How to Choose a USB stick? How Should I Choose a USB Flash Drive for Work?

Digital technology surrounds us everywhere. No single sphere of life exists where we would not have to exchange data. Therefore, choosing a quality USB stick, known as a flash drive, is still relevant.

How to choose a USB flash drive for a computer or laptop? What should be the standard (interface) flash drive to make it suitable for different USB ports? In this article, you will learn the answers to these and other questions and will be able to understand which flash drive is better.

Connection method: what should be the interface of the flash drive?

Why do you need to understand the types of interfaces of external drives and what they affect? Every average person asked this question. This parameter is essential for two reasons: the type of USB interface depends on the speed of data transfer and compatibility with the computer.

What types of USB sticks standards are there, and what are their features:

• USB 2.0: Used to be popular in the past, so many devices are still equipped with this interface.It has a low bandwidth, i.e., data recording and transmission. It is about 30-35 Mbps.
• USB 3.0: This is a standard interface with a relatively high bandwidth of 5000 Mbps. It also fits most computer and notebook connectors because it has additional pins.
• USB 3.1 and 3.1 Type C: Modern interfaces, compatible with USB 2.0 and 3.0. The speed and performance of such a device are many times higher than previous analogs – 10 Gbit/s.

The manufacturer’s stated parameters of the flash drive may differ from its actual specifications. Because, in many respects, the reading speed and throughput are affected by the compatibility of the flash drive and computer interfaces. For example, if you connect USB 3.0 to 2.0, there will be no strong loss in speed, but if you connect to the “native” 3.0 connector, the drive’s performance will increase.

What are the different types of flash drives depending on the material?

The essential elements of an external USB drive are a USB connector, controller, and chip.

Flash drives are produced in different cases, and this aspect is more related to the design. The main thing is that all the contacts and chips are preserved, and the material of the flash card can be any. So to the popular types of flash drives include:

• plastic
• metal
• wooden
• silicone
• glass

Types of flash drive casing

Like all modern devices, the flash drive has its own design features. That, in which case you choose a flash card, will affect the convenience when using it. There are several basic types of USB connectors:

• Housing + cap: Usually, it is a one-piece housing with a removable cap. They are often made of the same material (plastic, rubber, metal). The cap may have a silicone or rubber rim at the base to more tightly fix on the case and not fly off.
• Rotating case: In the rotating design, the flash drive is not protected from all sides. The protection is a rotating case. It is attached to a screw in the base of the drive.
• Sliding connector: This design is a slider. Pressing a particular button, the connector slides out of the case.
• Carabiner: The connector is hidden inside the case on the principle of a folding blade.
• Without a cap: This type of case is similar to the first design, but a cap does not protect the connector. Suitable for those accustomed to the flash drive, it is always connected to the device. For example, if it stores system data. The disadvantage of such a device is that USB contacts are not protected from dust and moisture.