Rankings
The Samsung BAR Plus 256 GB is a metal USB-A flash drive offering up to 400 MB/s read speeds and rugged 5-Proof protection. Its write speed tops out at about 62 MB/s and some spec dimensions vary. Ideal for photographers and travelers needing fast reads and durability.
The Samsung Type-C 512 GB provides 400 MB/s reads and 110 MB/s writes in an ultra-compact USB-C form factor with waterproof and shock-proof design. It is limited to USB-C connectivity and lacks a protective cap. Suited for mobile professionals requiring high capacity and portability.
A 512 GB dual-port flash drive with a metal rotating case delivering up to 415 MB/s read and 421 MB/s write speeds. Random access performance is modest and sustained writes slow after the small cache fills. Ideal for photographers and videographers needing fast large-file transfers across USB-A and USB-C devices.
The Vansuny 64 GB USB-C/USB-A flash drive offers fast real-world transfer speeds up to 180 MB/s read and 138 MB/s write, housed in a rugged waterproof metal case. Its main trade-off is the single USB-A connector, requiring an adapter for native USB-C devices. Ideal for travelers and media enthusiasts needing durable, high-speed storage.
The Lexar D40E 256 GB Dual Drive combines metal swivel housing, dual USB-A/C connectors, and 256-bit AES hardware encryption. Its write speeds are modest and some Android devices may have compatibility quirks. Perfect for users needing cross-device storage with built-in security.
The Kingston DataTraveler Micro 256GB is an ultra-compact metal flash drive with fast 200 MB/s read speeds and a permanent plug-and-stay design. Its main trade-off is the absence of hardware encryption and unspecified write performance. Ideal for users who need a tiny, always-connected storage solution on slim devices.
The Vansuny 256 GB USB 3.0 flash drive offers high real-world speeds and a rugged, lightweight metal body. Its main trade-off is the lack of built-in encryption and occasional missing protective cap. Ideal for travelers, photographers and Android users who need fast, durable portable storage.
The Corsair Flash Survivor Stealth 128 GB offers extreme waterproof protection and shock resistance in a rugged aluminum body, making it ideal for harsh environments. Its slower write performance and bulky, cap-based design may hinder everyday portability. Best suited for outdoor workers, travelers, and anyone needing a drive that can survive water and drops.
The MOSDART 64 GB USB 2.0 flash drive offers a rugged metal case, waterproof rating and a handy LED indicator. Its USB 2.0 interface caps transfer performance, making it unsuitable for large-file transfers. Best for users who value durability and portability over speed.
The Maspen 32 GB USB-2.0 thumb drive provides a sturdy metal body with an LED indicator and protective cap at an affordable price. However, its USB-2.0 interface limits transfer speeds and it lacks waterproofing. Suitable for basic file storage and occasional transfers on legacy PCs.
The Kingston DataTraveler Micro Duo 32 GB combines dual USB-A/-C connectivity with a sturdy metal case and 100 MB/s read speed. Its low write speed and modest capacity limit its usefulness for heavy data tasks. Ideal for photographers and travelers needing quick cross-platform transfers.
The RAOYI 128 GB dual-interface flash drive offers up to 70 MB/s reads, a keychain loop, and an aluminum-alloy body. Its speeds are modest and durability details are sparse. Good for everyday users needing a convenient, dual-connector drive.
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
256 GB | 512 GBbest | 256 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB | 128 GB | 64 GB | 512 GBbest | 128 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB | 64 GB | |
400 MB/s | 400 MB/s | 200 MB/s | 100 MB/s | 100 MB/s | — | — | 415 MB/sbest | 70 MB/s | — | 100 MB/s | 180 MB/s | |
62 MB/s | 110 MB/s | — | 35 MB/s | 45.8 MB/s | — | — | 421 MB/sbest | 20 MB/s | — | 15 MB/s | 138 MB/s | |
| ↓ lower better | 9.6 g | 3.4 gbest | 9 g | 9 g | 26 g | 36.3 g | 18.14 g | 18 g | 10 g | — | — | 9.1 g |
5 yearsbest | 5 yearsbest | 5 yearsbest | 2 years | 3 years | 5 yearsbest | 5 yearsbest | 1 years | — | — | 5 yearsbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Storage(1) | ||||||||||||
Storage Capacity (GB) | 256 GB | 512 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB | 256 GB | 128 GB | 64 GB | 512 GB | 128 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB | 64 GB |
Performance(2) | ||||||||||||
Read Speed (MB/s) | 400 MB/s | 400 MB/s | 200 MB/s | 100 MB/s | 100 MB/s | 82-241 MB/s | — | 415 MB/s | 70 MB/s | — | 100 MB/s | 180 MB/s |
Write Speed (MB/s) | 62 MB/s | 110 MB/s | — | 35 MB/s | 45.8 MB/s | up to 50 MB/s | — | 421 MB/s | 20 MB/s | — | 15 MB/s | 138 MB/s |
Connectivity(2) | ||||||||||||
USB Version | USB 3.1 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.0 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.0 | USB 2.0 | USB 3.2 | USB 3.0 | USB 2.0 | USB 3.1 | USB 3.0 |
Interface Type | USB‑A | USB‑C | USB-A | USB 3.0 Type-A | USB Type-A, USB Type-C | USB-A | USB-A | Dual (USB-A & USB-C) | USB‑A/USB‑C | USB-A | Type-A, Type-C | USB-C, USB-A |
Build & Design(3) | ||||||||||||
Weight (g) | 9.6 g | 3.4 g | 9 g | 9.0 g | 26 g | 36.3 g | 18.14 g | 18 g | 10.0 g | — | — | 9.1 g |
Dimensions (L×W×H) (mm) | 11.75×15.59×40.26 mm | 33.78×16.0×2.54 mm | 24.95×12.2×4.5 mm mm | 48.26x12.19x2.54 mm mm | 70×17×1 mm mm | 25.4 x 25.4 x 76.2 mm mm | 1x19.05x57.15 mm | — | 65.0×20.0×7.0 mm | 2.24×0.7×0.32 inches mm | 29.94×16.60×8.44 mm mm | 56.9×20.1×7.1 mm mm |
Material | Metal | — | metal | Metal | Metal | Aircraft‑grade aluminum with rubber bumpers | Metal | Metal | Aluminum alloy, ABS plastic | metal | Metal with translucent elements | metal |
General(1) | ||||||||||||
Warranty (years) | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 2 years | 3 years | 5 years | 5 years | 1 years | — | — | 5 years | — |
Compatibility(1) | ||||||||||||
OS Compatibility | Windows, macOS, Linux | — | Windows 11/10/8.1; macOS 10.14+; Linux 2.6+; Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Unix | — | — | Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, macOS | — | — | Windows, Linux, macOS | Windows 10/8.1/8, Mac OS, Linux, Chrome OS | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
Power & Environment(1) | ||||||||||||
Operating Temperature (°C) | 0-60 °C | — | 0-60 °C | — | 0-50 °C | — | — | — | — | — | 0 to 60°C °C | — |
Security(1) | ||||||||||||
Hardware Encryption | — | — | — | false | true | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Features(1) | ||||||||||||
LED Indicator | — | — | — | false | — | — | true | — | — | true | — | — |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the BAR Plus for its modern metal design, fast read performance up to 400 MB/s, and comprehensive 5-Proof durability, while noting the write speed of roughly 62 MB/s falls short of top competitors like the SanDisk Extreme Pro.
Everyday users consistently praise the drive's rapid read speeds, stylish metal build, compact form factor and ample 256 GB capacity, with few complaints aside from minor spec inconsistencies.
