The best USB sticks of 2021
There was a time when USB or pendrive storage units were very similar in terms of speeds and type of connection offered. The only differentiating element between them was the storage capacity they offered.
This
has changed considerably since new USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB Type-C, or even
Thunderbolt connection ports emerged. As the specification standard
increased, so did the supported transfer speed.
In
this way, now we must not only look at the data of the storage capacity, but we
must also take into account the type of USB connection used, its supported read
and write speeds, and the security and encryption measures.
You
can consult in this other article a list of the best external hard drives
and SSDs if what you need is a greater storage capacity. And above
these, you will find the best NAS storage systems for superior
storage. 360
In an era in which cloud storage
services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive or iCloud prevail, among
others, there are times when it is still necessary to have physical access to
your files without depending on an Internet connection.
It
is also the case that current pen
drives or USB flash drives
support large file sizes that many cloud services resist. And no less
important is the security factor, especially if we handle company documents.
There
are other factors also to take into account, such as the design, its size, the
type of connector and the support used. We will talk about all these
factors below in the compilation that we have made of the best USB memories
that you will find for sale.
If it turns out that you have bought one of these memories to make a backup of Windows 10, take a look at this article where we show you how to make a backup of your files and the system.
The best USB sticks of 2021
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive - the most versatile for USB-C
·
From
£ 7.39 (16GB) to £ 53.99 (256GB)
The SanDisk Ultra
Dual Drive model is one of the most sought after USB memory drives
today due to its great versatility. As its name suggests, it offers double
connection possibilities: support for USB-A and connector for USB-C.
In
this way, everything you have stored inside, you can handle instantly both on a
computer with a typical USB port, as with a smartphone or tablet that
has a USB-C port, the new standard that the vast majority handle .
In
terms of speeds, it is in line with the other USB 3.1 drives from other brands. Its
capacities vary from 16 GB to 256 GB, with a price for the 128 GB model quite
interesting.
You can use the SanDisk Memory Zone app to manage the content you store inside and easily back up your smartphone.
SanDisk Extreme Go - The Best Overall
·
From
£ 26.99
Physically, the
SanDisk Extreme Go drive is neither sleek nor compact. Anyone
would say it's from years ago, however the finger-operated slide switch system
to hide or remove your USB 3.1 connector is still very practical.
The USB memory supports read speeds of up to 200MB / s taking advantage of its compatibility with the latest connection standard. The Extreme Go can be found in capacities of 64 GB (€ 25.99), 128 GB (€ 46.71) or 256 GB (€ 172.99).
Toshiba TransMemory U365 - best write speed
·
From
US $ 12.99 (32GB, around £ 9.42)
If
you are looking for a larges capacity USB memory drive, Toshiba's TransMemory
U365 may be a great option given the brand's long track record in manufacturing
NAND Flash memories.
Its
performance offers us a sequential read speed of 210 MB / s, ranking among the
fastest that we have tested. For its part, the writing speed drops to a
value of just 33 MB / s.
The TransMemory U365 uses
the same sliding switch system to hide its connector, so that you do not leave
the typical protection cover forgotten anywhere. Its size is more compact
than SanDisk, another factor to consider.