Contents
*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Many people perceive flash drives almost as consumables and do not think too much about the selection criteria when buying, except perhaps for capacity. And such a position has a right to exist. In fact, for all the seeming “trinketlessness” of flash drives, they differ significantly in many objective parameters. And if these parameters are taken into account when choosing, the flash drive will be for you not just a temporary “phenomenon”, but a faithful and reliable assistant, in some situations even irreplaceable.
The editors of Simplerule magazine have prepared for you an overview of the most popular flash drives from different manufacturers that have proven themselves best and deserve the highest ratings from active users.
How to choose the right flash drive
Let’s continue where we started and look at the most important parameters that create significant and fundamental differences between flash drives. We emphasize – significant and fundamental, that is, those that clearly determine the performance, whether the flash drive will work on a particular device at all, and in general, whether it will be possible to connect it to this device purely physically. We will not describe here in detail the obvious features such as roominess, body material or design – all this is already clear.
To be precise, based on the “stationery” name of flash drives (USB Flash Drive), it is easy to understand that the interface, in fact, is one – USB. But what generation of this interface, there is already a difference, and a very significant one.
Often in reviews, the concepts of “interface” and “connector” are presented as identical, but this is not entirely correct. The connector can be identical (almost), but the interfaces are different. The closest example – the most recognizable USB connector – is a rectangular Type-A, which can represent USB interfaces of different generations – 2.0, 3.0 / 3.1. The connectors are physically compatible, but contain a different number of pins. To emphasize this difference, manufacturers make the inner plastic part of the socket or plug of a different color – most often blue, less often red, so that the user can distinguish different interfaces on connectors that are identical in shape.
In addition to the classic Type-A connectors, there are more compact and modern ones, used mainly on wearable gadgets:
MicroUSB is an unbalanced connector that is gradually becoming obsolete, but still common.
USB Type-C is a symmetrical oval connector. At first, they were equipped with flagship smartphones, top-end tablets and laptops. But it is spreading more and more actively, not least due to the solution of the problem of asymmetry, which is terribly annoying to everyone, which has given rise to many memes.
Lightning is an obvious nod to Apple technology users. Flash drives with Lightning are mostly hybrid, combined with USB of other form factors and generations.
Based on this, it is obvious that for the long term it is worth picking up a flash drive with the connector that is supposed to be most often used. If you plan to often use a flash drive on devices with different connectors, you can use an adapter, or, alternatively, immediately look at the hybrid version – there are such models in our review.
We figured out the connectors, now about the interface. There are differences in the generations of USB technology, which at the user level is expressed in data transfer speed. The minimum generation worth buying as of early 2020 is USB2.0. First-generation USB devices have been out of production for a long time.
Many may argue that even USB2.0 is a dense yesterday and will not be entirely right. Yes, indeed, USB2.0 is a morally obsolete technology, but to this day new devices are being released that can work only through USB2.0 both in one direction and in the other. After all, it’s not for nothing that even top-end laptops and super-fresh builds of gaming desktop PCs still have at least a couple of USB2.0 outputs. As for speed in its purest form, the upper limit for 2.0 is 480 Mbps (High-speed).
USB3.x Gen1 is the “complex” generation, which includes “regular” USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 1. The first two are almost the same. Their maximum data transfer rate is up to 5 Gb / s (SuperSpeed), that is, an order of magnitude (10 times) higher than that of generation 2.0.
USB3.x Gen2 includes USB3.2 Gen2 standards with a maximum speed of 10Gbps (SuperSpeed+) and USB 3.2 Gen2x2 with speeds up to 20Gbps – the newest standard, and devices on it began to appear on sale only in the second half of last 2019.
Everything described refers specifically to the capabilities of the interface and does not mean that every flash drive with support for one or another USB standard will write and read at maximum speed. Actual speeds vary by manufacturer and model range, but knowing what the USB standard can do across generations can save you a lot of time when choosing.
