there are 14 representative offices in different countries.
- SmartBuy is a high-tech company from Taiwan that has appeared on the global gadgets and devices market since 2000. There are over 3,000 varieties of products with this name, these are different disks for PCs, electrical installation products, accessories for computers and mobile phones, LED devices, flash drives and much more.
- Toshiba is a global multinational corporation from Japan, founded in 1857. The product portfolio includes a huge variety of products, including equipment, IT and communications systems, consumer electronics, household appliances, various gadgets and accessories. The brand is on the top list of the oldest companies in the country.
- Silicon Power is a Taiwanese company that began its activities in 2003. Despite the relatively short experience, the products are sold in more than 100 countries around the world. The product range includes modules, memory cards, hard and portable drives, etc. Every year the company opens representative offices in different countries, demonstrating rapid, successful development.
- Datatek International Co., Ltd. is a Taiwanese company that produces a huge range of flash drives for storing any files. Occupies a leading position in the OEM/ODM activity segment. Founded in 2003. Experts place great emphasis on preserving the environment.
- Kingston Technology Company, Inc. is a major American brand founded in California since 1987. The first product the company entered the market with was a memory model that set industry standards for the future. Today the company is recognized as one of the largest independent manufacturers of high-tech memory devices.
- Samsung is a South Korean group of companies that has been operating since 1938. The brand is known all over the world as a successful home appliance[/anchor], telecommunications, integrated circuits, audio, video devices, etc. It’s hard to believe that it was originally a rice noodle warehouse that went bankrupt three times.
- HyperX is a brand of the same name owned by the American company Kingston Technology. Under this name, high-performance solid-state drives, USB, DDR4 and DDR3, headsets for gamers, and gaming accessories are produced. The brand was founded in 2002. In 2015, the company distinguished itself by being the first to create the fastest 128 GB RAM kit.
- ADATA Technology is a Taiwanese company that has been producing drives and memory modules since 2001. Competitiveness is due to innovation and professionalism of the team. The main goal is to create high-quality solutions that can make human life comfortable. Today it ranks 2nd in terms of production volumes of such devices.
The best Apple all-in-one PCs
Flash drives 64 GB. Prices
In this article we will talk about seven USB Flash drives. All of them were purchased in one of the chain stores on the same day.
- Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 — RUB 4,630. (RUB 72.34 per 1 GB)
- Toshiba SUZAKU — 1,840 rub. (RUB 28.75 per 1 GB)
- Kingston DataTraveler G4 — RUB 1,920. (30 rubles for 1 GB)
- Qumo Aluminum 3.0 — RUB 2,120. (RUB 33.13 per 1 GB)
- Transcend JetFlash 780 — RUB 3,820. (RUB 59.69 per 1 GB)
- Kingston DataTraveler 101 G2 — RUB 1,840. (RUB 28.75 per 1 GB)
- SanDisk Extreme - RUB 3,270. (RUB 51.09 per 1 GB)
Read and write speed
For the speed test, I deliberately did not use software written by my colleagues. To check the speed of the drives, the publicly available CrystalDiskMark version 3.0.3 program was selected. A very simple and understandable software that shows:
- Sequential read/write speed
- Random read/write speed of 512 KB blocks
- Random read/write speed of 4 KB blocks (Queue depth 1)
- Random read/write speed of 4 KB blocks (Queue depth 32)
The test was performed on the same computer, on the same port. Although most of the flash drives in this review have a USB 3.0 interface, this connector is often not very conveniently located and many users insert flash drives into the USB 2.0 connector on the front panel of the computer, so the review will show performance characteristics when connected to USB 3.0 and USB 2.0.
Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0
USB 3.0 port
USB 2.0 port
Toshiba SUZAKU
USB 3.0 port
USB 2.0 port
Kingston DataTraveler G4
USB 3.0 port
USB 2.0 port
Qumo Aluminum 3.0
USB 3.0 port
USB 2.0 port
Transcend JetFlash 780
USB 3.0 port
USB 2.0 port
Kingston DataTraveler 101 G2
USB 3.0 port
Here an inattentive reader will say: “Why so little???” An attentive reader will pay attention to the packaging of this flash drive and see that it has a USB 2.0 interface installed. Most likely, this explains the lowest price in this group of flash drives.
USB 2.0 port
SanDisk Extreme
USB 3.0 port
USB 2.0 port
Subtotal of tests
read
speed was the
Transcend JetFlash 780
write
speed was the
SanDisk Extreme
Samsung USB 3.1 Flash Drive FIT Plus 256Gb
A flash drive from the famous Samsung brand allows you to transfer huge amounts of information at a speed of at least 50 MB/s - this is the bandwidth provided for reading. When recording, the figure is higher – up to 300 MB/s.
Samsung USB 3.1 Flash Drive FIT Plus 256Gb in the rating of 256 Gb flash drives
And, although the cost of the model is not the lowest compared to its competitors, it wins due to its minimal heating level, small size and quick update of stored files. And the housing, protected from high and low temperatures, mechanical stress, moisture and electromagnetic radiation, allows you to use the drive at home, on the road, and in industrial production.
Advantages of the model:
- high level of protection from most external influences;
- good speed indicators – especially when reading data;
- compact dimensions and minimal weight;
- slight heating of the case when operating in any mode (connection, writing or reading).
Disadvantages of the gadget:
- lack of a light indicator that could indicate the drive is connected;
- thin plastic eyelet – it is not advisable to carry a flash drive on your keys as a key fob;
- high price.
Analysis of intermediate test results
After conducting read and write speed tests, we will calculate several important coefficients that will help determine the most profitable drive in terms of several parameters.
Calculating the ratio of reading speed to the cost of 1 GB of memory
, we received the following values (the larger the value, the more profitable it is to use the drive):
Calculating the ratio of recording speed to the cost of 1 GB of memory
, we received the following values (the larger the value, the more profitable it is to use the drive):
It will also be useful to know the ratio of write speed to read speed
. The closer the value is to 1, the more versatile the device is, and the more “comfortable” it is to use the drive.
Samsung USB 3.1 Flash Drive DUO Plus 256Gb
An unusual drive that supports two connection methods – to standard USB Type-A connectors, and to more modern USB Type-C ports. This allows you to do without adapters when transferring data, for example, from a computer to a modern smartphone, and vice versa.
Flash drive Samsung BAR Plus 256GB in the rating of 256 Gb flash drives
The speed of writing data to the gadget reaches 100 MB/s, reading speed is 300 MB/s, more than enough to transfer thousands of photos, modern computer games or movies in 4K and 8K formats. In addition, the manufacturer claims that the drive can withstand immersion in water to a depth of 1 meter, strong shocks, temperatures from -25°C to 85°C, X-ray radiation up to 15,000 Gauss and radiation up to 50 R.
Advantages of the model:
- protection from electromagnetic and radiation radiation, high temperature and moisture;
- 5-year warranty;
- compatibility with two types of connectors;
- high speed under any conditions – especially in random access mode.
Disadvantages of the device:
- lack of light indication;
- The connector is short in length – it will be difficult to connect it to a smartphone in a thick case.
Logical conclusions
So, it's time to draw some basic conclusions from this bunch of pictures:
- If your budget is very limited and you need to find the cheapest option, the obvious choice is Toshiba SUZAKU
for 1,840 rubles. - If you need the best option that takes into account reading speed and cost, then the choice would be Qumo Aluminum 3.0
for 2,120 rubles.
But Hollywood cinema in general, and Ethan Hunt in particular, laid in my mind that the most important indicator of drive performance is write speed
.
- Therefore, if I were shown all these tests and asked, “What would you choose for yourself?”, I would answer that in terms of price and performance, I would take the SanDisk Extreme
.
