Although cloud storage services and wireless local data transfers have reduced some of the reliance on flash drives, they are still going strong. This is because USB flash drives (aka thumb drives, memory sticks, or pen drives) provide one of the most painless ways of transferring or backing up data.
So, a good USB drive still deserves a place in any tech arsenal, just like a solid USB PD charger. But with the growing popularity of USB-C, getting something that plays well with Android phones could mean it’s time to invest in a USB-C flash drive. However, not all USB-C thumb drives are made equal. To ensure the best possible speeds and functionality, we have handpicked the best USB-C flash drives on the market. And as the USB-A port is still hanging around, we have thrown in some dual-interface memory sticks for good measure.
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Best overallSamsung MUF-128DA
$28 $35 Save $7The new Samsung MUF-128DA high-speed flash drive leverages the USB 3.2 Gen 1 standard to deliver speeds of up to 400 MB/s. However, you’ll need a similarly equipped USB Type-C port to get that kind of throughput. And unlike most other models capable of such high speeds, it’s not very expensive and has a compact design. It’s a great long-term investment due to the 5-year warranty against defects and Samsung’s well-known flash chipset quality.
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Premium pickApricorn 3NXC Secure USB Flash Drive
Targeted at folks who want to keep their data encrypted and secure, the Apricorn 3NXC drive features PIN-based encryption that works right on the drive. So, as soon as you transfer anything, it gets secured with 256-bit AES-XTS encryption. Among other highlights, the drive has a rugged build and is IP68-rated for water and dust resistance. Additionally, the aluminum case and the hardened epoxy around the drive’s circuits prevent any physical tempering.
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Best value
Silicon Power C80
$11 $15 Save $4At just under 2 inches long with a sturdy keychain loop, the Silicon Power C80 is one of the most convenient thumb drives to sport Type-A and Type-C connectors. A body made from sandblasted zinc alloy renders it safe from crushing damage and unsightly fingerprints. And due to its small stature, it shouldn’t block any adjacent ports. Keep in mind that it swivels to protect only one of the connectors from getting nicked, bent, or stuffed with debris.
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Kingston Ironkey Vault Privacy 50C
Kingston’s IronKey Vault Privacy 50C offers the utmost privacy for your files with enterprise-grade security using 256-bit encryption. It is tested against various digital attacks, including BadUSB and brute force attacks. It runs lightweight software that supports complex passwords and passphrases while letting you set up admin controls and user accounts. You can pick one with up to 256GB capacity with read and write speeds up to 250MB/s and 180MB/s, respectively.
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SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go
$19 $25 Save $6Roughly the size of a AAA battery, the SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go is a versatile and highly portable option with plenty of bang for your buck. The Type-A and Type-C ports make transferring files between your smartphone and PC a breeze. It also has a sturdy loop for attaching to a lanyard or key chain. Sadly, the Dual Drive Go isn’t as fast as much of the competition, but it is every bit as reliable.
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SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive
A combination of a metal body with just a bit of high-grip texture makes it easy to slide out The SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive’s Type-A and C connectors. Once plugged in, you’ll find decent read speeds in the neighborhood of 150 MB/s. It’s pre-formatted to work perfectly with Android devices and is available with up to 256GB of storage space. The only possible downside is that writing multiple large files may well cause it to get hot and bog down.
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Lexar E32C Jump Drive
The Lexar E32C JumpDrive’s zinc-alloy body helps protect it from physical damage and pulls some heat away from the internals, contributing to its performance and longevity. It also looks nicer than a boxy thumb drive made from black plastic. On top of that, the 128-gigabyte model is an excellent deal, offering more space for the money than nearly any other. There is one negative, though. It only offers read speeds of up to 100MB/s.
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Verbatim Store n Go
$15 $36 Save $21The Verbatim’s Store ‘n’ Go is another excellent dual-interface USB flash drive. It comes in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB variants, and you will get read speeds north of 150MB/s and write speeds around 80MB/s. The company includes a connector cap. But you can only use it to cover one of the connectors when the drive is not in use. Otherwise, the design is pretty decent; you even get a lanyard loop. A limited lifetime warranty rounds out the package.
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PNY Duo Link USB 3.2 Type-C Flash Drive
$13 $18 Save $5The PNY Duo Link is an excellent option if you frequently use your flash drive to transfer content from your computer to your mobile device or vice versa. You can even transfer content between Android phones, tablets, and iPads. The Duo Link features both a Type-C and a USB Type-A connector for better compatibility. While it’s not the fastest flash storage on the market, it claims to offer respectable read speeds of up to 200MB/s.