Rating of the best flash drives
Nomination | Place | Name of product | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Best USB Type-A Flash Drives | 1 | ADATA UV130 | 590 ₽ |
2 | Kingston DataTraveler SE9 G2 | 530 ₽ | |
3 | Transcend JetFlash 790 | 300 ₽ | |
4 | Samsung BARPlus | 730 ₽ | |
5 | Samsung USB 3.1 Flash Drive FIT Plus | 759 ₽ | |
The best USB Type-C flash drives | 1 | SanDisk Ultra USB Type-C | 330 ₽ |
2 | Transcend JetFlash 850S | 485 ₽ | |
The best hybrid flash drives | 1 | Samsung USB 3.1 Flash Drive DUO Plus | 1 160 ₽ |
2 | Transcend JetDrive Go 500S | 2 232 ₽ | |
3 | Silicon Power Mobile C80 | 640 ₽ | |
4 | Transcend JetFlash 380S | 520 ₽ | |
The best flash drives with information protection | 1 | Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G3 | 1 322 ₽ |
2 | DataLocker Sentry K300 | 9 500 ₽ | |
3 | iStorage dataAshur PRO2 | 6 600 ₽ |
Best USB Type-A Flash Drives
The first selection of the review of the best flash drives of 2019-2020 according to Simplerule is dedicated to the still most common and popular form factor – USB Type-A. In this case, we will consider flash drives with USB support of different generations, starting from 2.0.
ADATA UV130
Rating: 4.9
Let’s start with an interesting and quite popular ADATA UV130 series flash drive. The model range is characterized by extreme functional simplicity, but high-quality case and attractive appearance. This largely determines the price, which is not the lowest, but far from the highest.
The dimensions of any flash drive of the UV130 series are 17x44x8mm. Weighs 8g. Further, in the descriptions of other models, the weight may not be indicated due to its insignificance. The body of all models of the line is metal and shock-resistant – an alloy containing zinc that is not subject to corrosion. The metal is unpainted with a textured surface, closer to matte. Not easily soiled and fairly resistant to scratches. On the opposite side of the plug, the body goes into a grip with a cutout in the form of a car spoiler, for which it is convenient to hook up a flash drive to be worn on a strap or removed from the body.
The UV130 series includes 8GB, 16GB and 32GB flash drives. The declared write speed is up to 5MB / s. In fact, independent tests show write speeds even higher, up to 7MB/s. Reading speed (real) is expected even more – up to 17MB / s.
Additional features and qualities such as hardware data encryption, backup or dust and moisture protection are not provided in this model. Further in the text, for other models, the absence of “superpowers” is suspected by default, and if there are additional functions, we will indicate this on purpose.
Advantages
acceptable speed;
reliability and reliability;
stylish appearance;
Zinc alloy body, shockproof;
non-marking surface.
Disadvantages
not found.
Kingston DataTraveler SE9 G2
Rating: 4.8
The second number in this part of the review is the popular and reliable flash drive of the legendary Kingston brand. This is the SE9 of the equally famous DataTraveler series. And it will already be interface 3.0.
The SE9 G2 series includes modifications with a capacity of 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128GB. Outwardly, they are all the same – all-metal cast housing, matte surface, compact dimensions – all this closely resembles the previous model, only Kingston has a hole in the shape of a regular circle on the opposite end of the plug.
The dimensions of the flash drive are 12x45x5mm and it is made in the same form factor as the previous one – it is in form one “long plug” without protruding parts. This format is especially convenient, as it takes up minimal space on the interface panel of a PC, laptop or USB hub. Sometimes this can be vital.
The declared read speed is 15MB/s, the write speed is 100MB/s. In practice, the flash drive shows the best results. According to independent tests and tests conducted by Simplerule specialists, read speeds can reach up to 140MB / s, and writes can even exceed the nominal by more than three times – up to 50MB / s.
We emphasize that this is not an operating speed, but the maximum that the drive is capable of in principle. In everyday use, the speed will vary depending on various factors – system load, the size of the copied files, the overall performance of the computer, even fragmentation.
The manufacturer provides a 5-year warranty for this model.
Advantages
metal, shock-resistant, non-staining case;
attractive appearance;
read and write speeds are higher than stated, in places at times;
5 years manufacturer’s warranty;
reasonable cost.
Disadvantages
not found.
Transcend JetFlash 790
Rating: 4.7
The third number in the selection of flash drives with a classic USB Type-A connector is a series that, according to objective indicators, is not much better than the previous one, but has some attractive defining qualities. The supported interface is USB3.0.
This series is already larger in size, since it has a different design – retractable. By lightly pressing and moving the slider, the plug extends outward until a conditional locking click, after which the flash drive can be inserted into the socket. The plug just as easily retracts back into the case.
