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What You Need to Know About Buying Portable Flash Drives

Bigger is better

By Lisa Johnston Lisa Johnston Writer New York College Emerson College Lisa Johnston is a former Lifewire writer and an editor who covers computer peripherals and other consumer electronics since 2004. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 24, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Computer Components USB/USB-C Monitors Keyboards Mice Cards CPU Storage Laptop Bags & Backpacks Printers Whether you are planning to purchase a new USB flash drive or are just looking to upgrade, a few pointers can make the buying process a little simpler. Jeffrey Hamilton/Getty Images

Go Big With the Flash Drive

When deciding which size USB flash drive to buy, it's best to go bigger than you think you'll need. You'll never regret having too much space. While price increases with capacity, you pay less to jump from 8GB to 16GB, for example, than you pay if you have to buy a second 8GB drive down the line.

Don' t Overlook Security

Many drives come with data security, including password protection or fingerprint scanning. The level of security you need depends on what you're putting on the device, but you should look for a drive that at least has password protection. A flash drive's diminutive size may be convenient, but it makes them notoriously easy to lose. Another helpful safeguard is a manufacturer warranty, typically found on most USB flash drives. Manufacturer warranties can range from one year to a lifetime and protect against product manufacturing defects. (All warranty terms vary, so check the fine print). But, warranties for flash drives are only worth it if they're already included with the device. Don't bother purchasing an extended plan from the retailer—it's not worth your money.

Buy Sturdy

No amount of password protection is going to help you if your flash drive falls apart after a little wear and tear. Look for drives made with anodized aluminum outer casings or some other kind of hardy material. If you go with plastic, at least make sure that any caps feature a tether. Waterproofing can't hurt, especially if you're planning to attach it to your keychain.

Hold On

Normally, faster is better, and USB 3.0 is faster than USB 2.0, but when it comes to USB flash drives, paying for the additional speed may not be necessary. There's little point in paying a premium for speed for a drive that's only transferring and carrying 32GB of data. The speed jump is negligible at that size unless you have a time-sensitive job that has you using the drive multiple times a day. Now, if your flash drive holds 1TB of data, consider USB 3.0. In that case, make sure your computer is also USB 3.0-compatible before you buy a drive with the same technology. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Find a Flash Drive That's Not Showing Up on a Mac How Do I Create a Windows Password Reset Disk? How to Select the Right USB Flash Drive What Is a Hard Disk Drive? How to Choose an External Hard Drive Install Windows 8/8.1 From USB [Full Walkthrough] The 10 Best USB Flash Drives of 2022 Can You Plug a Flash Drive Into a PS4? The 5 Best USB Flash Drives to Store Music in 2022 How to Make a Bootable Flash Installer of OS X or macOS USB (Universal Serial Bus): Everything You Need to Know Best Commercial Hard Drive Repair Software What Is a Flash Drive? USB-C vs. USB 3: What's the Difference? How to Check Storage Space on a Flash Drive Should You Buy a Blu-ray Player? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies