Flash drives are very useful, but choosing the right one can be difficult if you're not sure which specifications are important. Use this article as your flash drive buying guide so you know what to look for before taking out your credit card.
A flash drive is a small portable storage device. It can save the same files that a computer can save: images, documents, videos, etc. It plugs into a USB port and functions much like a hard drive installed in your computer.
Flash drives are relatively cheap (compared to traditional hard drives), but that doesn't mean they all work the same way or the way you need them to. Before purchasing a flash drive, consider the following factors:
- Connection Type
- price
- capacity
- speed
- Safety
The flash drive works via a USB connection (USB-A or USB-C). It's important to confirm which port your flash drive requires, because if your computer doesn't have a matching port, you'll need to purchase an adapter to make it fit.
USB-C flash drives are easier to use because the plug is reversible, meaning there's no right side up (you'll insert it correctly every time).
Older computers don't have USB-C ports, while new computers almost always include both types. Still, you should check your settings to be sure.
Flash drives have become increasingly cheaper over the years, even as you reach very high capacities. However, the USB-C 3.0 type will be more expensive.
| price range | What you can expect |
| Up to $25 | Up to 256 GB USB-A flash drive |
| $25-$50 | 512 GB flash drive or 256 GB USB-C flash drive |
| $50-$150 | 1 TB flash drive or 512 GB USB-C flash drive |
| Over $150 | 2 TB USB-A or USB-C flash drive, or encrypted flash drive |
USB flash drive capacities range from under 1 GB to over 1 TB. There is no "right" size for flash drives; the amount of storage you need depends on the amount of data you want to store. For example, if you have some Word or Excel files from a computer, a 1 GB flash drive may provide you with enough capacity. However, if you plan to back up all your files, you may need anywhere from a few GB to 500 GB or more.
If you want to store all the images and videos on your phone, go into your phone settings and see how much space your media files are taking up. Its size can vary from 1 GB to dozens of GB. Whatever it is, this is the minimum amount of storage you'll need, considering you may add more files in the future. You can use the same method with other files such as MP4. Remember to consider what types of files you might want to store on the same drive.
Transfer speed is another factor to consider when purchasing a flash drive. There are two main types of USB flash drives: USB 2.0 (an older standard) and USB 3.0 (a newer standard). USB 2.0 has a transfer speed of 480 Mbps, and USB 3.0 has a transfer speed of 5,000 Mbps (5 Gbps). This means USB 3.0 is approximately 10 times faster than USB 2.0. There's also USB 3.2, which supports speeds up to 20,000 Mbps (20 Gbps).
Generally speaking, a 16 GB file (such as a digital video project) transfers in less than a minute using USB 3.0, but takes about five minutes using USB 2.0.
The convenience of USB flash drives comes with some security risks:
- Their small size can result in them being lost or overlooked.
- They are difficult to physically track (some companies ban their use for this reason).
- They can transfer malware from one computer to another.
You can't change the thumb drive's small size without giving up portability, but software encryption and hardware encryption can help prevent malware transmission and unauthorized access. A complete disk encryption program provides on-the-fly encryption of removable media. Another type of protection is a built-in keypad where the user must enter a PIN to use the drive.
If you are transferring some non-confidential files from one home computer to another, you may not need these extra features. But if you're transferring files between multiple computers or archiving important or proprietary data, you must protect your device. Data security adds to the cost of a USB device, but when making a purchasing decision, you should compare it to the price (time, money, and hassle) if an unprotected drive falls into the wrong hands.
Flash drives are a smart choice for people who need extra storage but don't want to upgrade their internal hard drive. They are very easy to insert and remove, making them useful for tasks such as transferring large files between computers and backing up important data offline.
Another reason to buy a flash drive is if you need software to run before your computer boots up. For example, you can install a Windows operating system or run a bootable antivirus program by placing the installation files on a flash drive and then booting from the drive.
If you're low on storage space, a flash drive is a quick way to get the space you need. However, if you have huge storage needs, you can opt for an external hard drive.
With most new flash drives, you don't need to do anything special as they come ready to use right out of the box. Just plug it in. that's all! No unique drivers are required.
However, some flash drives do include built-in backup tools that can help you save your computer files to the device. These programs are not required, but you will need to configure them if you plan to use this feature.
If you're prompted to format your drive before use, check out our guide on how to format your drive in Windows.
Once you decide on the size of your flash drive and other factors such as whether it fits within your budget, choosing which flash drive to buy is fairly simple.
Another thing to look out for is whether the flash drive comes with a warranty. Most tech devices come with some kind of limited warranty from the manufacturer, so this shouldn't be a big issue. However, considering that the flash drive may end up holding important files, an extended warranty may be a wise move.
