All of us get annoyed when computers decrease the data transfer speed, don’t we? As transfer-rate depends on the hardware, a USB 3.0 pen drive is an essential and handy device you must use to transfer data quickly from one computer to another. As compared to a USB 2.0 pen drive, USB pen drives 3.0 have better reading and writing speeds, saving you from getting irritated while transferring large amounts of data.
Best USB 3.0 Pen Drives For Desktop, Laptop, MacBook, Windows, And Mac
1. SanDisk Ultra Flair 128GB USB 3.0 Pen Drive
SanDisk Ultra Flair 128GB USB 3.0 Pen Drive is one of the good-looking, handy, and affordable pen drives you can purchase today. It provides up to 150MB/s read speed, allowing you to transfer quicker than ever. For security, it includes SanDisk SecureAccess software that lets you password-protect and encrypt your sensitive files. Whether you have a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port, you can use this device without any problem.
Kingston DataTraveler DT100 G3 128GB USB 3.0 Pen Drive is quite stylish and it doesn’t look anything like the SanDisk Ultra Flair 128GB USB 3.0 Pen Drive. It is compatible with all USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, letting you use it with old as well as new computers with no issue. It sports dual 3.0 connectivity and the backward is compatible with USB 2.0.
Storage capacity: 16GB
Product dimension: 6 x 2.12 x 1 cm
Product weight: 16gms
Reading speed: 80MB
Case material: Metal
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
3. HP x765w 32GB USB 3.0 Pen Drive
If you like the white color, HP x765w Pen Drive 32GB USB 3.0 is the device you can look at. It is quite light in weight, making it easy to carry with the built-in strap hole design. It has a data transfer speed of 100MB/s. The only problem with this device is that it is quite pricey as the 32GB version costs around ₹ 549.00.
Storage capacity: 32GB
Product dimension: 5.5 x 2.03 x 0.95 cm
Product weight: 8.9gms
Reading speed: 100MB/s
Case material: Plastic
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
4. Kingston Digital 32GB Data Traveler 3.0 USB Flash Drive Red (DTIG4/32GB)
Like all the other aforementioned devices, Kingston Digital 32GB Data Traveler 3.0 USB Flash Drive Red (DTIG4/32GB) is compatible with all USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports. As it has a dedicated cap, you can protect the port from dust, which damages the external device often. As it is white in color, it goes with any color scheme that you may have for your computer desk.
Storage capacity: 32GB
Product dimension: 5.51 x 1.02 x 2.11 cm
Product weight: 10.31gms
Reading speed: 100MB/s
Case material: Plastic
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
5. HP USB 3.1 Flash Drive 64GB x740w
If you need a stylish pen drive, this HP pen drive is probably the best option for you, featuring a cap-less design with metal housing. It offers a data transfer speed of 75MB/s so that you can store almost anything, including documents, pictures, video clips, MP3 files and more. The robust metal mechanism provides a great protection against scratches.
Storage capacity: 64GB
Product dimension: 5.22 x 1.51 x 0.72 cm
Product weight: 8.7gms
Reading speed: 75MB/s
Case material: Metal
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
6. SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go Type C Pendrive for Mobile 64GB, 5Y – SDDDC3-064G-I35
SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go Type C Pendrive for Mobile 64GB, 5Y – SDDDC3-064G-I35 offers a massive data transfer rate (150MB/s) so that you can transfer any file within moments. It is a 2-in-1 Pendrive for mobile with a reversible USB Type-C and a traditional Type-A connector. As it is a USB-C port-enabled pen drive, you can connect it with almost any Type-C enabled device without any problem. Dual-purpose swivel design protects connectors and features a keyring hole to take your drive on the go.
Storage capacity: 64GB
Product dimension: 0.9 x 4.4 x 1.2 cm
Product weight: 20gms
Reading speed: 150MB/s
Case material: Metal
Port compatibility: USB-C
7. Kingston DataTraveler Swivl 32GB USB 3.0 Pen Drive (DTSWIVL/32GBIN)
When you need a modern day-looking pen drive, you can take a look at Kingston DataTraveler Swivl USB 3.0 32GB Pen Drive (DTSWIVL/32GBIN), which rotates 360 degrees for easy access. It has a portable design and the lightweight storage solution that’s easy to take with you anywhere you go. For your information, you can connect it to USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports without any problem.
Storage capacity: 32GB
Product dimension: 5.5 x 1.8 x 1 cm
Product weight: 20gms
Reading speed: 80MB/s
Case material: Metal
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
8. SanDisk Ultra Flair 32GB USB 3.0 Pen Drive
SanDisk Ultra Flair 32GB USB 3.0 Pen Drive is an addition to the first one as it is the same pen drive but with different storage capacity. The first one is about 128GB whereas this one can help you store 32GB of files. The design, build quality, overall appearance, etc. are identical to the first one.
Storage capacity: 32GB
Product dimension: 0.66 x 4.24 x 1.32 cm
Product weight: 4.5gms
Reading speed: 150MB/s
Case material: Plastic
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
9. Strontium Ammo 32GB 3.0 USB Pen Drive
If you carry your keys and pen drives together, Strontium Ammo 32GB USB 3.0 Pen Drive is the solution for you as it is an in-built keychain USB. It sports the highest quality flash memory component for maximum reliability and fast data transmission. Whether you have Windows, macOS, or Linux OS, you can use this pen drive with no problem.
