Ultimate Buying Guide for USB Flash Drives - Top Pendrives (2023)

Pendrives are the most helpful devices for transferring large files between devices especially when your internet speed goes down or off. Choosing the best pendrive for you can be an overwhelming task. We have created this blog for you-” Ultimate Buying Guide for USB Flash Drives- Top Pendrives (2023)” to make your task smoother.

Considering Factors When Choosing the Best USB Flash Drives

• USB Types and Speed

You’ll get various USB types such as USB-A, USB-C, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2, and USB 4.0. USB-A is the older type of USB with a larger, rectangular connection plug that is inserted into a port in one way. USB-C is newer with a smaller, oval-shaped plug that is reversible. The number after USB indicates the version of the USB and its transfer speed. Older versions like USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 have slower transfer speeds, while USB 3.1, USB 3.2, and USB 4.0 have faster speeds. USB 4.0 has the fastest speed of up to 40 Gbps, but it's only available on USB-C devices.

• Storage Capacity

Custom flash drives come in various capacities, ranging from 64MB to 128 GB. To determine the amount of memory needed for your project, consider the file sizes of the media types you plan to store. On average, a 2MB photo, 4MB MP3, 1MB PDF, and 500MB video are used as benchmarks. Based on this, a 2GB drive is recommended for promotional handouts, but larger drives may be perceived as more valuable and create more brand impressions.

• Memory Quality

Not all custom flash drives are equal, particularly when it comes to the memory chips that power them. The quality of the flash memory is a crucial factor to consider when purchasing USB drives.

Unfortunately, there are dishonest sellers in the memory market who supply low-quality or recycled memory chips. These subpar chips are often used in inexpensive bulk-order flash drives that are available on platforms like Amazon, Alibaba, and the like. If you end up with USB drives containing such low-quality memory, their read and write speeds might be compromised, and their lifespan will be significantly reduced. In many cases, these drives might become corrupted and cease to function altogether.

To ensure that a potential supplier is offering USB drives with high-quality memory, the easiest way is to confirm that their chips were manufactured by reputable companies like Samsung, SanDisk, Intel, Micron, Walton, and the like.

• Connectivity

With the widespread adoption of USB-C connectors, the world is transitioning towards this new standard. This shift is evident from the increasing number of laptops, including the popular MacBook, that are opting to eliminate standard USB ports.

Although many people still own devices with traditional USB ports, it is worth considering whether a dual-headed USB-C and USB-A style flash drive would be more suitable for your project.

• Data Services

Reputable suppliers of USB drives typically offer various data services to cater to the specific needs of clients. These services are designed to save time and resources by ensuring that the drives arrive ready to distribute with all the necessary technical specifications met. Here are some common data services:

Data Preloads: This service allows you to have files or data preloaded onto the wholesale flash drives before they are shipped to you. It can include documents, presentations, software, promotional materials, or any other files you want to distribute to the end users.

Permanent Uploads: With permanent uploads, the preloaded files are locked and protected from deletion or alteration.

• Branding Options

When it comes to customizing flash drives, there are several print methods available, including printing (screen or digital), heat stamping, and laser engraving. It's essential to consider your brand guidelines when choosing a print method. Let’s know the pros and cons briefly of each option:

Screen Printing:

Pros - Offers extremely high-quality and durable prints, allowing for perfect matching of your brand's Pantone colors.

Cons - Unable to replicate gradients and limited to a maximum of four colors.

Digital Printing:

Pros - Capable of reproducing photo-realistic images with infinite colors, fine details, and gradients.

Cons - Might not be able to perfectly match the exact Pantone colors in your logo or design.

Heat Stamping:

Pros- Unique beauty, won’t flake or fade with time.

Cons- You’ll get it only on leather, can’t display overlapping layers, and generate gradients. 

Laser Engraving:

Pros - Provides sharp, crisp lines, giving a higher perceived value to the customization. It is also more resilient than printing.

Cons- Can’t generate gradients or display overlapping layers.

• Compatibility

When using flash drives, ensure compatibility with your devices to avoid any potential issues. Here are some key considerations:

Compatibility with Android Devices: Most flash drives will work with Android devices that have USB on-the-go (OTG) support. This feature allows you to connect external devices like flash drives to your Android device. Upon inserting a flash drive, you should receive a notification with options like File Transfer. If you're uncertain about your device's OTG support, you can use the USB OTG Checker app to confirm.

Compatibility with Apple Devices: iPhones and iPads do not have native support for USB OTG. You can use companion apps like SanDisk's iXpand series, which provide support for connecting and accessing flash drives on these Apple devices.

By considering compatibility and using the appropriate apps or features, you can ensure seamless connectivity and file transfer between your devices and flash drives.

