Factors You Should Consider While Purchasing Flash Drives November 22, 2021 08:00

Are you looking for the best tech gifts for your employees? It would be costly to buy mobiles, laptops, and other electronic gadgets as a corporate gift. However, the cheaper alternative for you is the flash drive which are equally loved by the users. USB flash drives will be highly valuable, as your employees can use them with other devices. Although it is good to store data in the cloud, a small USB flash drive is a better choice. From data backup to Operating System installation, there are several applications of flash drives. To buy flash drives in bulk, you need to consider a number of factors. Let’s have a look at them.

Performance-

The USB flash drive performance is the most important factor for every buyer. The performance can vary with-

The mass storage controller
The interface
The integrated flash memory chip

Most USB flash drives have a Type-A connector, and the controller is compatible with different USB standards. The cheapest one is USB2.0, and its speed is about 40MB/s.

Storage capacity-

The storage capacity of flash drives can range between 64MB and 128GB. However, the flash drivers with bigger storage capacity will cost higher. You have to know how much data storage space is essential to your employees. The file size can vary with the type of media stored in the device.

If you think of buying flash drives as promotional marketing products, it is better to choose at least 2GB devices. The flash drives with bigger storage will benefit users for several years.

A 2GB flash drive is capable of storing almost 40,000 text document pages, 1,900 photos, and MP3 music of 1,000 minutes. Know your needs before investing in flash drives.

Memory quality-

You can find some subtle differences in flash drives. The USBs must have high-quality flash memory. But, low-quality flash drives do not have the best memory chips. Intel, Micron, and some other memory chip manufactures are prominent in the market.

Chip version-

USB 2.0 and 3.0 are two major chip formats available for you. These USB generations can be categorized into MLC, SLC, and TLC.

USB 3.0 ensures reliability and higher speed. But USB 2.0 is usable for smaller projects. USB 3.0 drives are preferable when you need to load multiple files. The transfer rate with a USB 3.0 flash drive is about 640 megabits per second. In fact, its transfer rate is 10 times faster, compared to the USB 2.0.

Thinner and smaller drives may not be better-

One of the major issues with conventional flash drives is their bigger model. You may encounter problems while plugging them in USB ports. Like other devices in the electronic market, manufacturers have tried to make the flash drives smaller. It is portable and convenient to use USB flash drives. However, these small ones cannot fit quality components.

Better components need much physical space. The reduced size can result in a compromise over performance. Thus, when you need portability, you can rely on small flash drives available at a low price.

Limited lifespan is not something negative-

The average lifespan (the number of write cycles) of flash drives can be 3000 to 5000. A lot of writing cycles may not always mean that your flash drives will last long.

It is safe to have a flash drive of about 3,000 writing cycles, and it may last more than 4 years. But, to use your drive as a type of portable PC, you need data backups regularly. Thus, the cycles may run out faster.

USB styles-

Nowadays, USB flash drives are available in different styles and sizes. The length of classic USBs can be about 2 inches, and they include a detachable cap. Some USB flash drives have no caps. They are mini-metal and swivel-type drives. The flash drives with distinctive designs have crystal and wooden USBs.

Some USBs are also shaped like a key and wallet cards. You may also buy multi-functional flash drives, as they look like ballpoint pens and bottle openers. Find USB flash drives of a perfect style, and find the best value from them.

Applications of the flash drives-

Some consumers like to use USB flash drives for different purposes other than storing data. These flash drives can be the best marketing tools due to their high versatility. They are pre-programmed in multiple ways- auto-run and pre-loading. You may also load up the USB with some material materials, like videos, catalogues, and brochures.

The auto-run option is also preferable, as it automatically launches presentations after plugging it to a computer.

Compatibility with hardware and devices-

What type of devices do you use with flash drives? Hardware compatibility is the most important factor while purchasing flash drives. The best USB flash drives are compatible with different laptops and computers. But, there is a chance of under utilizing the drive’s potentials when you are not sure of the hardware set-up.

Flash drives with a highly rugged design-

Several USB flash drives are intended for consumers who like to secure the data. Rugged USB drives ensure protection from potential physical damages. When they have accidentally fall from your hands, they will not get cracked. Moreover, secure and innovative flash drives prevent others from stealing your data.

You may have stored highly sensitive data and passwords in your flash drives. Thus, you need to buy a safe USB drive that never risks your data. Still, it is good to back up the important information stored in your drive. When the drive is crushed, you will be able to retain the data.

Branding opportunities-

You like to have custom printed flash drives for your promotional campaign. You may choose laser engraving, heat stamping, and other printing techniques for your flash drives. You have to stick to brand guidelines to choose the printing methods.

Screen printing is a better and more durable option. However, nowadays, digital printing techniques have become a popular option to ensure photo-realistic images. Choose the most reliable store to place your order for promotional flash drives. You can customize them with your brand name.