Storage capacity: 32GB
Product dimension: 1 x 8 x 5 cm
Product weight: 6gms
Reading speed: 75MB/s
Case material: Metal
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
10. Simmtronics 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Metal Body
Simmtronics USB 32GB 3.0 Flash Drive is a gold-plated pen drive with a lot of exclusive features. One of them is the 5-year warranty, which is not available with any other product mentioned in this list. You can transfer your photos, videos, and files up to 10 times faster than standard USB 2.0 with this USB 3.0 Flash Drive. It is fully compatible with Windows and Mac computers.
Storage capacity: 32GB
Product dimension: 13.8 x 8.8 x 0.6 cm
Product weight: 20gms
Reading speed: 80MB/s
Case material: Metal
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
11. HP USB 3.1 Flash Drive 64GB X795w
If you need a tiny USB 3.0 pen drive with a high data transfer speed, you can opt for this HP pen drive. It has a charming appearance which brings a great sense of style with electronic plating after printing technique. There are multiple versions available of this product but the 64GB variant is the most affordable one. The wide strap hole makes it easy for you to carry it.
Storage capacity: 64GB
Product dimension: 18 x 18.6 x 1.2 cm
Product weight: 3gms
Reading speed: 150MB/s
Case material: Metal
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
12. A-DATA UV360 64 GB USB 3.2 Flash Drive
A-DATA UV360 64 GB USB 3.2 Flash Drive has 100MB/s of data transfer speed, making it easier for you to transfer any file from computer to this device within moments. The overall design of this pen drive is neat and clean and a slide of your thumb is all you need to access the connector. Whether you carry 4K movies, photo, the UV360 has you covered with so much storage capacity for speedy transfers.
Storage capacity: 64GB
Product dimension: 5.3 x 1.8 x 0.7 cm
Product weight: 14gms
Reading speed: 100MB/s
Case material: Plastic
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
13. HP USB 3.1 Flash Drive 64GB 796W
HP USB 3.1 Flash Drive is another pen drive with a metal body for durability and because of that, it looks quite fancy. Like some of the other pen drives, you can get almost 100MB/s of data transfer speed so that you can quickly transfer movies, music, videos, etc. from your computer to your pen drive. The best thing is that you can purchase a 512GB version of this pen drive from Amazon.
Storage capacity: 64GB
Product dimension: 5.41 x 1.78 x 0.76 cm
Product weight: 1.3gms
Reading speed: 100MB/s
Case material: Plastic
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
14. SanDisk Ultra SDCZ48-032G-U46 32GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive
If you don’t care about the design and need a product that does the job pretty well, you can check out SanDisk SDCZ48-032G-UAM46 Ultra CZ48 32GB USB 3.0 Pen Drive on Amazon. It protects private files with SanDisk SecureAccess software so that you can store confidential files without any worry. The highlight is that you can get a 5-year warranty by the manufacturer on this product.
Storage capacity: 32GB
Product dimension: 5.69 x 1.09 x 2.13 cm
Product weight: 9.07gms
Reading speed: 100MB/s
Case material: Plastic
Port compatibility: USB 3.0 and 2.0
15. Wansenda 32GB 3.0 High Speed Pendrive
As the name says Wansenda 32GB pen drive lets you transfer files at a very high speed – 80MB/s. It is probably the most good-looking or fancy pen drive that you can find in this list. The blue and black combination works fine. On the other hand, you can connect it with any USB 2.0 and 3.0 port of your computer without any problem and transfer any file, including movies, documents, pictures, etc.
Best USB 3.0 Pen Drive For Data Transfer – Buying Guide
These are some of the most important points you should keep in mind before being ready to buy the USB 3.0 pen drive.
Storage Capacity: Without a doubt, you should purchase the most available storage within your budget. However, if you are purchasing the pen drive on day-to-day basis, it is recommended to consider the reading speed over storage capacity.
Reading Speed: When you are in a hurry, you must consider the reading and writing speeds. In other words, how fast it can copy data from your computer and vice versa. It is not recommended to purchase something with less than 100MB/s reading speed unless or until you want to give something a try.
Material: For everyday use, the metal body is recommended. There are two materials you can find – plastic and metal. If you purchase a plastic body, there is no much chance of lasting longer than a metal body. For obvious reasons, the metal body is more enduring than plastic.
Warranty: In most cases, you will get a six-month warranty. However, if you are from another country, make sure your product carries a warranty in your native country as well. Also, check if a product has more warranty than others.
Users’ Review: Before finalizing, do check out the ‘certified buyer’ review. The tag gets assigned when someone puts a review after purchasing the pen drive.
Frequently Asked Questions – Best USB 3.0 Pen Drive For PC And Mac
If you do not have background knowledge on this topic, it is recommended to go through these commonly asked questions to clear your doubts forthwith. As the list of pen drives is long and different products are suitable for other people, it is suggested to check out these questions.
Jesse is a long-time advocate for portability in hardware and software, and loves USB technology and gadgets. He has been involved in various open source projects for over 15+ years, and loves testing out new USB devices.