The dimensions of the flash drive are 21x64x11mm. The case material is plastic, the most common color is black, but there is also white in the line. A blue LED is installed inside, which simultaneously performs two functions – an indicator of data exchange and decorative lighting.
According to the manufacturer’s specifications, this model should have a read speed of at least 90MB/s, and a write speed of 25MB/s. Testing showed a result that exceeded the nominal: reading – a little more than 100MB / s, writing – a little more than the declared 25MB / s on modifications with a minimum amount of memory, and further – the more, the faster, up to 80MB / s. So, there is still an excess of the declared characteristics, and this is normal for well-known manufacturers of memory drives of this format.
Here we emphasize one common characteristic for most flash drive models. If you record a large number of small files, then the speed for the same amount of transferred data will be noticeably lower than in the case of large files, including lower than the nominal declared one. There is nothing wrong with this, since the figures indicated by the manufacturer are only an average estimated indicator.
In general, this series does not cause any complaints from consumers, except for one thing – the dimensions in width. For many users, a flash drive interferes with connecting other devices to an adjacent USB socket.
Advantages
retractable design;
backlight – data exchange indicator;
speeds correspond to the declared characteristics with excess;
reliability and durability.
Disadvantages
size complaints.
Samsung BARPlus
Rating: 4.6
Now we “smoothly” move in our review to flash drives with USB3.1 interface support, and consider something special – the BAR Plus series from Samsung.
The series attracts at first sight by its very appearance. This flash drive brings us back to the idea of an elegant all-metal case, like the first two models. Only here there is also an element of a work of art, expressed in the form of a flash drive, reminiscent of either a symbolic flower or a precious stone – one way or another, it looks more like a piece of jewelry than an electronic device. Dimensions – 16x40x12mm.
And a few more words about the physical characteristics of the drive. This is the first flash drive in our review, equipped with advanced tools from all kinds of external influences. In addition to shock resistance, it is protected from moisture, high temperatures, magnetic influences and even radiation in the X-ray spectrum.
As for the speeds, here the situation is as follows. Tests show that this model allows you to read data from itself at a speed of 200-220MB / s, and write – 30-35MB / s. If the reading is even more or less, then the recording is not too impressive, as many user reviews say. There are much older models with better performance, but they are no longer corny on sale. So, if the write speed is extremely important, you should give up beauty and security, and look at something else – at least the previous model.
Advantages
brand;
metal case;
minimum width (does not interfere with connecting devices to adjacent sockets);
protection against moisture, magnetic fields, x-rays;
Exquisite design, reminiscent of a piece of jewelry.
Disadvantages
not the most outstanding speed;
no status indicator.
Samsung USB 3.1 Flash Drive FIT Plus
Rating: 4.5
The first part of the review ends with the classic USB Type-A flash drives, another model from Samsung, which is somewhat the opposite of the previous one.
If the model described above impressed with its external sophistication, then FIT Plus, on the contrary, tries to be as less noticeable as possible. This is one of the smallest classic connector flash drives on the market. Its dimensions are 19x24x7mm, that is, it is not much larger than a receiver for a wireless mouse. But its width is still several millimeters larger than that of the super-narrow models described above, so it can “make friends” with neighboring devices, or it can interfere – this will already depend on their shape and dimensions.
This technological design allowed the manufacturer to designate this model as waterproof. Although this is not surprising for a microscopic, tightly sealed plastic case, it could well not have happened, so we write down moisture protection as a virtue.
As for the speeds, the tests here show such a picture. The flash drive can easily read data from itself at a speed of 250-270MB / s, and if the files are larger, then the speed can reach up to 300MB / s. The write speed is slightly below 60MB / s, moreover, it is stable and does not particularly depend on file sizes. And there is a noticeable positive point – the speed of random access is on average significantly higher than that of flash drives of the same class and generation.
Advantages
super miniature sizes;
decent write and read speeds;
increased speed of random access;
stable write speed;
moisture protection;
reliability and durability.
Disadvantages
overpriced for the older model 256GB.
The best USB Type-C flash drives
The second section of the review of the best flash drives according to Simplerule magazine presents two models of a completely different form factor. We are talking about USB Type-C drives with a symmetrical plug. Now they are most applicable to wearable gadgets – smartphones and tablets, as well as to some ultrabooks or even PCs equipped with the appropriate sockets. There are few flash drives of this format available for sale, since much more hybrids are produced that combine the Type-C connector with the classic one. They are presented in the next section of the review.
