Although the world is now moving towards cloud storage and external storage drives, pen drives were one of the first methods for data portability. To this day, they’re relatively inexpensive and can hold a significant amount of data. Moreover, carrying them from home to the office or on work trips is relatively easy. So, if you’re looking for a fast and inexpensive way to store your data, pen drives are still the best way to do so. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best pen drives you can buy today.
Let’s check out the entries!
HP v236w
HP has always produced pen drives with excellent build quality. With the v236w, you get the same top-notch build quality that’s so pervasive in their series of pen drives. This drive is made of metal, which also adds a semblance of elegance. You don’t have to install any additional software to make the drive work, as it has a plug-and-play operation. Moreover, it’s also temperature and shock-proof to ensure complete safety during use. It’s also surprisingly fast, with a write speed of 4MB/sec and a read speed of 14MB/sec. Lastly, it comes in three storage variants – 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB.
| Pros | Cons |
| Great build quality | Only supports USB 2.0 |
| Has an elegant design | |
| Easy to operate |
X-Factor: This pen drive is probably one of the most elegant drives on the market today.
Also read: 7 Best Google Docs Add-Ons That You Didn’t Know About!
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive
SanDisk is one of the biggest names when it comes to storage drives. In fact, this Ultra Dual Drive from the company is one of the fastest pen drives on the market today. It uses a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface to provide read speeds of up to 150MB/sec. Additionally, it features a 2-in-1 design that sports both a USB C interface and a traditional Type-A connector. Its companion app, the SanDisk Memory Zone app, lets you back up thousands of photos in the shortest time possible. Finally, the dual-purpose swivel design is quite unique and handy, as it also features a keyring hole for easy carry.
| Pros | Cons |
| 2-in-1 connector types | It can heat up considerably after extended periods of use |
| USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface for high-speed transfers | |
| Easy to carry, thanks to the design |
X-Factor: Dual connector design makes it supremely easy to transfer data between two different devices.
Strontium Pollex
Strontium is one of the lesser-known manufacturers of storage drives. However, their products are effective and relatively inexpensive as well. In the case of the Strontium Pollex USB drive, you get pretty much the same benefits. This pen drive is compatible with USB 1.1, 2.0, and 3.0, making it highly versatile in transferring data. It also supports usage with all three major operating systems, Windows, macOS, and Linux. Finally, it’s also one of the cheapest pen drives you can buy today!
| Pros | Cons |
| Highly affordable for the features | Build quality could’ve been much better |
| Universal compatibility with operating systems | |
| Supports all three major USB ports |
X-Factor: The pen drive provides universal compatibility with all the major operating systems and USB ports, which is rare in this price segment.
Also read: 5 Best Printers Under 15000 In India July 2022!
SanDisk Ultra Flair
The SanDisk Ultra Flair is undoubtedly one of the most secure pen drives available today. It uses the patented SanDisk SecureAccess software to encrypt all your files, making them inaccessible in case your drive is stolen. It also features a temperature-proof metal casing that ensures lower temperatures when using the pen drive for extended periods. Apart from this, it’s compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports, allowing transfer speeds up to 150MB/sec. Lastly, the Ultra Flair is a complete no-brainer if you want a stylish-looking pen drive!
| Pros | Cons |
| Temperature-proof casing dissipates heat efficiently | Doesn’t maintain a constant transfer speed |
| Compatible with both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 | |
| Onboard software helps you encrypt your sensitive files |
X-Factor: The SanDisk Ultra Flair is one of the safest pen drives you can use, thanks to the onboard software that encrypts your sensitive files.
Kingston Data Traveler Exodia DTX
Despite the long name, this pen drive from Kingston is one of the fastest pen drives available on the market. It utilises the USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface for blazing-fast transfer speeds of 200MB/sec. In terms of the build, you get a decent plastic body supplemented with a plastic cap to ensure no dust enters the drive. Moreover, there’s also a loop at the end of the pen drive for attaching keyrings and making it more portable without compromising on safety. Lastly, you get a massive five-year warranty with the product, making it future-proof!
| Pros | Cons |
| Extremely fast transfer speeds | Quite large when compared with other products in this price segment |
| Decent build focussing on safety and portability | |
| Five year’s worth of warranty |
X-Factor: With the pen drive using USB 3.2 Gen 1, you get the fastest read and write speeds in this price range.
Also read: 7 Best Google Drive Plugins To Make Your Work Life More Intuitive!
The takeaway
As you can see, there are quite a few good options for pen drives on the market. However, we’ve picked the best pen drives you can buy today, based on multiple factors and price segments. Hopefully, it’ll now be much easier for you to choose a pen drive when you require one. If there are any other pen drives that you love using but haven’t been listed here, let us know in the comment section. We’d love to hear your opinion!
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Anirban Dutta Choudhury
Writer, researcher, and avid gamer. Geeks out over postmodern novels and the latest PC games. Usually intends all his puns.