Best USB Flash Drives in 2022

Last update: December 27, 2022

Are flash drives good for long term storage?

Flash drives are not good for long term storage because they are prone to data loss.

Are USB flash drives obsolete?

Yes, USB flash drives are becoming obsolete. They are being replaced by newer, faster and more convenient technologies such as cloud storage and wireless flash drives.

Can you use a 3.0 flash drive in a 2.0 port?

Yes, you can use a 3.0 flash drive in a 2.0 port. The 3.0 flash drive will work at the 2.0 speed, however.

Do people still use flash drives?

Most people nowadays use cloud storage instead of flash drives, since it is more convenient. However, there are still some people who prefer flash drives because you can physically control them and they work offline.


Kingston Digital DataTraveler SE9 32GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive (DTSE9H/32GBZET) Review:


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SanDisk 16GB 2.0 Flash Cruzer Glide USB Drive (SDCZ60-016G-B35) Review:


Excellent! My only problem was that I was unaware that this was formatted as X-FAT32. I purchased this thumb drive so that I could load the movies I have on my PC onto it and enjoy them in my living room on my smart TV. However, after spending a few hours loading files onto the drive, I plug it into my smart TV and receive an error message stating that the drive is not supported. It also fails when I try it on my Sony Blu-ray, which includes a USB port for external storage. When I mention it to my spouse, he advises me to format the thumb drive using a standard FAT32 file system. So I followed the instructions and formatted my computer with FAT32 before reloading the movies, and presto! The data on the drive may now be viewed by both my smart TV and Blu-ray player! Therefore, format the drive with FAT32 and then reload your files if anyone experiences issues with their devices reading or even detecting the drive after loading files in the X-FAT32 format. You ought to be all set to go! You should really label the packaging on the drive with the type of formatting, SanDisk! Knowing this beforehand would prevent a lot of lost time for folks!



SanDisk Cruzer Glide CZ60 32GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive - SDCZ60-032G-AFFP Review:


Excellent! My only problem was that I was unaware that this was formatted as X-FAT32. I purchased this thumb drive so that I could load the movies I have on my PC onto it and enjoy them in my living room on my smart TV. However, after spending a few hours loading files onto the drive, I plug it into my smart TV and receive an error message stating that the drive is not supported. It also fails when I try it on my Sony Blu-ray, which includes a USB port for external storage. When I mention it to my spouse, he advises me to format the thumb drive using a standard FAT32 file system. So I followed the instructions and formatted my computer with FAT32 before reloading the movies, and presto! The data on the drive may now be viewed by both my smart TV and Blu-ray player! Therefore, format the drive with FAT32 and then reload your files if anyone experiences issues with their devices reading or even detecting the drive after loading files in the X-FAT32 format. You ought to be all set to go! You should really label the packaging on the drive with the type of formatting, SanDisk! Knowing this beforehand would prevent a lot of lost time for folks!



SanDisk Cruzer 256GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive (SDCZ36-256G-B35) Review:


Without a doubt, I lack the technical knowledge necessary to evaluate this flash drive; however, numerous reviews offer good specs on the high-quality components and excellent processing power of the Cruzer. But I can attest from personal experience that it's a fantastic piece of kit. These drives may someday become outdated due to file-sharing programs, but the SanDisk is excellent for individuals who enjoy storing their data on a tangible object. These adorable tiny things help me backup my computer. My large graphic files are very simple to download and share with others.Flash drives are now quite affordable, and for individuals who are concerned about the security of emailing or cloud computing, they provide a simple, safe, and convenient storage and sharing alternative. The sliding USB connector is also something I enjoy. When not in use, it is concealed inside the case but is simple to plug into any port. I adore flash drives because they have a very James Bond-like quality to them. Keep a few of these high-performance devices on hand as a portable backup system, similar to keeping a landline phone nearby to plug in when your Internet-enabled bundle goes down.



SanDisk Cruzer CZ36 64GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive, Frustration-Free Packaging- SDCZ36-064G-AFFP Review:


Without a doubt, I lack the technical knowledge necessary to evaluate this flash drive; however, numerous reviews offer good specs on the high-quality components and excellent processing power of the Cruzer. But I can attest from personal experience that it's a fantastic piece of kit. These drives may someday become outdated due to file-sharing programs, but the SanDisk is excellent for individuals who enjoy storing their data on a tangible object. These adorable tiny things help me backup my computer. My large graphic files are very simple to download and share with others.Flash drives are now quite affordable, and for individuals who are concerned about the security of emailing or cloud computing, they provide a simple, safe, and convenient storage and sharing alternative. The sliding USB connector is also something I enjoy. When not in use, it is concealed inside the case but is simple to plug into any port. I adore flash drives because they have a very James Bond-like quality to them. Keep a few of these high-performance devices on hand as a portable backup system, similar to keeping a landline phone nearby to plug in when your Internet-enabled bundle goes down.



SanDisk Cruzer 128GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive (SDCZ36-128G-B35) Review:


Without a doubt, I lack the technical knowledge necessary to evaluate this flash drive; however, numerous reviews offer good specs on the high-quality components and excellent processing power of the Cruzer. But I can attest from personal experience that it's a fantastic piece of kit. These drives may someday become outdated due to file-sharing programs, but the SanDisk is excellent for individuals who enjoy storing their data on a tangible object. These adorable tiny things help me backup my computer. My large graphic files are very simple to download and share with others.Flash drives are now quite affordable, and for individuals who are concerned about the security of emailing or cloud computing, they provide a simple, safe, and convenient storage and sharing alternative. The sliding USB connector is also something I enjoy. When not in use, it is concealed inside the case but is simple to plug into any port. I adore flash drives because they have a very James Bond-like quality to them. Keep a few of these high-performance devices on hand as a portable backup system, similar to keeping a landline phone nearby to plug in when your Internet-enabled bundle goes down.