SanDisk Ultra USB Type-C
Rating: 4.9
The assortment of the well-known manufacturer of data drives SanDisk has a separate line of flash drives for mobile gadgets with a USB Type-C plug – SanDisk Ultra.
Flash drive dimensions – 19x41x7mm. Body made of metal and translucent plastic. The design is retractable, but the casing covers only about half the area. You need to pull out the plug “toward yourself”, for which a special protrusion is provided on the metal part of the case. Also on the case there is a small hole through which you can thread a lanyard for wearing or insert a ring of a bunch of keys.
Now let’s move on to the analysis of the speed of work. Bench tests in several different programs and on different devices showed the following results. On PCs and laptops equipped with a symmetrical USB Type-C socket, the SanDisk Ultra flash drive showed a relatively good read speed – 150-170MB / s. This fully corresponds to and even in some places exceeds the figure of 150MB / s declared by the manufacturer. However, the write speed at SanDisk decided not to advertise “modestly”, which from the very beginning led to the idea that it was far from impressive. And so it turned out – recording on fairly powerful PCs and laptops even falls short of 20MB / s, but only a little more than 18MB / s. This is, in fact, the only obvious drawback of the model.
In general, the SanDisk Ultra USB Type-C is a typical flash drive from that “family”, in which the read speed is much higher than the write speed. And reading is enough to watch videos in high quality directly from a flash drive. To do this, however, you will need to purchase a larger drive, since there are modifications in the lineup for both 64 and 128GB.
A slightly different situation is observed when connecting a flash drive to a smartphone. So, on different smarts, tests show different speeds, and significantly. The correlation is mostly direct, depending on the performance of the smartphone. To use a flash drive with wearable gadgets, SanDisk offers a fairly convenient branded Memory Zone mobile application.
Advantages
decent quality corresponding to the price;
retractable design;
sufficiently high reading speed;
a good branded application for wearable gadgets.
Disadvantages
rather low write speed.
Transcend JetFlash 850S
Rating: 4.8
And one more example of a flash drive with a symmetrical USB Type-C connector, this time from the well-known brand Transcend. This model is already noticeably better in terms of write speed than the previous one, but slightly worse in terms of read speed, but not critical.
First, about the design features. The design of this model is classic in every way, and even in a slightly bad way. So, the plug here is not retractable, but open, and is closed with a transparent cap for storage. But the cap is not attached in any way to the back of the flash drive, or in any other way, so its loss is a matter of time. Although this seems like a trifle, it annoys many, and Simplerule experts counted this as a shortcoming of the model.
On the other hand, the metal body pleases, it is quite compact – 13x33x7mm, and waterproof. The flash drive looks solid, like any other with a metal, high-quality case.
As for speeds, Simplerule experts have tested this model on various devices, including powerful desktop PCs, and got such results. The read speed is almost unchanged on different devices and is slightly less than 130GB / s, rarely rising to 150GB / s. Recording is carried out at a speed of about 27MB / s both on bench tests and when simply copying large and medium files. As you can see, the record here is one and a half times higher than that of the previous model.
Transcend has a feature-packed flash storage software package that can greatly expand the capabilities of the JetFlash 850S with data compression, encryption, deleted file recovery, and more.
Advantages
waterproof case;
relatively high read and write speed;
metal case;
useful proprietary software.
Disadvantages
the cap of the plug is not attached to anything, it is easy to lose it.
The best hybrid flash drives
Now let’s move on to the hybrid format USB flash drive category, which is gaining more and more popularity. These are great solutions for those who use one flash drive for a smartphone / tablet and a desktop PC, but do not want to use adapters. This is quite reasonable, since the adapter can simply be forgotten at the most inconvenient moment, while in a hybrid flash drive at least two different plugs are always with it by definition.
Samsung USB 3.1 Flash Drive DUO Plus
Rating: 4.9
The next product of the technology giant Samsung opens the section. This is the most successful model in terms of read and write speed, when compared with the neighboring solutions described above – BAR Plus and FIT Plus.
The flash drive is made in a plastic case with rounded ends. Dimensions – 18x58x7mm, appearance is minimalistic, but pleasant – a harmonious combination of gray and black colors. The case is provided with effective water protection, with which the flash drive can be under water without consequences up to 72 hours in a row.
