14 Best USB Flash Drive (2025): Pen Drive, Thumb Drive, Memory Stick

Photograph: Simon Hill

We like other flash drives

We have tested several other USB flash drives that did not cut. There are some here that can be worth considering for some people.

Pny Pro Elite V2 (256 GB) for $ 35: This sliding drive has a plastic cover to protect the USB-A plug, and our compact pick for a while. It performed well (my tests read and write the motion hovering around 415 MB/S and 425 MB/S), and an opening for a cord or kiring. I tested the 256-GB drive, but there are 512-GB and 1-Terabite models.

Sandisk Ultra Dual Drive Go (128 GB) for $ 16: This easy drive rotates to give you USB-C or USB-A, and comes in various sizes and some fun colors, but low capacity drives are slow (USB 3.1). You can get 128 GB drive and USB 3.2 General 1 for 400 MB/S Reid and it is a solid option for the PNE pair above.

PNY Elite-X for $ 22 (256 GB): This super-compact, sliding drive has a USB-C 3.2 General 1 jack and a loop finally to fit on a kerning. It worked well, but proved to be excellent in my tests (about 200 MB/s read, and 130 MB/s right).

Kingston Iron Keypad 200 (16 GB) for $ 100: If you need a safe drive, there is a special ecstasy to make 140-3 certification in Ironi, Kingston, XTS-AES 256-bit encryption, and a particular epoxy on its circuitry to make components impossible to remove components. On the negative side, it is expensive, the keypad is the feedli, and 10 incorrect entries wipe the drive.

Samsung Fit Plus for $ 23 (256 GB): It is better looking better than our best small drive pick, a metal body and performance for the match (up to 400 MB/s for 128-GB or 256-GB drives). But Samsung’s drive is also quite large and more expensive, although it has an easy loop for a kitchen.

Avoid these flash drives

Photograph: Simon Hill

Silicon Power DS72 portable SSD (1 TB): It is a reasonable price for 1-TB drive with USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-A and USB-C connectors, and it writes speed in 450 MB/s continuously and write speeds in my tests (it can hit with 1050 MB/S and 850 MB/S with the right gear). This has become quite hot for touch, but is not advised for the reason that this drive is a stupid plastic connector cover. You have to bend them back, and they get on the way when you are trying to drive the drive.

Verbatim Dual (64 GB): This little drive is cheaper and has both USB-A and USB-C plugs, but I found that the right speed variable (60 MB/s for USB-C and 90 MB/S for USB-A) and about 150 MB/s for both reading speed. There is a cover for the USB-A and a wee strap that you can attach, but this drive is almost very small, and it proved to be strange to insert and remove. It also comes in 16- or 32-gigabyte options.

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