The best USB flash drives to buy in 2022

The best USB flash drives are convenient, sturdy, and fast. But it can be hard to pick the right one when you have so many options. So, I have handpicked the best USB flash drives you can buy in 2022.

What to look for in a USB flash drive

The most important bit to consider while buying a new USB flash drive is speed. It’s always a good idea to get a thumb drive that supports fast data transfer speeds, even if you have to pay slightly more. It will save you time and make your thumb drive future-roof. So you want a flash drive that supports USB 3.2 Gen 1 or Gen 2 speeds. These are the fastest USB generations available on flash drives right now. Unfortunately, I don’t see any Gen 2×2 drives, so USB 3.2 Gen 2 is the fastest you can get right now.

Apart from data transfer speeds, you want a good brand and decent build quality. That’s about it.

One important thing to note is that everything from your computer’s USB port to the flash drive file system to the computer’s SSD/ HDD impacts the data transfer speeds. So just having a fast USB flash drive isn’t enough. Ensure your computer’s hardware is new enough to support fast transfer speeds.

Now, time to look at my recommendations.

Best USB flash drives of 2022

Kingston DataTraveller Max	Patriot Supersonic Rage Prime	SanDisk Extreme Pro	Patriot Supersonic Rage Pro
Buy from Amazon	Buy from Amazon	Buy from Amazon	Buy from Amazon
Read more	Read more	Read more	Read more

Kingston DataTraveler Max (USB-C)

Kingston DataTraveler Max is one of the fastest USB flash drives. It’s compatible with the USB 3.2 Gen 2 speed class and can provide up to 1GBps read speeds and up to 900MBps write speeds. In addition, the USB flash drive is available in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB sizes, so you have plenty of options.

> Buy Kingston DataTraveler Max from Amazon

Patriot Supersonic Rage Prime (USB-A)

Patriot is an emerging brand in the flash drive space, and it has some high-speed drives. The Patriot Supersonic Rage Prime is its fastest USB flash drive. Like the Kingston DataTraveler Max, it also supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 speed class. But you get up to 600MBps read speeds. The company also offers a five-year warranty.

> Buy Patriot Supersonic Rage Prime in 250GB, 500GB, or 1TB sizes

Sandisk Extreme Pro (USB-A)

Sandisk needs no introduction. It’s a tried and tested brand in the storage space. So it’s impossible to put together a list of the best USB flash drives without a product from the company. Sandisk’s Extreme Pro is a USB 3.2 Gen 1 compatible thumb drive that offers up to 420MBps read and up to 380MBps write speeds. It’s available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB sizes.

> Buy SanDisk Extreme Pro from Amazon

Patriot Supersonic Rage Pro (USB-A)

The Supersonic Rage Pro sits a step below Rage Prime in Patriot’s portfolio. And it supports USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds and offers the same data transfer speeds as SanDish Extreme Pro. Additionally, you can get it in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB sizes.

> Buy Patriot Supersonic Rage Pro from Amazon

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These are the best and fastest USB flash drives that you can buy today. Which one do you like the most? Let me know in the comments section. Additionally, I have other excellent buying guides, like the best mobile hotspots and the best power banks. You may find these helpful.