PNY Pro Elite 256GB
Score: 85/100
PNY Pro Elite 128GB
Score: 73/100Rankings
The PNY PRO Elite 256 GB USB-A flash drive delivers high read performance and a rugged metal body, making it ideal for large file transfers and bootable media. However, sustained writes suffer once the 64 GB pSLC cache is depleted and the drive lacks hardware encryption.
The PNY Pro Elite 128 GB USB 3.0 flash drive delivers high-speed sequential performance in a rugged metal body, making it ideal for large-file transfers. While its speed shines, random I/O and small-file writes are weaker, and usable capacity is a bit lower than advertised.
| Attribute | PNY Pro Elite 256GB | |
|---|---|---|
256 GBbest | 128 GB | |
400 MB/sbest | 384 MB/s | |
180 MB/s | 302 MB/sbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 30 g | 0.28 gbest |
| ↓ lower better | 134.11 mmbest | 134.11 mmbest |
| ↓ lower better | 99.31 mmbest | 99.31 mmbest |
| ↓ lower better | 11.43 mmbest | 11.43 mmbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | PNY Pro Elite 256GB | |
|---|---|---|
Storage(1) | ||
Capacity (GB) | 256 GB | 128 GB |
Performance(2) | ||
Read Speed (MB/s) | 400 MB/s | 384 MB/s |
Write Speed (MB/s) | 180 MB/s | 302 MB/s |
Physical(2) | ||
Weight (g) | 30 g | 0.28 g |
Material | Metal | metal |
Connectivity(1) | ||
USB Interface | USB 3.1 Gen 1 | USB 3.0 |
Compatibility(1) | ||
Operating System Compatibility | Windows/macOS/Linux | Windows, macOS |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers highlight the drive's impressive sequential read speeds and robust metal construction, confirming short-burst performance claims, but note that sustained writes suffer after the cache is exhausted and the lack of encryption may concern security-focused users.
Everyday users rate the drive highly for its speed, durability, and premium feel, while common complaints focus on slower write speeds, occasional USB-version confusion, and the protruding connector.
Professional reviewers highlight the drive's top-tier sequential performance and solid build quality, noting it outpaces many rivals for large-file transfers but point out inconsistent small-file speeds.
Users love the metal, capless design and fast large-file transfers, but frequently complain about inconsistent speed readings and slower small-file writes.
“feeling like a metal tank”
“way nicer than SanDisk”
“One reviewer upgraded from 5 to 4 stars after benchmarking, noting that while large-file performance is excellent, small-file performance lags.”