Samsung FIT Plus USB 3.1 Flash Drive 128GB - 300MB/s (MUF-128AB/AM) Review:


very compact drive Nearly the claimed read speeds. On the 256GB SSD, I experienced sequential read speeds in the low to mid 290s MB/s. I achieved write speeds of less than 60 MB/s (sequential). Random read and write speeds for me range between 13 and 15 MB/s. Observe the Crystal Disk Mark 6 screenshot.The specs merely state that "write speed is lower than read speed," not that write speed was advertised. Yes, it's not really useful. In order for us to make a better informed purchase, I'd love to see the write speed stated. I hope this exam is useful to you all.I'd say this is a good buy at this pricing and for such a little drive. Large storage space is provided in a compact design, and the write speeds are comparable to those of the SanDisk Extreme Pro. This might work if you don't need to frequently write huge files. The SanDisk Extreme Pro might be right for you if you require faster sustained writing, don't mind a larger drive, and have an extra $35.



SanDisk Ultra Flair 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive - SDCZ73-128G-G46 Review:


It has a remarkable read speed of roughly 140MB and a write speed of about 40MB (Slightly slower than the 64GB version). Although it's not quite as quick as the SanDisk extreme version, the accompanying image shows a benchmark for the quickest metal drive I could find.The metal construction appears to be strong, so I hope it will withstand being flung around with my keys. The fact that the key ring component of the drive is plastic (seen in the picture as the black/grey area) and the silver portion of the drive is metal is my only quibble. I had hoped it would be entirely made of metal, but the plastic key ring appears durable and should endure for a while. Another thing to keep in mind is that, as would be expected from a little metal drive like this, the drive can get very warm when performing large transfers.



SanDisk 128GB Ultra Fit USB 3.1 Flash Drive - SDCZ430-128G-G46 Review:


To backup my laptop, I needed a bigger flash drive (not my only backup device). I could only find this in the smallest size with the highest capacity. I performed the usual fake flash check after it came, and this disk indeed had 256GB. My laptop's OS image copied easily and more quickly than it did on my previous 32GB flash drive. However, that USB 2 gadget...It proved to be trustworthy and quick enough to replace my usual SSD in the event of an emergency after a test boot and use. In less than 5 seconds, LibreOffice was even launched.Because I use ZFS on Linux, you'll see that I overwrote the system's native FAT32 file system. With several OSes and file systems, this drive performs flawlessly. Additionally, my current laptop only supports USB 3.0, 5Gbps, and has slower processors (dual core Celeron). Therefore, this flash drive would probably operate more quickly on updated hardware.Finally, I was aware that this was slower than some flash devices with a smaller storage capacity. Before making a purchase, review the specifications and be certain you comprehend them.



PNY Turbo 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive - P-FD32GTBOP-GE Review:


To backup my laptop, I needed a bigger flash drive (not my only backup device). I could only find this in the smallest size with the highest capacity. I performed the usual fake flash check after it came, and this disk indeed had 256GB. My laptop's OS image copied easily and more quickly than it did on my previous 32GB flash drive. However, that USB 2 gadget...It proved to be trustworthy and quick enough to replace my usual SSD in the event of an emergency after a test boot and use. In less than 5 seconds, LibreOffice was even launched.Because I use ZFS on Linux, you'll see that I overwrote the system's native FAT32 file system. With several OSes and file systems, this drive performs flawlessly. Additionally, my current laptop only supports USB 3.0, 5Gbps, and has slower processors (dual core Celeron). Therefore, this flash drive would probably operate more quickly on updated hardware.Finally, I was aware that this was slower than some flash devices with a smaller storage capacity. Before making a purchase, review the specifications and be certain you comprehend them.


How big a flash drive do I need?

When it comes to flash drives, size does matter. The bigger the drive, the more files you can store on it. But how big do you really need? The answer depends on what you're using the flash drive for. If you're just storing documents or small files, then a small drive will suffice. But if you're storing large video or audio files, then you'll need a larger drive. Here's a quick guide to help you choose the right size flash drive: 1-2 GB: Perfect for storing documents, small files, and light

How do I install a flash drive on my computer?

Insert the USB flash drive into an available USB port on your computer. If this is the first time you've inserted the drive into the computer, you may see a popup message asking if you want to format the drive. If so, click "Cancel." Open File Explorer. You can do this by clicking the folder icon in your taskbar. Click This PC in the left sidebar. This will open a list of all storage devices connected to your computer. Double-click the USB flash drive. This will open the drive's folder, which contains its files

How do you transfer data to a flash drive?

Connect the flash drive to your computer. Open the flash drive. Select the files you want to transfer. Drag the files to the flash drive.

How long will flash drives last?

As with any electronic device, the lifespan of a flash drive can vary depending on how it's used and taken care of. In general, you can expect a flash drive to last between 10-20 years. However, if you frequently delete and add files to your flash drive, or if you keep it plugged in for extended periods of time, it may only last a few years. Taking good care of your flash drive by unplugging it when you're done using it and storing it in a safe place will help extend its lifespan.

Is it OK to leave a flash drive plugged in?

Yes, it is perfectly fine to leave a flash drive plugged in. There is no risk of data loss or corruption when the drive is left plugged in.

What are the disadvantages of a flash drive?

There are a few disadvantages to using a flash drive. They can be easily lost or stolen since they are small and portable. They also have a limited amount of storage space.