Today's technologies are developing so rapidly that the devices bought yesterday are already outdated and require updates with upgrades. Processors are becoming more powerful, the picture on the screen is sharper, and movies and games take up much more space than they did two or three years ago.
This race forced manufacturers of hard drives and other drives to create media that can hold more information than before. Of course, a movie in Blu-ray quality on a terabyte hard drive is not so noticeable, and 30-40 GB is not critical for such a volume. But transferring it to another device is a real headache.
Good old flash drives come to the rescue. But not every drive will pull such large files. Therefore, many users ask quite natural questions: “Which flash drive is better and why?”, “What to look for during the purchase?” etc.
The choice is further complicated by the fact that the abundance of drives on the computer market is simply amazing: small, large, chipped, 3.0, 2.0, expensive, cheap, etc. And to determine in all this variety which flash drive is better, oh hownot easy. In addition, consultants in stores, alas, are not always competent in these matters.
So, let's try to figure out how to choose a drive, what critical points to pay attention to in the first place and how not to miscalculate with a purchase. As specific examples, consider the best flash drives, based on the opinions of consumers and experts.
Difficulties in choosing
I should warn you right away that such drives are not designed for long-term data storage. That is, even the most advanced flash drive of the best company, due to its technical features, will not be able to store information for more than three, and in rare cases, five years. So it is clearly not superfluous to copy data to another medium once a year and check the integrity of the current one.
Standard flash drives of good quality are of little use for working with small files. The fewer bytes in the data, the slower the copy process. This is especially true for small SD-drives. Even the best micro flash drives, when faced with tiny files, tend to perform from "bad" to "full brakes." In this case, it is best to look at the technically advanced models based on SSD technology.
It is also worth noting that the larger the drive, the faster information is written to it. Moreover, the increase in speed is in most cases steps. That is, if copying started with an indicator of 1 Mbps, then it can continue somewhere at 40 Mbps in a minute or two.
Separately, you should pay attention to models with MLC chips. Manufacturers of the best USB flash drivestrying to flash them with such chips. This technology will significantly increase the operating life of the gadget. MLC-chipovka will come in handy for those who intensively use a flash drive.
Flash drive manufacturers: which company is better?
Many manufacturers are engaged in the release of flash drives, but the backbone of trusted brands has been formed for a long time, and newcomers are not favored there. The cost of branded gadgets is noticeably higher than that of products of little-known companies, but there are clearly more quality guarantees. Because the competition here is very tough, and every venerable manufacturer understands that customer dissatisfaction promises serious financial losses.
SanDisk
This is a large company from North America, which was able to win almost a third of this market. The brand's best USB flash drives are known all over the world, including in Russia. Hence, very good sales, as well as excellent quality products.
In the domestic market you can find a lot of fakes "Sandisk", so do not flatter yourself when you see a model from a popular brand at a bargain price. If the company holds promotions, then only at official distribution points. And the latter, of course, do not associate with fakes. It is also worth noting that Sandisk products often receive awards at specialized exhibitions, where they choose the best flash drives of the year, carefully evaluating all the advantages and disadvantages of the participants.
Transcend
The second most popular brand after Sandisk. The Taiwanese company has a reputationmanufacturer of stable and best flash drives, as well as memory cards. The brand's products enjoy enviable popularity among domestic consumers.
Such a demand is largely due not only to the high quality of products, but also to the more than democratic pricing policy of the company.
Corsair
In third place is another American company that can boast of producing not only the best flash drives, but also producing high-quality memory modules for stationary and mobile PCs. Both the first and the second are very popular with domestic consumers.
As in the previous case, the company does not bend prices and pursues a more than adequate pricing policy. It is also worth noting that the brand pays a lot of attention to the appearance of drives, where you can find a flash drive with an original exterior in the assortment.
Kingston
The company does not produce drives as such, but is the largest supplier of memory modules, flash drives and hard drives for personal computers. The brand also owns the well-known HyperX division, under which expensive, but extremely high-quality game RAM modules enter the market.
Despite the fact that the company itself does not produce chips, it conducts a rigorous selection and subsequent adaptation of products. As a result, really the best flash drives with an extremely high quality component and an impressive warranty period turn out to be on the shelves.
Products of other brands can also be considered, especially if you liked the cost of the drive. Buthere it is necessary to take into account that not every series is successful for little-known or even no-name producers. So, before buying, it will obviously be useful to read reviews, and not in the store itself, but not in specialized forums or at least on Yandex. Market.
Let's take a look at the best flash drives that have distinguished themselves with trouble-free operation, balanced cost, as well as a large number of positive feedback from users.
Transcend JetFlash 780 16 Gb
This is a relatively inexpensive, but time-tested 3.0 type drive. One of the main advantages of a flash drive is the MLC chip, while almost all products in this price category are built on the shaky TLC architecture. So for users who plan to actively use the drive, this inexpensive option will come in handy.
The flash drive has a classic look with a textured pattern. The latter does not allow the drive to slip out of the hands, although it collects dirt from them. The manufacturer indicates a write speed of up to 40 Mbps, and a read speed of up to 140. Real characteristics, of course, will be more modest, but this is quite enough for solving ordinary tasks.
Model benefits:
- good speed for small volume;
- business and practical exterior;
- stable operation even at maximum load;
- lifetime manufacturer warranty.