• Security

Security is a crucial thing for a pendrive. Especially, if you are running a business, you won’t plug in a random drive to your PC because it can cause security issues like malware or virus infection. When you are thinking of keeping confidential files in your pendrive, consider protecting them with passcodes or biometric protection, and check the protection level it offers. Nowadays, various software is available to protect your files with different protections.

• Warranty

After you have completed all your research, make sure that the flash drive offers enough warranty. If your pendrive doesn’t offer any warranty or a short warranty, it means that the manufacturers already know that their pendrive won’t last long.

• Packaging

Packaging will also tell a lot about your pendrive brand. Always choose a packaging that will compliment your flash drive’s style. The packaging needs to be consistent with the pendrive's material such as metallic packing for metallic pendrive, wooden packing for wooden pendrive, and the like.

• Price

You’ll get a suitable pendrive within the price range of BDT 370 to BDT 900. Choose a pendrive that will meet your requirements within your budget.

Best Pendrives in Bangladesh

Walton Flash Memory Storage Device | W064P065

Walton Pendrive | P040 Series

Walton Pendrive | P050 Series

Walton Pendrive | P013 Series

Walton Pendrive | P027 Series

Walton Pendrive | P014 Series- Most Affordable Choice

Walton Pendrive | P029 Series- Best USB Flash Drive

Walton Pendrive | P026 Series

Walton Pendrive | P030 Series

Walton Pendrive | P015 Series

Walton Pendrive | P032 Series- Fastest USB-c flash drive

Walton Pendrive | P012 Series- Best Compact Choice

Walton Pendrive | P028 Series

Walton Pendrive | P031 Series

Now, let’s briefly discuss our Top picks.

Walton Pendrive | P014 Series- Most Affordable Choice

The P014 USB model from Walton Digitech is available in three storage capacities: 16 GB (WU2016P014), 32 GB (WU2032P014), and 64 GB (WU2064P014). Its key features include USB 2.0 compliance for data transfer speeds up to 480 Mbps, compatibility with Windows, MAC OS, and Linux, plug-and-play functionality, a fashionable metal casing, compact dimensions of 41 × 14.5 × 5.7mm, and a 3-year warranty. You won’t get any warranty for physical damage, exposure to moisture or heat, or burning. Preserve the blister package with the barcode serial for warranty claims.

This pendrive can be your most affordable choice because you’ll get it at around BDT 370 only.

Walton Pendrive | P029 Series- Best USB Flash Drive

The P029 USB model from Walton Digitech is a USB 3.0 device. Key specifications and features include USB 3.0 compliance, backward compatibility with USB 2.0, support for Windows, MAC OS, and Linux operating systems, plug-and-play functionality, a fashionable metal casing, compact dimensions of 59.8 x 16 x 11.2mm, and a 3-year warranty. You can’t avail of the warranty for physical damage, exposure to moisture or heat, or burning. Preserve the blister package with the barcode serial for warranty claims.

This is the most expensive pendrive on our list and you’ll get awesome features and performance from it. So, it can be the best USB flash drive for you.

Walton Pendrive | P032 Series- Fastest USB-c flash drive

The P032 USB model from Walton Digitech is a versatile USB device with USB 3.0 and Type-C connectors. It is compliant with USB 3.0 specification, providing faster data transfer speeds and backward compatibility with USB 2.0. The USB is compatible with Windows, MAC OS, and Linux operating systems and supports plug-and-play functionality for easy and convenient use. Its fashionable metal casing and compact dimensions of 40.8 x 18.2 x 6mm make it both stylish and portable.

Walton Digitech offers a 3-year warranty for the P032 model, with warranty void conditions including physical damage, exposure to moisture or heat, or burning. You are advised to preserve the blister package with the barcode serial for warranty claims. This model can be your fastest USB-C flash drive.

Walton Pendrive | P012 Series- Best Compact Choice

The P012 USB model from Walton Digitech is a versatile device with USB 2.0/3.0 and Micro USB connectors. Key specifications and features include compliance with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 specifications, backward compatibility with USB 2.0, support for Windows, MAC OS, and Linux operating systems, plug-and-play functionality, a fashionable metal casing, dual connectors (USB and Micro USB) designed for Android smartphones, compact dimensions of 32.26 x 12.3 x 6.9mm, and a 3-year warranty. You won’t be entitled to any warranty for physical damage, exposure to moisture or heat, or burning. Preserve the blister package with the barcode serial for warranty claims.

This pendrive can be your best compact choice and you can also use it with your android smartphones.

Final Words:

From our blog- “Ultimate Buying Guide for USB Flash Drives - Top Pendrives (2023)” you must have got all the required knowledge about how to buy a USB flash drive. So, choose the best USB flash drive that meets your needs within your budget.