Samsung BAR Plus 256Gb
Another model from Samsung is a good choice for users who care about transfer speed and data safety. The sealed housing provides protection from moisture, mechanical influences, electromagnetic fields and X-ray radiation.
Flash drive Samsung BAR Plus 256GB in the rating of 256 Gb flash drives
During operation, the drive hardly heats up and can operate in a temperature range of 0°C – 60°C. The model's read speed is one of the highest, up to 300 MB/s; for writing, this figure is about 55 MB/s.
Pros of the drive:
- good protection from external influences, including even radiation;
- high data transfer speed;
- low temperature of the case, although it is made of metal;
- original design;
- Convenient and reliable fastening hole for lanyard.
Disadvantages of the device:
- the drive has no connection indication;
- high price - although compared to USB flash drives of the same class, the cost of purchasing a BAR Plus 256Gb does not seem too high.
Honesty test
Some manufacturers display read/write speed indicators on the packaging of their drives in the hope that when choosing, the buyer will pay attention to this and make a choice in favor of this product.
Let's check how much the declared values differ from the real ones. Reading
Record
It is clear that next to each declared value there is a small “*
", which refers to barely visible text. It says that real data may differ, testing took place in special conditions and UAV UAV UAV.
The most “honest” flash drive is Transcend JetFlash 780
.
Missing percentages can be attributed to measurement error. In second place are SanDisk Extreme
and
Toshiba SUZAKU
.
Kingston DataTraveler 100 G3 256Gb
Inexpensive model with good speed characteristics. The plastic case of the flash drive has a strict and minimalist design, and the connector comes out of the case when you lightly press the cap.
Kingston DataTraveler 100 G3 256GB in the rating of 256 Gb flash drives
The speed of reading information from the drive is up to 130 MB/s, above the average for such budget solutions. However, if data is written to a flash drive, the throughput drops by more than 10 times. And the case is too wide to be able to connect two of these drives on some laptops or TVs.
List of main advantages:
- high data reading speed;
- no noticeable heating during operation;
- convenient design;
- small length of the model.
Disadvantages of the drive:
- large width, which may interfere with the use of a nearby USB connector;
- no connection indication;
- Data recording speed is no more than 10 MB/s.
If something went wrong...
Flash drives tend to break at the most inopportune moments.
And it contained important data that was needed two hours ago. Frustrated, you search and find a data recovery company and go there with the hope of hearing an answer that everything will be ready in a few days. Then the specialist in data recovery from flash drives begins his work. He disassembles the drive and begins to shamanize and get the data piece by piece, step by step. And he thinks to himself: “Well, why again these low-quality microcircuits, again a complex controller, etc.”
We tried to look at the flash drives presented in the review through the eyes of a data recovery engineer and evaluate them. And this is what happened.
Methodology and evaluation criteria
Let's try to evaluate drives using a 9-point system.
4 criteria will be considered: Removing memory chips
- 0 points - no problem
- 1 points - possible difficulties
- 2 points - possible under certain conditions
Reading a memory chip dump
- 0 points - no problem
- 1 points - possible difficulties
- 2 points - time-consuming/labor-intensive, impossible
Performing preliminary transformations
- 0 points - no problem
- 1 points - possible difficulties (solvable)
- 2 points - possible difficulties (currently unsolvable)
Build the image
- 0 points - no problem
- 1 points - possible difficulties (solvable, labor-intensive, time-consuming)
- 2 points - possible difficulties (not yet solvable)
Accordingly, the fewer
total points the drive scores, the higher the likelihood of data recovery and the speed of work to save these files.
Drive components
Any flash drive includes a controller (a microprocessor responsible for distributing user data) and memory chips (at least 1, but there may be several. In fact, the memory chips store data in a specific form).