Flaws:
- heats up when writing small files;
- dimensionstoo big for those who like to attach a flash drive to a keychain, chain, etc.
The estimated cost of the model is about 1100 rubles.
Corsair Flash Voyager GT USB 3.0 32GB
Unlike the previous respondent, this one looks much more attractive and fashionable. Fans of stylish and catchy drives will certainly not pass by a good 3.0 flash drive from Corsair. It is also worth noting that the model received a rubberized case, which adds to its practicality along with protective qualities.
By the way, this drive is not afraid of either a washing machine or falling onto asph alt from a decent height (without fanaticism). Behind all the advantages of the design lies one, for some, a critical drawback - this is the proximity to other USB interfaces. The design turned out to be, so to speak, plump, so it is rather problematic to stick other peripherals into neighboring ports. Of course, you can remove the rubber cover or even spend money on the hub, but this, again, is unnecessary complexity and a headache.
As for speed indicators, here they are at a quite acceptable level: 35 Mbps for writing and 135 for reading. Naturally, these characteristics will be revealed only with a USB 3.0 port.
Pros of the model:
- attractive appearance;
- good protective performance;
- good read and write speed;
- hassle-free synergy with all popular platforms.
Cons:
- impressive dimensions;
- short warranty period.
The approximate price of the model is about 2000 rubles.
Transcend JetFlash 750 64Gb
This model is especially liked by those who often use the FAT32 file system in their work. The latter will not pull more than 64 GB, so purchasing a more capacious flash drive is simply irrational here.
Separately, it is worth noting the presence of MLC chips, which is very rare for budget models. We were also pleased with the speed characteristics, where the flash drive copes very well with files of both small and large sizes. The gadget received a plastic case and a classic design. There are no questions about assembly: nothing creaks, there are no cracks or backlashes, and the protective cap sits firmly in place.
The flash drive has found its application in the hands of system administrators and service masters. But ordinary consumers, knowing the quality of the brand, often buy this model.
Model benefits:
- MLC chip;
- great reading speed;
- "thin" body;
- adequate cost.
Flaws:
- low speed during data recording;
- body, like a vacuum cleaner, collects fingerprints with dust.
The estimated cost of the model is about 2700 rubles.
HyperX Savage 128GB
Most ordinary users consider this the best USB 3.0 flash drive from the Kingston brand division. It is focused primarily on the transfer of large files. The manufacturer promises a stable speed of 250 Mbpsfor writing and 350 for reading, but in reality the numbers differ from those indicated and depend mainly on the characteristics of the data being copied and the features of the local USB protocol.
Despite the declared figures and high average speed indicators, the flash drive cannot be called fast. While copying tiny files, the whole fuse of the gadget melts before our eyes. So the device is not suitable for working with such data, but things are much better with photos, music and movies.
It is also worth noting a very high-quality body and assembly as a whole. The original design is complemented by a matte soft-touch coating without a hint of backlash, cracks and other problems. We were also pleased with the protection: the gadget can be dropped from a decent height and even rinsed with water if necessary, but without bathing.
Pros of the model:
- excellent performance (except for the smallest files);
- quality build;
- protection from physical impact and moisture;
- attractive design;
- full MLC chip.
Cons:
the case is a bit thick and there may be problems with the "neighbors" on the USB ports
The estimated price of the model is about 5700 rubles.
Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate GT 1TB
This is the most capacious flash drive that can be found on the shelves of domestic stores. There is also a 2 TB model, but it is not yet sold in Russia. It should be noted right away that the gadget cannot be called compact in any way - it calmly blocks access to a pair of neighboring USB-interfaces. In addition, a decent weight can roll the average ultrabook.
An extension cord acts as a panacea for such dimensions. Fortunately, the manufacturer took care of this and put a small hub to the kit. The latter has a very modest size and will not cause any trouble to port neighbors.
It is also worth noting that the model received a very durable zinc alloy construction. She is not afraid of falling even from a decent height, as well as a small wash. The gadget pleased with its speed characteristics. The proprietary and highly productive Phison PS2308 controller works wonders that SSD drives will envy.
Distinctive features of the model
The only thing that a flash drive does mediocrely is with very small files. But even here we have a noticeably higher speed in comparison with the above models. In addition, no one bothers to archive and copy all this "trifle" in an instant. Naturally, the device has an MLC-chip, so you don't have to worry about the safety of files.
Despite its massive dimensions, the device looks very stylish, fresh and technologically advanced. It seems that you have some kind of gadget from the future in your hands, and not a simple flash drive. Users leave completely positive feedback about the model. For those who work with large amounts of data that need to be kept constantly with them, this is just a godsend.
The only negative that users complain about is the cost of the flash drive. For thisthe price is quite possible to collect an average computer, so for ordinary users such a purchase is simply impractical. The gadget has found its way into the hands of professionals like system administrators and service technicians. In a word, this is the best that this segment has to offer, but such pleasure is not cheap either.
Model benefits:
- enviable 1TB capacity;
- excellent read and write speed for medium to large files;
- robust construction with good physical impact protection;
- stylish and eye-catching appearance;
- non-staining case;
- presence of sensors;
- the presence of an extension cable (hub);
- maximum warranty for such gadgets from the manufacturer.
Flaws:
- decent size;
- the price tag is clearly not designed for the average consumer.
The estimated cost of the model is about 55,000 rubles.