The decision to support two different form factors USB 3.1 and USB Type-C is hybrid in every way. The fact is that the flash drive consists of two independent parts – in fact, it is a set of a drive with a USB Type-C plug and an adapter from Type-C to classic Type-A. Only this adapter is connected to the body of the main body. The Type-C plug is closed with a cap. Actually, such a form factor and approach to the technical solution makes DUO Plus even more appropriate for the previous section of the review, but the drive is still positioned as a single, albeit composite device.
Thus, DUO Plus is suitable for all those laptops that are completely devoid of a classic USB socket, for example, ASUS ZenBook S or the same MacBook Pro. As well as the two models from the previous section, DUO Plus will also read a smartphone without any problems, provided that it supports USB OTG technology. And one more pleasant, albeit obvious, point – the adapter from the DUO Plus kit is not tied to this model in any way and can be used with any other compatible device.
As for the most important thing – read and write speeds, here, as already mentioned, the situation is much better than other flash drives in the Samsung range. So, independent tests show the ability of this model to provide a read speed of about 270MB / s and a write speed of almost 90MB / s. On different devices, the results vary, but not too much.
In fairness, it should be said that the read speed is still lower than the declared 300MB / s, but not too much, and compared to all previous solutions, this is an excellent result. The manufacturer could boast of such a recording, but officially, the recording speed, as always, is not advertised for marketing reasons.
Advantages
high read and write speeds;
the adapter can be used for other flash drives with USB Type-C;
case with highly effective water protection;
nice appearance.
Disadvantages
there is no indication.
Transcend JetDrive Go 500S
Rating: 4.8
The second number in the selection of hybrid flash drives with different connectors is the next Transcend model. Now it will be a special solution for fans of Apple technology. There is a classic Type-A plug here, and besides it, a plug of the proprietary format of Apple devices, that is, Lightning. The supported USB standard is 3.1.
In terms of design, the flash drive is made extremely simply. An all-metal compact case that looks similar to the Kingston DataTraveler SE9 G2, which was discussed in the first section of the review, one narrow end is completely a plug of the classic Type-A form factor. On the opposite narrow side is a Lightning plug, which is closed with a cap. Type-A is also closed with the same transparent cap, but, frankly, without them, the flash drive looks more natural.
There is a very similar, but slightly different in design, Transcend JetDrive Go 300S model in the assortment. It is slightly larger, and the Type-A plug in it stands out against the background of the case. Both plugs are closed with transparent caps. Otherwise, the characteristics of the data transfer rate of both models are identical. Therefore, if for some reason the 500S is not on sale, you can also look at the 300S. But Simplerule experts are unanimous in their preference for the “XNUMX”.
And, finally, about speeds. Compared to the previous model, JetDrive Go 500S, as well as 300S look poor, but we have what we have. Test results show read and write speeds through about 120 and 22 MB/s, respectively.
Advantages
sufficiently high reading speed;
shockproof housing;
attractive appearance;
the most compact hybrid on the market in this category.
Disadvantages
rather low write speed;
short-lived protective caps.
Silicon Power Mobile C80
Rating: 4.7
Another interesting, in its own way original and popular hybrid flash drive is the Silicon Power Mobile C80, which combines USB Type-A generation 3.0 and USB Type-C interfaces.
The first most attractive point in this model is the appearance and design. The fact is that the case here is not only metal and waterproof, but also not deprived of the attention of an industrial designer. The above models in metal cases also look solid, but this model deserves special praise.
Flash drive dimensions – 18x49x7mm. The all-metal one-piece body is held in a carabiner ring for attaching to a keychain or whatever, and is free to rotate to open one connector after another. When the “carabiner” and the body of the flash drive line up exactly in one line, the position is automatically slightly fixed, and this is tactilely felt. Fixation is needed so that the “carbine” does not dangle arbitrarily, loosening the connection.
The body material is zinc alloy, which is not subject to corrosion. There is no indication on the case, and this is regarded by many as a drawback. In addition to moisture protection, the flash drive received from the creators also resistance to shock loads, strong vibrations, and dust.
Now let’s move on to what the results of testing the device for data transfer speed showed. The manufacturer must be given credit for at least the fact that he does not hesitate to report the approximate recording speed. According to him, it should be around 20GB / s, and the read speed should be about 120GB / s. So, the tests showed that the real state of affairs exactly corresponds to the declared data. Depending on the analytical software and the specific receiving device, the speed may vary slightly in both directions on both interfaces, but this backlash is insignificant.
The general conclusion is that the flash drive is solid, high-quality, reliable, and, judging by the reviews, durable. The speed is not so hot, but at least it corresponds to the levels indicated by the manufacturer. In the end, to watch a video in good quality, the reading speed is enough, and the recording limitations are quite expected.
Interestingly, the manufacturer is not afraid to provide a lifetime warranty for this model. This model is often even called the “most honest flash drive” precisely for the manufacturer’s marketing policy.
Advantages
metal case;
stylish design;
protection against moisture, dust, shock loads, vibration;
reliability and durability;
useful proprietary software;
lifetime warranty.
Disadvantages
there is no indication.
Transcend JetFlash 380S
Rating: 4.7
Completes the selection of the best hybrid flash drives of early 2020 according to Simplerule, the last series of the Transcend brand in our review. This is the JetFlash 380S (not to be confused with the JetDrive Go 300S mentioned above). This solution differs sharply from the previous ones in almost everything, and is aimed at an audience with special requirements.
What makes this model special is that it is designed to interact with obsolete microUSB interfaces and even more outdated, but still widely used USB Type A generation 2.0. It is equipped with a pair of just such plugs and supports just such a standard.
The dimensions of the flash drive case are 12x28x5mm. Like many models in the review, the case is all-metal with good water protection. One narrow end of the flash drive is a fully USB Type A plug, on the other side there is a miniature microUSB. This is a well-known unbalanced connector, which is gradually but surely being replaced by symmetrical USB Type C.
The microUSB plug is closed with a nice black cap, and, as usual, it is easy to lose. True, on the side of the body and the cap there are two “lugs” that are combined at the moment the cap is closed, and if you take the initiative, you can independently attach any fastening option to this hole – a ring, a chain, anything, even a strong thread.
As for the data transfer rates, they are expectedly far from even the not too fast previous model, but this is not a drawback, given the interfaces we are dealing with. So, tests show the ability of a flash drive to give information at a speed of 25-27MB / s, and write – 10-11MB / s.
Advantages
metal case;
water protection;
reliability and durability;
compliance with the declared characteristics.
affordable price.
Disadvantages
noticeably warms up;
the cap has nowhere to go.
The best flash drives with information protection
The final category in our review is traditionally the most interesting. It will talk about flash drives for real “cryptomaniacs” who will not take a step without encrypting everything that is possible. Seriously, the issue of data protection is often one of the vital ones, and this is exactly the side of life where it is better to be safe than sorry. In the free market, there are now a few models of flash drives with really effective protection against unauthorized access to confidential data. We will consider the three most accessible of them.
Kingston DataTraveler Locker+ G3
Rating: 4.9
Let’s start with the most relatively simple solution that provides a certain level of data protection, which may be enough for a number of tasks.
The flash drive is made in a metal case of a classic design – the USB Type-A form factor plug is closed with a cap. The USB 3.0 standard is supported. Case dimensions – 19x61x10mm. And this is one of the very few models in the review, where, finally, there is an LED indication.
First, let’s talk about the main function – data protection, which pushes the importance of write and read speeds into the background. There is more than one level of access restriction here. So, access to the data storage can be password-protected, or you can encrypt the stored data itself, moreover, at the hardware level.
This model is the third generation of Kingston DataTraveler flash drives with hardware encryption. The Locker+ G3 version differs from the previous version primarily in the transition to the USB 3.0 standard, which made it possible to significantly increase the data transfer rate. So, if in the previous version the read and write speeds were approximately 10 and 5MB / s, respectively, then in the current generation these figures have increased to 135 and 40MB / s, respectively, for a modification with a 32GB memory capacity. The upper capacity limit for this series is 64GB, and there the speed is a little more.
When you connect a flash drive to a computer, not one logical disk appears in the system, but two. One serves as a distribution kit for installing the password program. When launched, an icon with the signature DTLocker + G3 is formed in the tray. Control buttons, settings, data formatting, etc. are available in it. Due to the use of such a scheme of operation, the flash drive is only compatible with operating systems of the Windows and OS X family, and it will not work on Linux and, especially, Android.
Immediately after connecting the flash drive, the standard software will prompt you to come up with a password and enter it in two fields for confirmation. If the password seems too simple to the program, it will not accept it. In general, it would be useful to immediately write that the password must consist only of Latin letters and contain at least three groups of characters out of four possible at the same time – uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, special characters.