“lightning-fast speeds”
“very fast USB 3.1”
“stylish, durable”
Retailer editors such as B&H Photo and Staples praise the drive's multi-proof construction and its advertised 400 MB/s read performance on USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, emphasizing fast and efficient data transfer for high-capacity needs. However, professional reviews are limited, leaving independent verification of real-world endurance and write performance scarce.
Everyday users consistently highlight the drive's high read speed, tiny form factor, and rugged, water- and shock-proof build as major positives for on-the-go use. The most common criticism revolves around the comparatively slow write speed and the absence of a protective cap.
Professional reviewers consistently praise the Vansuny 256GB flash drive for its surprisingly high real-world transfer speeds, rugged metal construction, waterproofing, and ultra-thin profile.
Everyday users echo the professional sentiment, highlighting the drive's portability, lightweight feel, and durability in outdoor or travel scenarios.
Professional reviewers commend the D40E's sturdy metal swivel housing and dual-connector flexibility, noting its solid sequential read performance that exceeds the modest advertised spec. However, they criticize its weak sustained write speeds and modest 100 MB/s read ceiling, especially when compared to faster rivals like the Lexar D50E.
Everyday users generally praise the drive's plug-and-play convenience, durable metal construction, and ample 256 GB capacity for travel and photo backups. Recurring complaints focus on slower-than-expected write speeds and occasional compatibility hiccups with certain Android devices.
Professional reviewers commend the Corsair Survivor Stealth for its rugged aluminum build, 200 m waterproof rating, and 1500 G shock resistance, noting it as a solid choice for demanding environments.
Everyday users love the drive's ability to survive water, drops, and rough handling, often sharing stories of it surviving submersion or being dropped from heights. However, they are repeatedly disappointed by slower-than-expected transfer speeds and the easy-to-lose cap, and many find the long, protruding shape cumbersome for regular laptop use.
Professional reviewers consider the MOSDART 64GB USB 2.0 flash drive a solid choice for durability and everyday convenience, emphasizing its metal housing, waterproof rating and handy keychain clip. However, they consistently point out that the USB 2.0 interface caps transfer speeds, making it less suitable for power users who need fast large-file transfers.
Everyday users generally praise the drive's reliability, compact size, waterproof build and the useful LED and rotating clip. The dominant criticism revolves around the slow USB 2.0 transfer rates, especially when moving big files, which many users find frustrating.
Professional reviewers praise the LS25USBC512G1 for its impressive sequential performance, scoring 208 on SSD-tester.com and consistently exceeding the 400 MB/s claim. They also note the robust rotating metal housing as a durability advantage, but caution that random I/O and latency are modest and the small pSLC cache may throttle sustained writes.
Professional coverage of the Raoyi 128 GB flash drive is limited, but the brand's dual USB-A design is praised for its broad compatibility and solid build in related SSD reviews. However, reviewers point out the scarcity of specific performance benchmarks and durability data for this exact model.
Consumers consistently highlight the drive's speed and reliability, especially for large video files, and appreciate its portable, keychain-ready design. The main criticism revolves around missing durability details rather than functional shortcomings.
Professional reviewers commend the Kingston microDuo 3C for its dual-connector flexibility, solid metal build, and long warranty, but criticize the modest 15 MB/s write speed and limited 32 GB capacity.
Everyday users praise the drive's convenience, especially the ability to plug directly into both USB-A and USB-C ports without adapters, and they like its compact size and decent read speed. Recurring complaints focus on slow write speeds and the limited storage capacity.
Professional reviewers consistently praise the Vansuny 64GB USB 3.0 drive for its surprisingly high real-world transfer speeds and rugged waterproof metal construction. They highlight the value proposition, especially when compared to slower, cheaper thumb drives, but caution that the single USB-A connector limits direct compatibility with newer USB-C devices unless an adapter is used.
Everyday users echo the professional sentiment, emphasizing fast transfers, solid build quality, and easy plug-and-play operation across a wide range of devices. The main recurring theme is satisfaction with speed and durability, while a minority note the need for an adapter for USB-C devices.
