Rankings
A high-performance 1 TB USB-C flash drive delivering SSD-class speeds in a compact, sliding-connector form factor. It excels in speed and convenience but is bulkier, can heat up, and lacks built-in encryption.
The Kingston DataTraveler 70 256 GB USB-C flash drive offers a compact, cap-protected design with USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds, broad OS support, and an industry-leading 5-year warranty, making it ideal for portable high-capacity storage.
The Kingston DataTraveler SE9 G3 256 GB is a premium, all-metal USB-A flash drive delivering fast read speeds and solid build quality, though its write speed is lower and warranty period shorter than older models.
The Kingston DataTraveler Micro 256 GB USB-A flash drive combines an ultra-compact metal case with USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds, a built-in key loop, and a 5-year warranty, making it a premium plug-and-stay solution for high-capacity portable storage.
The Kingston DataTraveler SE9 G2 32 GB offers a sturdy metal design, fast read speeds, and a convenient keyring, making it a solid budget choice, though its write speed and lack of encryption limit its suitability for larger or sensitive files.
The Kingston DataTraveler Exodia 64 GB 2-Pack offers a budget-friendly, cap-protected USB 3.2 flash drive with decent read speeds and a 5-year warranty, making it suitable for everyday file storage and portability.
The Kingston DataTraveler DuoG2 256 GB delivers versatile dual-connector functionality and ample storage in a compact plastic body, backed by a five-year warranty, though it lacks encryption and may feel slower than expected.
The Kingston DataTraveler Exodia 256 GB provides ample storage and a solid warranty, with decent read speeds but modest write performance and a basic plastic build.
The Kingston Exodia S 128 GB USB 3.2 flash drive offers a budget-friendly, keyring-loop design with broad OS compatibility and a 5-year warranty, but its real-world transfer speeds are modest and the plastic build feels less premium.
The Kingston DataTraveler Exodia 64 GB offers solid brand reliability, a convenient cap-retention design, and a long warranty, but its real-world write speeds are modest and it lacks encryption.
The Kingston DataTraveler Exodia 128 GB is an inexpensive, cap-protected USB 3.2 flash drive with broad OS compatibility and a solid warranty, but its actual transfer speeds are very slow and it lacks security features.
A 32 GB encrypted USB flash drive with FIPS-certified hardware encryption, metal construction and built-in cloud backup. It offers strong security features but requires specific Windows drive-letter configuration and lacks password recovery.
The Kingston DataTraveler 100 G3 128 GB offers solid read performance and a convenient sliding cap, but its write speeds and random performance are extremely low, making it best for occasional read-heavy tasks.
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
64 GB | 256 GB | 128 GB | 32 GB | 64 GB | 1,024 GBbest | 256 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB | 32 GB | |
70 MB/s | 200 MB/s | 114 MB/s | 145 MB/s | 400 MB/s | 1,000 MB/sbest | — | 100 MB/s | — | 95 MB/s | 220 MB/s | — | 100 MB/s | |
10 MB/s | 20 MB/s | 3.14 MB/s | 115 MB/s | — | 900 MB/sbest | — | 10 MB/s | 0.15 MB/s | 15.7 MB/s | 100 MB/s | — | 15 MB/s | |
60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | 60 monthsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 11 g | 9 g | 20 g | 20 g | 11 g | 12 g | 10 g | 8.32 g | 11 g | 11 g | 15 g | 7 gbest | 9.07 g |
| ↓ lower better | 67.3 mm | 24.95 mmbest | 59.9 mm | 60.56 mm | 67.3 mm | 82.17 mm | 64 mm | 56.9 mm | 67.3 mm | 67.3 mm | 38.1 mm | 59 mm | 45 mm |
| ↓ lower better | 21.04 mm | 12.2 mmbest | 21.3 mm | 18.6 mm | 21.04 mm | 22 mm | 21.2 mm | 19.05 mm | 21 mm | 21.04 mm | 12.7 mm | 18.5 mm | 12.2 mmbest |
| ↓ lower better | 10.16 mm | 4.5 mm | 10 mm | 9.6 mm | 10.14 mm | 9.02 mm | 1 mmbest | 2.54 mm | 10.1 mm | 10.14 mm | 5.1 mm | 9 mm | 4.6 mm |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Storage(1) | |||||||||||||
Capacity (GB) | 64 GB | 256 GB | 128 GB | 32 GB | 64 GB | 1024 GB | 256 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB | 32 GB |
Performance(2) | |||||||||||||
Read Speed (MB/s) | 70 MB/s | 200 MB/s | 114 MB/s | 145 MB/s | 400 MB/s | 1000 MB/s | — | 100 MB/s | — | 95 MB/s | 220 MB/s | — | 100 MB/s |
Write Speed (MB/s) | 10 MB/s | 20 MB/s | 3.14 MB/s | 115 MB/s | — | 900 MB/s | — | 10 MB/s | 0.15 MB/s | 15.7 MB/s | 100 MB/s | — | 15 MB/s |
Security(1) | |||||||||||||
Encryption Support | false | — | false | true | false | false | false | false | false | false | false | — | false |
Physical(5) | |||||||||||||
Weight (g) | 11 g | 9 g | 20 g | 20 g | 11 g | 12 g | 10 g | 8.32 g | 11 g | 11 g | 15.0 g | 7 g | 9.07 g |
Length (mm) | 67.3 mm | 24.95 mm | 59.9 mm | 60.56 mm | 67.3 mm | 82.17 mm | 64 mm | 56.90 mm | 67.3 mm | 67.3 mm | 38.1 mm | 59 mm | 45.0 mm |
Width (mm) | 21.04 mm | 12.2 mm | 21.3 mm | 18.6 mm | 21.04 mm | 22.00 mm | 21.2 mm | 19.05 mm | 21.0 mm | 21.04 mm | 12.7 mm | 18.5 mm | 12.2 mm |
Height (mm) | 10.16 mm | 4.5 mm | 10 mm | 9.6 mm | 10.14 mm | 9.02 mm | 1 mm | 2.54 mm | 10.1 mm | 10.14 mm | 5.1 mm | 9 mm | 4.6 mm |
Material | plastic | Metal | Plastic | Metal | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | plastic | plastic | metal | Plastic | Metal |
Connectivity(1) | |||||||||||||
USB Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB-C | USB 3.0 |
Compatibility(1) | |||||||||||||
Operating System Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS |
Design(1) | |||||||||||||
LED Indicator | — | — | — | true | — | true | — | — | false | false | — | false | — |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the practical cap-retention and keyring loop, but caution that advertised USB 3.2 speeds are not realized, making it unsuitable for demanding data-intensive work.