With further use of the flash drive, you need to remember that there are only 10 attempts to enter the correct password. After the 10th wrong password entered in a row, the program will prompt you to format the flash drive. The offer has no alternative, and there is no way to reset the number of unsuccessful attempts.
Advantages
sufficiently high recording speed;
acceptable reading speed;
LED indication;
password protection;
hardware data encryption;
relatively affordable price compared to neighboring devices.
Disadvantages
noticeable heating during intensive work;
“Crooked” Russian language of the standard software interface.
DataLocker Sentry K300
Rating: 4.8
And now let’s talk about “aerobatics” in a very narrow, but at the same time demanded niche of flash drives with maximum data protection. This is the Sentry K300, a super secure flash drive from DataLocker. Representatives of the company “modestly” called this model “the only flash drive in the world with a keyboard and its own OLED display, independent of the operating system and hardware platform.”
Externally, the device with dimensions and elements on the case no longer resembles a USB flash drive, but a small remote control for the TV. Such associations are caused by the password keyboard. The screen is designed to control password entry to avoid muscle memory errors, which, depending on the number of allowed attempts, can lead to automatic emergency destruction of data without a chance of recovery. The body dimensions of this mega flash drive are 22x101x13mm.
As part of the Sentry K300 series, six modifications have been released, differing in capacity – from 8 to 256GB. Connection interface – USB3.1 Type-A. Integrated AES algorithms with a 256-bit key, forming an effective encryption mechanism. The flash drive is actually universal – suitable for any system controlled by the macOS, Windows, Linux, Chrome OS or even Android operating environment. There are functions of auto-lock and instant irretrievable stripping in case of loss or theft of the device.
The declared hardware independence of the flash drive is expressed in several moments at once. Firstly, it is equipped with its own battery, and it does not need to be connected to a computer to make quick changes, including deleting data. Its memory has its own menu, you can go through the items after entering the password with the buttons 0, 1 and the bottom right. The back button doubles as an on/off button. It is located in the lower left corner.
Finally, you can install any operating system directly onto a USB flash drive and, by connecting to a computer, boot directly from it. The settings allow you to restrict access by giving the user the rights of a user or an administrator.
Against the backdrop of all this cryptographic beauty, do not forget about the write and read speeds. And they are quite impressive. So, the declared level is about 200MB / s for both writing and reading. Independent tests show an approximate compliance with the declared reading speed. As for recording, such a level is possible purely technically and formally. With end-to-end encryption, you should not count on more than 100MB / s, but this is a lot.
Advantages
mechanical keyboard for password entry;
OLED display;
effective AES encryption with 256-bit key;
complete hardware and platform independence;
own battery;
data transfer indicator.
Disadvantages
expected high price.
iStorage dataAshur PRO2
Rating: 4.8
And the final point in the review of the best flash drives according to Simplerule magazine is almost as interesting as the previous one. And “almost” – because it is still simpler, but also much cheaper.
First, about the general features. This model is outwardly similar to the previous black case with dimensions of 19x87x13mm and a mechanical keyboard with two rows of buttons. The case, by the way, is metal and is equipped with reliable water protection. LED status indicators are displayed on the case. Additional protection is provided by a solid metal cap-case along the entire length of the flash drive. Like the previous model, datAshur PRO2 has its own built-in battery. The only thing missing is a screen, even a very simple one.
Like the previous one, this flash drive uses a USB 3.x interface for connection, but a little different – USB 3.2 Gen 1. However, they are not much different. Unlike the Sentry K300, there is no screen here anymore, and you will have to enter the password blindly, which means you need to be extremely careful. The number of attempts can be set at your discretion in the settings. As for data encryption, the same mechanism is used here as in the previous model with the same 256-bit key.
As for the data transfer rates, the situation here is not as complacent as in the previous example. The declared write and read speeds are about 100MB / s, in practice we see a little more than 70MB / s read and a little more than 60MB / s write. But, given the significantly lower price of the device compared to the Sentry K300 with comparable other functionality, this moment can be forgiven.
Advantages
mechanical keyboard for password entry;
advanced USB 3.2 Gen 1 connection standard;
metal case;
password protection;
data encryption;
status LEDs;
waterproof case;
steel protective cap along the entire length of the device.
Disadvantages
lacks at least elementary, but the display.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.