USB flash drives are for moving files between devices, making backups and carrying documents with you. Our range includes over 20 models, with the most products from Apricorn and Transcend. You will also find drives from SanDisk, Kingston, Kioxia and PNY Technologies.
How to choose a USB flash drive
Capacity. A few tens of gigabytes are often enough for documents and photos. For video, operating system installation images and large project files, it is worth choosing several hundred gigabytes or more. The usable space after formatting is always slightly lower than the figure on the box.
Interface and speed. USB 3.x drives copy large files much faster than USB 2.0, but the computer's port limits the final speed as well. Manufacturers quote read and write speeds, and write speed is usually the slower of the two. If you copy large files often, look at that figure first.
Connector. USB-A is found on many computers, while newer laptops, tablets and phones often have only USB-C. If you move files between different devices, a model with both connectors is worth considering. Also check that the file system, such as exFAT, works with both Windows and macOS.
Data protection. If you lose an ordinary flash drive, anyone can read what is on it. For confidential documents, choose a model with hardware encryption that unlocks with a PIN or password, rather than relying on software protection alone.
Casing. A metal body and a protected connector last longer if the drive lives in a pocket or on a key ring. Caps are easy to lose, so for a drive you use daily a retractable connector is more convenient.
Brands we carry
- Apricorn: known for hardware-encrypted storage devices and flash drives that unlock with a PIN keypad.
- Transcend: a Taiwanese company making flash drives, memory cards and other flash storage, with the widely known JetFlash series.
- SanDisk: one of the most recognisable flash memory makers, offering both USB drives and memory cards.
- Kingston: makes the DataTraveler series of flash drives, as well as memory modules and SSDs.
- Kioxia: a Japanese manufacturer that grew out of Toshiba's memory business and focuses on NAND flash memory.
- PNY Technologies: a US company known for memory modules, flash storage and graphics cards.
- Satechi: mainly designs aluminium-cased accessories, particularly for Apple devices.
Also in our range: Kodak, MediaRange and equip.
Frequently asked questions about USB flash drives
What capacity of USB flash drive should I buy?
For documents and photos, a few tens of gigabytes are usually enough. If you plan to store video, program installers or a backup of your computer, choose several hundred gigabytes. Extra capacity means you are less likely to run out of space a few months later.
What is the difference between USB 2.0 and USB 3.x flash drives?
USB 3.x drives transfer data much faster than USB 2.0 ones. The difference is most noticeable when copying large files such as video. You only get the full speed when the drive is plugged into a USB 3.x port, because a slower port limits the result.
Is a USB flash drive suitable for backups?
It is suitable for small backups and as an extra copy of your files. It should not be the only copy, because a flash drive can be lost or damaged. Important data is better kept on at least two different storage devices.
How can I protect the data on a USB flash drive?
The most dependable way is a drive with hardware encryption that you unlock with a PIN or password. The alternative is the encryption features of your operating system, but these only work on devices that support them. If such a drive is lost, its files cannot be read without the password.
