14 Greatest USB Flash Drives (2025): Pen Drives, Thumb Drives, Reminiscence Sticks

{Photograph}: Simon Hill

Different Flash Drives We Like

We’ve examined many different USB flash drives that didn’t make the minimize. Listed here are just a few that may be price contemplating for some people.

PNY Professional Elite V2 (256 GB) for $35: This sliding drive has a plastic cowl to guard the USB-A plug, and was our compact choose for some time. It carried out nicely (learn and write speeds hovered round 415 MB/s and 425 MB/s) in my exams, and has a gap for a lanyard or keyring. I examined the 256-GB drive, however there are 512-GB and 1-terabyte fashions.

SanDisk Extremely Twin Drive Go (128 GB) for $16: This useful drive swivels to provide you USB-C or USB-A, and is available in numerous sizes and a few enjoyable colours, however the decrease capability drives are gradual (USB 3.1). You will get the 128 GB drive and up in USB 3.2 Gen 1 for as much as 400 MB/s learn and it’s a stable different to the PNY Duo above.

PNY Elite-X (256 GB) for $22: This super-compact, sliding drive has a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 jack and a loop on the tip to suit on a keyring. It labored advantageous however proved unremarkable in my exams (round 200 MB/s learn, and 130 MB/s write).

Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 (16 GB) for $100: When you want a safe drive, Kingston’s IronKey boasts FIPS 140-3 certification, XTS-AES 256-bit encryption, and a particular epoxy on its circuitry to make it unimaginable to take away parts. On the draw back, it’s costly, the keypad is fiddly, and 10 fallacious entries wipe the drive.

Samsung FIT Plus (256 GB) for $23: It’s better-looking than our greatest tiny drive choose, with a metallic physique and efficiency to match (as much as 400 MB/s learn for 128-GB or 256-GB drives). However Samsung’s drive can be considerably larger and dearer, although it does have a useful loop for a keychain.

Keep away from These Flash Drives

{Photograph}: Simon Hill

Silicon Energy DS72 Transportable SSD (1 TB): It is a cheap worth for a 1-TB drive with USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-A and USB-C connectors, and it persistently hit 450 MB/s learn and write speeds in my exams (it might hit 1050 MB/s and 850 MB/s with the suitable gear). It received fairly heat to the contact, however the purpose I don’t advocate this drive is the silly plastic connector covers. You must bend them again, and so they get in the best way while you’re making an attempt to insert the drive.

Verbatim Twin (64 GB): This teeny drive is reasonable and has each USB-A and USB-C plugs, however I discovered write speeds had been variable (60 MB/s for USB-C and 90 MB/s for USB-A) and skim speeds had been round 150 MB/s for each. There’s a cowl for the USB-A and a wee strap you’ll be able to connect, however this drive is nearly too small, and it proved awkward to insert and take away. It additionally is available in 16- or 32-gigabyte choices.

---

Energy up with limitless entry to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and unique subscriber content material that is too necessary to disregard. Subscribe At present.