Best Usb Drive Reviews 2020

The price of storage has come down a long way. 5 to 10 years ago, the price for a 64GB flash drive would be well into the hundreds of dollars, but now you can get a good one for much less than that. As time goes by and technology advances, the prices of many which once reigned begin to fall, and USB drives are no different.

While storage space is the main thing you look for when shopping for a jump drive, it should not be the only determining factor because it isn’t the only thing that affects the price. Many USB drives have the same amount of storage and come in at different prices; that’s because of other features such as the quality of the components used for both the inside and outside of the drive. Other factors include software which comes with the flash drive, data protection, and support.

When you’re shopping for a jump drive, you want to ensure you get value for your money, so take all of these into consideration when making your purchase. You can get a good low-storage stick drive for say $15 or more, and depending on the storage size and features you’re looking for, this can go all the way up to $100 or maybe even more. But $15 – $75 offers you a lot of wiggle room and choices for great flash drives.

When you’re shopping for a new flash drive, here are the features you need to look for to get the best one you can:

• Transfer Speed – You want a USB drive that will read/write your data quickly, so it’s important to pay attention to the data transfer speed of the flash drive you’re thinking of buying.
• Security – No one wants their information easily and readily accessed by others, so having a USB drive with data encryption ensures your data is secure and protected.
• Durability – Many times USB drives are either lost or damaged before they reach the end of their write cycles. To ensure your USB drive lasts, look for one that’s durable and will be sure to handle frequent use.
• Storage Size – Some people can work with a 1GB flash drive, no problem; others need up to 128GB or more for work among other things. The storage size you choose depends on you and your needs.
• Design – USB drives come in different shapes, colors, and designs; you want to choose one that works for you and your lifestyle.
• Support – USB drives are available in three generations: USB 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0. The generation you choose will affect your data transfer speed and the overall performance of your flash drive.

Now that we’ve covered the features, let’s talk more about how they will affect your flash drive’s performance and ultimately your day-to-day life using it.

Two things that we recommend you look out for while choosing your jump drive are its design and its durability. Both of these factors are explained further below.

Design

USB drives come in so many different designs, from simple to creative and unique (such as armbands). Someone on our team even saw one in the shape of a screwdriver. These are great, because who doesn’t like a cool stick drive?

Many flash drives also come with caps on them. We recommend you avoid those because let’s be honest, there’s a high chance that cap is going to get lost. So, choose one with a capless design where the plug isn’t exposed if the cap is lost.

Durability

However, while you may be pulled in by the catchy designs, it’s always important to bear in mind how that flash drive will survive your day-to-day life. If you’re someone who uses your flash drive every day, such as a student or creative, and you know you lead a rather busy life, it’s always a good bet to invest in a drive that’s durable and able to survive either being sat on or having a little bit of water or coffee splashed on it. Durability and strength are especially important if you happen to carry a PC on your flash drive.

There are several things to consider in terms of your flash drive’s performance and ease of use. These include generation, transfer speeds, security, and support. If you keep these things in mind, you’re much more likely to make a purchase you won’t regret later on. Let’s take a look at each below.

Generation and Transfer Speeds

Storage size is important when shopping for a USB drive, but so is the generation. We’ve come a long way from USB 1.0 to USB 3.0; however, there are still many USB 2.0 flash drives on the market. 2nd-generation jump drives aren’t bad, but they are slower than 3rd-generation models. In fact, USB 3.0 transfers data at 100 MB/s while USB 2.0 does so at 15 MB/s.

The one thing to note is that for you to get these data speeds, both the jump drive and the port itself need to support USB 3.0. But as time goes by, USB 3.0 is becoming standard and so it’ll definitely be a good investment to go with 3rd-generation rather than 2nd-generation, especially if you need those quick transfer speeds.

Security

In addition to transfer speeds, it’s always a safe bet to look for a stick drive that password-protects or also encrypts your data if it’s sensitive and you need it protected. Most times, the average person won’t need both of these, and password protection alone works just fine—or neither. However, the choice is up to you.

Support

Besides password protection, many flash drives now come with additional software for data recovery and even back up Cloud storage in case you accidentally lose your data or need to format your drive. Flash storage has certainly come a long way and while Cloud storage offers a lot to users, flash drives are still a reliable way to store and transfer data, install software, or even carry your PC in your pocket.