USB sticks in the test: 24 models with 128, 256 and 512 gigabytes

The structure of a USB stick is simple: the manufacturers usually mount a small sheet of metal behind the USB connector, on which they plant memory chips and some electronics. The whole thing then comes in an inexpensive housing – the stick is ready. Deviations from this blueprint are rare. Even with the connection, little happens: 20 of the 24 test candidates come with the larger one Type A USB socket. While more and more USB-C sockets are gaining acceptance in notebooks and tablets, they are rare with USB sticks: only the Kingston Data Traveler comes with them USB-C connector. Three sticks (Lexar Jumpdrive Dual Drive D30c, Samsung USB Type-C Flash Drive Duo plus and Transcend JetFlash 930C) have a double plug and thus fit into USB-A and USB-C sockets. This saves an annoying adapter on the new iMac, for example.

When writing, the whole thing looked different, because that is more time-consuming than reading with USB sticks, since the sticks have to erase the memory cells before writing. It depends on the built-in control electronics. Some USB sticks almost reach the speed of an external SSD with a USB connection: Six test candidates (SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.2 256 GB and 512 GB, SanDisk Extreme Pro USB 3.2 256 GB, Patriot Supersonic Rage Pro 128 GB, 256 GB and 512 GB GB and Transcend JetFlash 930C 512 GB) delivered here on average over 200 megabytes per second. Four more USB sticks managed at least more than 100 megabytes per second. The rest of the USB sticks are significantly slower to write than to read – a disadvantage, for example when creating backups or when copying large files onto the USB stick. With the SanDisk Ultra Flair 128 GB, for example, the data transfer kept getting stuck while writing (see screenshot below) – that reduced the writing speed to an average of just 27 megabytes per second. Three sticks in the test field are similarly lame (SanDisk Dual Drive Luxe 256 GB, Kingston DataTraveler 80 128 GB and Lexar Jumpdrive Dual Drive D30c 128 GB). These sticks are only suitable as a data store if users only rarely have to write to them. Significantly faster does not mean significantly more expensive, by the way: For the smaller 128 GB sticks, the surcharge for the test winner was around 8 euros on average compared to the slower competitors, and around 15 euros for the medium-sized with 256 GB. Little extra charge for a lot of speed gain. Comparing prices, for example with the price comparison portal idealo, which COMPUTER BILD uses to determine market prices, is always worthwhile with USB sticks – the price differences between the retailers are large. In addition, grocery chains such as Rewe and Kaufland also sell USB sticks – often cheaper in special offers than in electronics stores.

USB sticks are mainly sold based on price – there is little room for extras. Most manufacturers only put the stick in the packaging. Lexar, SanDisk and Transcend also have some software for this purpose – mainly for data encryption, file management and backup. However, only this is absolutely necessary for the supplied programs Lexar FingerTool for the Lexar Jumpdrive Fingerprint F35. With this, the user sets up the built-in fingerprint sensor, with which the data on the stick can be conveniently protected from unauthorized access. The convenience is expensive, however: The sensor drives the price of the stick up to around 70 euros, making the Lexar twice as expensive as the test winner in the 128 GB models. And the technology is not necessary: ​​Encrypting data also works with the free tool Veracrypt – you can find the instructions here. If you want to use a large USB stick to back up your PC or notebook – no problem, it works with the emergency DVD from COMPUTER BILD. It can also make a copy of the operating system (image) or save data. The free emergency DVD 16 Free with instructions.