The task of an engineer for data recovery from flash drives is to emulate the operation of a controller that has failed. Let's see what our drives consist of: 1. Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0
- Phison PS2251-01-L controller
- Memory chips 4 pcs in TLGA-52 package, manufactured by Toshiba
2. Toshiba SUZAKU
- Toshiba TC58NC2303GST controller (relabeled Phison PS2251-03-v)
- Memory chips 2 pcs in TSOP-48 package, manufactured by Toshiba
3. Kingston DataTraveler G4
- Phison PS2251-07-V controller
- Memory chips 1 pc in TLGA-52 package, manufactured by Toshiba
4. Qumo Aluminum 3.0
- Phison PS2251-07-6 controller
- Memory chips 1 pc in BGA-132 package, manufactured by Toshiba
5. Transcend JetFlash 780
- Innostor IS903 controller
- Memory chips 2 pcs in BGA-132 package, manufactured by Samsung
6. Kingston DataTraveler 101 G2
- Phison PS2251-68-5 controller
- Memory chips 1 pc in TLGA-52 package, manufactured by Toshiba
7. SanDisk Extreme
- SanDisk controller 20-82-08369-1
- Memory chips 1 pc in TLGA-52 package, manufactured by SanDisk
With a short analysis, it becomes clear that almost all drives have controllers and memory chips of the same generation, manufactured in the same factories. This data also confirms the thesis that all drives are equally unreliable because they are made from almost the same components.
Recovery test results
Having gone through all the necessary steps to recover data from these flash drives, we received the following results:
The winner in the category of the most likely successful file recovery in case of failure was the Toshiba SUZAKU
, since this flash drive scored the lowest number of points. If I were choosing a drive for myself based on the best chance of successfully recovering files in the event of a hardware failure, I would choose this one. Data recovery from it is the fastest, and the probability of recovering data is very high. To be fair, it should be noted that USB drives under the Toshiba brand appeared relatively recently. This is a new player in the market, such low prices are associated with the company’s marketing moves, and, according to forecasts, prices for these products will increase.
Transcend JetFlash 790
In terms of characteristics, this device is very similar to the previous participant included in the rating. Also works well with all USB protocols. Data management becomes easier with proprietary Transcend Elite software.
The body is quite compact. There is no cap as it uses a retractable mechanism. The activity of the device is indicated by a light indicator, which is very convenient. To prevent the flash drive from getting lost, you can attach it to a ring for storing keys.
Practical conclusions
Each of you will be able to quickly and effortlessly assess the likelihood of recovering data from your flash drive by following two simple steps:
Download a special program from the website flashboot.ru that will help determine the composition of the components of the drive without disassembling it. For example, Flash Drive Information Extractor 7.5
Having found out the controller’s markings, go to the AceLab “Solution Systems” website and search for your controller. If the controller is on the list, then your data can be recovered using special equipment. If trouble happens and the flash drive does break, then look for specialists who use the PC-3000 Flash hardware and software complex in their work. If your controller is not on the list, then my advice is to replace your flash drive with one from which you can recover data.
Finally, I would like to add - when choosing a drive, carefully study the prices, read reviews and look at our Habra blog or the Hardmaster website. We may have already reviewed this flash drive, and the test results will help you make the right choice.
That's all. And remember, Lost forever still can be found...
Sandisk Cruzer Fit
The TOP 10 best USB flash drives of 2016 are closed by a device from the famous brand Sandisk. Among the interesting points:
- Possibility of storing your data in the “cloud” (up to 2 GB);
- Protecting information from outside interference using the SecureAccess utility;
- Small dimensions.
The Cruzer Fit cannot boast of speed (writing/reading – 5/8 MB per second), but the main purpose of this model is reliable storage of information, which it does an excellent job of.
I am sure that you will definitely make your choice which flash drive is better to buy, based on this rating. In any case, my article helped to significantly narrow the circle so that you do not have to sort through hundreds of options. If you have questions on the topic, feel free to ask them in the comments. I'll be glad to help!
Sincerely, Victor
