Rankings
The Kingston IronKey Locker+ 50 32 GB delivers enterprise-grade AES-256 hardware encryption, metal durability, and fast 145 MB/s read and 115 MB/s write speeds. Its limited capacity and higher price point may deter casual users. Targeted at security-focused professionals and organizations.
The Kingston DataTraveler SE9 256 GB flash drive combines a premium all-metal gold case with high read (220 MB/s) and write (100 MB/s) performance. Its exposed connector may collect debris, and independent reviews are scarce, making real-world verification harder. Perfect for users needing fast, high-capacity portable storage with a stylish design.
The Kingston DataTraveler Micro 256GB is an ultra-compact metal-cased USB 3.2 Gen 1 flash drive with fast read speeds and a five-year warranty. Its trade-offs include unspecified write performance and lack of built-in encryption. Ideal for users who need a permanently attached, space-saving storage solution.
The Kingston DataTraveler SE9 G2 32 GB offers a sleek metal, capless design with a built-in key ring and solid 100 MB/s read performance. Its write speed remains low at 15 MB/s and it lacks advanced security features. Suited for professionals seeking durable, portable storage with quick reads.
The Kingston DataTraveler DuoG2 256GB flash drive features both USB-A and USB-C connectors with a dual moving-cap design, offering versatile compatibility and a five-year warranty. However, the absence of published speed and endurance data makes its performance uncertain. It is best for users who need cross-platform connectivity without adapters.
The Kingston Exodia S 128 GB flash drive is ultra-lightweight with a convenient key-ring loop and provides solid sequential reads around 100 MB/s. Its write speed is very slow at about 20 MB/s, making it less suitable for large data transfers. Best for users who prioritize portability and basic storage.
| Attribute | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
256 GBbest | 256 GBbest | 128 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB | 256 GBbest | |
200 MB/s | 220 MB/sbest | 100 MB/s | 145 MB/s | 100 MB/s | — | |
— | 100 MB/s | 20 MB/s | 115 MB/sbest | 15 MB/s | — | |
| ↓ lower better | 9 g | 5 gbest | 8.3 g | 20 g | 9.07 g | 10 g |
5 yearsbest | 5 yearsbest | 5 yearsbest | 5 yearsbest | 5 yearsbest | 5 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Storage(1) | ||||||
Storage Capacity (GB) | 256 GB | 256 GB | 128 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB | 256 GB |
Performance(2) | ||||||
Read Speed (MB/s) | 200 MB/s | 220 MB/s | 100 MB/s | 145 MB/s | 100 MB/s | — |
Write Speed (MB/s) | — | 100 MB/s | 20 MB/s | 115 MB/s | 15 MB/s | — |
Connectivity(2) | ||||||
USB Version | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.0 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB Type-A | USB Type-A | USB Type-A | USB Type-A | USB-A, USB-C |
General(1) | ||||||
OS Compatibility | Windows 11/10/8.1; macOS 10.14+; Linux 2.6+; Chrome OS | Windows 11/10, macOS 10.15+ | Windows 11/10, macOS 12.7.6+/10.15.x+, Linux 4.4+, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows; macOS |
Build & Design(3) | ||||||
Weight (g) | 9 g | 5 g | 8.3 g | 20 g | 9.07 g | 10 g |
Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm) | 24.95×12.2×4.5 mm mm | 39×12.2×4.6 mm mm | 56.90×19.05×2.54 mm mm | 60.6 x 18.6 x 9.6 mm mm | 45.0 x 12.2 x 4.6 mm mm | 10.4×21.2×64 mm mm |
Material | metal | Metal (Gold finish) | — | Metal | Metal | — |
Power(1) | ||||||
Operating Temperature (°C) | 0-60 °C | 0-60 °C | 0-60 °C | 0-50 °C | 0-60 °C | — |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Everyday users highlight the drive's sleek metal look and pocket-sized convenience, giving it a solid 4-out-of-5 rating despite the lack of detailed commentary. Praise centers on portability and style, while the scarcity of user reviews leaves performance expectations largely unverified.
Professional reviewers acknowledge the Exodia's acceptable sequential read performance (≈120 MB/s) and its ultra-lightweight, portable form factor, but they consistently criticize its very slow write speeds-especially random 4 KB writes at 0.11 MB/s-and its low overall AS SSD score of 47, concluding it is only suitable for basic storage tasks.
“Lightweight design, key loop convenience, and dependable storage.”
Everyday buyers praise the drive's lightweight feel, key-ring loop convenience, reliable storage and fast reads for photos and videos, while noting the 5-year warranty adds confidence; however, the limited write speed is rarely mentioned but could affect power users.
The Kingston IronKey Locker+ 50 32GB is a compact, enterprise-grade encrypted USB flash drive featuring FIPS-certified AES-256-bit XTS hardware encryption and a metal silver casing with a key loop. It offers plug-and-play use on Windows and macOS, USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds up to 145 MB/s, and optional cloud backup via USBtoCloud.
Everyday users appreciate the drive's quick read response and convenient keyring design, but the overwhelming complaint centers on sluggish write speeds and occasional data integrity problems. Overall sentiment is mixed, with many recommending it only for light, read-heavy use.
Professional assessments commend the SE9 G2 for its high read speed, robust metal construction, and capless convenience, noting that the five-year warranty adds confidence. However, reviewers also point out the scarcity of in-depth comparative reviews, making it harder to gauge its standing against other premium USB 3.0 drives.
User feedback is limited in the available data, but the features that are mentioned-fast read performance, durable metal body, and capless design-receive positive remarks. The lack of extensive user reviews leaves the broader consumer sentiment unclear.