Everyday users like the low cost and convenience, yet many complain about very slow write speeds and occasional plastic cracking.
“Great value for the price”
“Cap doesn't get lost”
“Extremely slow write speed”
Professional reviewers and editors highlight the drive's efficient low-profile metal design, its USB 3.2 Gen 1 performance boost over older USB 2.0 drives, and its broad OS compatibility, positioning it as a premium plug-and-stay solution for modern computers.
Everyday users praise the drive's fast read speeds, tiny footprint, and sleek look, but many complain about lower-than-advertised write speeds, occasional premature failures, and limited durability when subjected to constant physical wear.
Professional reviewers acknowledge the drive's solid sequential read capability but criticize its abysmal write and 4K random performance, giving it an AS SSD benchmark score of 0.
Users appreciate the large capacity and easy sliding cap, but many complain about painfully slow write speeds and inconsistent copying.
Professional reviewers commend the LP50 for its robust, FIPS-certified hardware encryption, user-friendly passphrase mode, and the convenience of built-in USBtoCloud backup, noting that the mandatory drive-letter allocation and absence of any password-recovery option may hinder less-technical users.
Everyday users appreciate the drive's straightforward plug-and-play setup, the confidence of hardware encryption, and the practical metal design with a key loop. Common frustrations revolve around Windows drive-letter conflicts, permanent data loss if passwords are forgotten, occasional slower write performance, and the device warming up.
Professional reviewers praise the Exodia for its universal compatibility, practical cap-retention design, lightweight build, and long warranty, but note the lack of independent speed testing and reliance on manufacturer-provided performance figures.
Everyday users appreciate the affordability, cap-keeper feature, and confidence from the 5-year warranty, while common complaints focus on slower-than-advertised speeds and the basic plastic construction.
Professional reviewers laud the DataTraveler Max for delivering SSD-class speeds in a USB-C flash drive, calling it a game-changing product that rivals external SSDs, while noting the plastic construction, exposed half-connector, and need for a USB 3.2 Gen 2 host to unlock its full potential.
Everyday users are overwhelmingly positive about the drive's blazing fast transfers and convenient sliding design, often highlighting how quickly large video files move; common complaints revolve around heating, bulkier size, lack of encryption, and a cheap plastic feel.
Professional reviewers describe the DuoG2 as an innovative and versatile flash drive that solves the compatibility gap between legacy USB-A and modern USB-C devices. They highlight its dual-connector design, cap-less sliding mechanism, and Kingston's reliable brand reputation, while noting that it is positioned as a practical, no-frills tool rather than a high-performance or secure storage solution.
Everyday users praise the drive for its convenience, ease of use, and sufficient capacity, noting that it works seamlessly across multiple platforms. Common complaints focus on slower transfer speeds than expected, the plastic build quality, occasional cap stiffness, and the absence of security features.
Professional reviewers position the Exodia line as a budget-friendly, versatile USB-C flash drive suitable for students and office workers, noting broad OS compatibility and long warranty but highlighting that performance does not meet USB 3.2 expectations.
Everyday users appreciate the drive's durability, warranty, and keyring loop, but many complain about sluggish transfer speeds, inconsistent speed claims, and the risk of losing the cap.
Professional reviewers note solid compatibility and warranty coverage but criticize the absence of independent speed testing, leaving performance expectations unclear.
Users appreciate the low price and easy portability, yet many complain about painfully slow transfer rates and occasional early failures.
Professional reviewers commend the dependable brand and warranty but criticize modest write speeds and lack of security features, positioning it as an everyday drive rather than a performance-oriented solution.
Users like the portability and key-ring loop, but repeatedly note slow write speeds and occasional cap loss.
Professional reviewers describe the SE9 G3 as a premium upgrade with efficient performance and robust metal protection, highlighting its blazing-fast read speeds and refined design.
Everyday users praise the speed and metal construction, while noting the gold finish shows fingerprints and the write speed can be slower in practice.
Professional reviewers and editors consistently label the DataTraveler 70 as a best-value USB-C flash drive, highlighting its USB 3.2 Gen 1 speed, extensive OS compatibility, and an industry-leading 5-year warranty.
Everyday users appreciate the drive's simplicity, lightweight form factor, and reliable compatibility with modern devices, while noting the removable cap's tendency to get lost and the lack of a keyring loop.
Professional reviewers from B&H and Camera Gear commend the SE9 G2 for its sturdy metal construction, capless design, and solid read performance, positioning it as a reliable, budget-friendly option. However, they note that its write speed lags behind rivals and that it lacks any security features.
Everyday users rate the drive highly (average 4.9/5 on Best Buy), praising its fast reads, sleek metal look, and keyring convenience. Common complaints focus on the slow write speed, absence of an activity LED, and the tendency of the metal finish to scratch with regular keychain use.