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Adata Elite UE800
The Adata Elite UE800 is an award-winning USB-C flash drive with a sliding connector and lanyard loop for safekeeping. While this flash drive is portable in design, it offers varying storage capacities: 126GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB. Another plus for the UE800 is the phenomenal transfer speed of up to 1000 MB/s.
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Vansuny Dual OTG Thumb Drive
$9 $10 Save $1The Vansuny Dual OTG Thumb Drive is a shock-proof thumb drive with USB-C and USB 3.0, allowing data transfer and storage across mobile and computer devices with a C-port with OTG capabilities. This drive is available in several storage capacities of up to 256 GB. However, the transfer speeds are lackluster, varying between 15 MB/s to 60 MB/s.
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OWC Envoy Pro Mini Portable
Other World Computing makes some classy devices, and the Envoy Pro Mini Portable is a high-quality option. This unit can connect to any computer or phone using USB-A or USB-C. The file transfer speed is up to 946MB/s sequential read/write. This device can also be a boot drive and has 60TB total bytes written (TBW) or five years of 33 GB per day. With capacities of up to 2TB available and time machine compatibility, it offers the best user experience.
What exactly is USB-C?
It’s a little-known fact that the USB Implementers Forum is a group of global leaders hell-bent on ensuring that nobody will truly understand which USB standards are capable of which speeds. That’s why we have protocols like USB Gen 2 2×2, which used to be simply called USB 3.2 but was renamed to confuse the average consumer. At least, that’s what it seems like sometimes.
To clear up any confusion, USB Type-C only refers to the USB-C connector, and that’s it. USB 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 Gen 2, as well as 3.2 Gen 1×2, 2×1, and 2×2 (yes, sadly, those are all real designations) all refer to the speeds the bus can transmit. All previous USB standards can work over USB-C, but having a Type-C plug doesn’t guarantee that a device is capable of USB 3.1 or even 3.0 speeds.
So, what does that mean in terms of smartphones and tablets? Not much. Many of the best modern smartphones have USB-C ports but are still limited to USB 3.0 speeds. If your phone is one of those, consider whether it’s worth investing in a high-performing USB 3.1 flash drive.
PC file transfer: the reason to get a high-speed flash drive
If you frequently transfer files from your PC to your smartphone, opting for faster standards might help. When plugged into a PC, the average good-quality thumb drive can read and write at roughly 90-120 MB/s and 20-50 MB/s, respectively. Those numbers decrease if you’re copying many small files or if the device gets extremely hot, at which point it may throttle to keep from overheating.
If you’re the proud owner of a high-end smartphone, a premium flash drive such as the Samsung MUF series or the Kingston Ironkey Vault can take full advantage of your device’s cutting-edge hardware. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra boasts 10 gigabits of throughput over its USB 3.2 Gen 1 port.
All this is to say that a manufacturer’s claims of maximum speeds should be taken with a grain of salt. The speeds you get depend heavily on the hardware and software in your smartphone or tablet. Ultimately, it’s worth checking out PC benchmarks when comparing which drives are fastest in the real world, as testing on a PC removes potential bottlenecks such as low-speed USB ports on smartphones.
One final note on PC-to-smartphone file transfer: for convenience, consider one of the multiple 2-in-1 flash drives highlighted. The USB-C connector is more robust than the obsolete micro-USB but a bit less sturdy than the full-size USB-A connector. Not only is Type-A a touch more stable, but many laptops only have a single USB-C port, and most desktops don’t have any. So, if you plan on transferring files from your desktop to your phone, a combo such as the Vansuny Dual flash drive is a must-have.
The top USB-C thumb drive options for you
Samsung’s MUF-128DA is a solid USB-C flash device option for most users. It’s tiny but feature-rich. The drive supports write speeds of up to 300 MB/s, which is among the best in this price range. Plus, it comes with a five-year limited warranty. While the Samsun MUF series is a solid option that won’t break the bank, there is no better option than our premium pick — the Apricorn 3NXC Secure Flash. It supports reliable read and write speeds and offers advanced security features to help protect sensitive data. For a more cost-effective option, the Silicon Power C80 is still a great device. Its 256GB version is wallet-friendly and swivels to keep from blocking ports and to keep the USB-C connector safe.
A note on counterfeits
Because some online retailers group their internal and third-party stock, it’s entirely possible to get a fake flash drive from a supposedly reputable seller. MicroSD cards are even worse for this. It’s nearly impossible to prevent buying from some sites, but it is always best to verify sellers before making a purchase. Luckily, if a purchased flash drive is less than up to standard or a knock-off, most online retailers such as Amazon allow for replacements or returns through the vendor.
