USB flash drives are for moving, storing and copying files: documents, photos, installation files and backups. Our range has over 140 models with USB Type-A and USB Type-C connectors. You will find drives from MediaRange, Silicon Power, Verbatim, HP, Transcend and Kingston.
How to choose a USB flash drive
Capacity. For documents or an operating system installer, 16 or 32 GB is often enough. A photo and video archive calls for 64 or 128 GB. Most drives in our range are 16, 32 or 64 GB, and there are 128 GB and 256 GB models too.
USB version and speed. Our range includes USB 2.0, USB 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 drives, with stated read speeds from 10 to 250 MB/s. Write speed is usually lower than read speed, so check both when copying large files. A fast drive needs a USB 3 port, otherwise it will run slower.
Connector. Most of our drives have a USB Type-A connector, and a few have USB Type-C or both. If your laptop or phone only has Type-C, choose a Type-C or dual-connector model.
Form factor. Slide-out drives retract the connector into the body, capless models have no cap to lose, and a cap protects the connector in a pocket or on a key ring. Most of the drives in our range are slide-out models.
Brands we carry
- Kingston: a well-known maker of memory and storage, whose DataTraveler series of flash drives has been sold for many years.
- Transcend: a Taiwanese manufacturer known for its JetFlash series of flash drives.
- Verbatim: a long-established maker of data media, which moved from optical discs to flash drives.
- PNY Technologies: a US company making memory modules, flash drives and memory cards.
- Silicon Power: a Taiwanese memory and storage manufacturer that also offers SSDs and memory cards.
- MediaRange: the largest number of models among our USB flash drives, so it offers the most options by capacity and form factor.
Also in our range: HP, Intenso, Emtec and Genie.
Frequently asked questions about USB flash drives
What capacity of USB flash drive should I buy?
For most people 32 or 64 GB is enough. That holds documents, many photos and a few installation files. For video or a large archive, choose 128 GB or more.
What is the difference between USB 3.2 and USB 2.0 flash drives?
USB 3.2 drives transfer data much faster than USB 2.0 when plugged into a USB 3 port. With files of several gigabytes, the difference can be minutes. If you only carry small documents, a USB 2.0 model is often enough.
Can I plug a USB Type-A flash drive into a phone or a new laptop?
Not directly if the device only has a USB Type-C port. You need an adapter or a drive with a Type-C connector or both, and our range includes such models. Before buying, check that your phone supports external storage.
Can I install Windows from a USB flash drive?
Yes, as long as the drive has enough space and the computer can boot from USB. The installer is created with a dedicated tool that erases the drive, so copy off any important files first. A faster USB 3 drive makes the installation quicker.
