Flash drives and USB drives refer to the same type of device – a small, portable storage device that can be plugged into a computer’s USB port. They are used to store, back up and transfer files and data. So is one better than the other? The short answer is no – flash drives and USB drives are essentially the same thing.
What is a flash drive?
A flash drive, also known as a USB drive, USB stick, or thumb drive, is a small storage device that uses flash memory to store data. Flash memory is a type of electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) that can be erased and reprogrammed rapidly.
Flash drives use a standard USB plug to connect to any computer with a USB port. They draw power from the computer’s USB port and therefore require no external power source. Flash drives are very compact in size and most are lightweight enough to be carried on a keychain.
What is a USB drive?
USB drive is a broad term that refers to any storage device that connects to a computer via a USB port. This includes flash drives as well as larger external hard drives and solid-state drives (SSDs).
However, in everyday usage, the terms “USB drive” and “flash drive” are often used interchangeably to refer specifically to those small, portable flash memory storage devices.
History of flash drives
Here is a brief history of how flash drives were developed:
- 1984 – Intel invents flash memory.
- Early 1990s – Various companies work on commercial flash drive products.
- 2000 – Trek Technology introduces the ThumbDrive, the first commercially successful flash drive product.
- Early 2000s – Flash drives gain mainstream popularity as prices fall rapidly.
- 2007 – Larger capacity flash drives up to 256GB are introduced.
- 2010s – Capacities continue to grow exponentially and prices keep dropping.
- Today – Flash drives are ubiquitous for personal data storage and transfer.
Advantages of flash drives
Flash drives have some key advantages that have made them a popular data storage device:
- Small size and portability – Flash drives are tiny and weigh next to nothing, making them extremely portable.
- No power required – Flash drives are powered directly by the USB port so no batteries or external power is needed.
- Storage capacity – Current flash drives can store up to 2TB of data, holding more data than a CD or DVD.
- Durability – Flash drives have no moving parts, making them more durable and shock resistant than traditional hard drives.
- Speed – Flash drives connect via the faster USB 3.0/3.1 standards, with speeds up to 10X that of USB 2.0 drives.
- Compatibility – Flash drives can be plugged into any computer with a USB port and do not require special drivers or software.
Disadvantages of flash drives
Flash drives do have some disadvantages to consider as well:
- Can be easily damaged if the USB connector is broken.
- Prone to loss due to small size.
- Not as durable or reliable as external hard drives for long term data archiving.
- Slower speeds compared to internal SSDs or multi-drive external RAID arrays.
- Lower capacities than external hard drives.
- Risk of viruses if infected flash drive is plugged into computer.
History of USB drives
The USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard was first introduced in the mid 1990s. Here are some key milestones:
- 1994 – USB 1.0 released, capable of up to 1.5 Mbps transfer speeds.
- 1998 – USB 1.1 released, up to 12 Mbps speeds.
- 2000 – USB 2.0 released, up to 480 Mbps speeds.
- 2008 – USB 3.0 released, up to 5 Gbps speeds.
- 2013 – USB 3.1 released, up to 10 Gbps speeds.
As USB evolved to faster speeds and gained widespread adoption on computers, external USB drives emerged to take advantage of this interface. This included flash drives as well as larger external hard disk drives.
Today, virtually all computers and laptops include multiple USB ports compatible with flash drives, external HDDs and other USB-based devices. USB remains the most common interface for data transfer and expanding storage capacity on PCs.
Are flash drives better than USB drives?
Since flash drives are a type of USB drive, it doesn’t make sense to say one is better than the other. However, there are some differences between flash drives and external USB hard disk drives:
| Comparison | Flash Drive | External USB HDD |
|---|---|---|
| Size & Weight | Very small & light | Larger and heavier |
| Capacities | Up to 2TB | Up to 10TB+ |
| Cost Per GB | Higher | Lower |
| Durability | No moving parts, good shock resistance | Contains moving platters, sensitive to drops/shocks |
| Speed | Up to 10 Gbps (USB 3.1) | Up to 10 Gbps (USB 3.1) |
| Power Source | USB port | AC power or USB port |
So in summary:
- Flash drives are much smaller and highly portable.
- External HDDs offer larger capacities for lower cost.
- Flash drives are more durable, but HDDs offer more storage.
- Both can provide fast transfer speeds over USB 3.0/3.1.
- HDDs may require external power, flash drives just need the USB port.
Neither is clearly “better” – it depends on your priorities such as portability vs capacity.
Should you get a flash drive or external hard drive?
Here are some tips on when a flash drive may be the better choice vs. an external HDD:
When to choose a flash drive:
- If you need something very portable and small.
- If you just need modest storage capacity.
- If you will be plugging into many different computers.
- If you don’t want to carry an external power source.
- If you want added durability and shock resistance.
When an external HDD is better:
- If you need to store very large amounts of data.
- If you will use it as a backup drive or media library.
- If it will stay connected to your home/office computer.
- If data loss would be catastrophic so redundancy is key.
For casual everyday use and transferring files between computers, a flash drive is often the simplest choice. But for storing large media collections, system backups, or archiving irreplaceable data, an external HDD offers more storage and redundancy options.
Choosing the right flash drive capacity
Flash drive capacities range from 1GB to 2TB. With terabyte drives now available, you may be wondering how big a flash drive you really need. Here are some tips:
- 1-16GB – Good for document transfers, basic backups, light media files.
- 32-128GB – Handles documents, photos, music, medium-sized video files.
- 256-512GB – Large photo collections, multiple movies, PC backups.
- 1-2TB – Only necessary for full system backups and very large media libraries.
Unless you have specialized large storage needs, a 16-64GB flash drive is sufficient for most users. But you may want 128GB+ if regularly transferring large movies or lots of photos.
Flash drive speed comparisons
Flash drive speeds are measured in MB/s (megabytes per second) for both reads (pulling data off the drive) and writes (saving data to the drive). Some key speed benchmarks:
- USB 2.0 flash drive – Up to 35MB/s read, slower write around 8-20MB/s.
- USB 3.0 flash drive – Up to 200MB/s read, writes around 20-100MB/s.
- USB 3.1/3.2 flash drive – Up to 1000MB/s read and writes.
- USB4 flash drive – Up to 2000MB/s theoretical limit.
So you can achieve up to a 10x speed improvement jumping from an older USB 2.0 drive to the fastest USB 3.1/3.2/USB4 drives.
For quick data transfers, you always want the fastest drive your computer’s USB ports support. But even slower USB 2.0 drives are sufficient for documents.
Flash drive vs SSD speeds
Compared to internal solid-state drives (SSDs), flash drives are slower:
- SATA SSD – Up to 600MB/s.
- M.2 NVMe SSD – Up to 7000MB/s.
However, flash drives still provide sufficient speeds for typical everyday file transfers, documents, photos, and media playback. And they are much more portable and widely compatible than internal drives.
But for tasks like video editing, gaming, or running an operating system, an internal SSD will provide much faster throughput.
Choosing a flash drive brand
Popular and reputable flash drive manufacturers include:
- SanDisk
- Samsung
- Kingston
- PNY
- Lexar
- Patriot
- Corsair
I’d recommend sticking with a major brand. Avoid cheap no-name flash drives that may be less reliable or use lower grade memory chips.
Major brands source quality flash memory and controllers. They also provide decent warranties of 1-5 years in case of failure.
Extending flash drive lifespan
Flash drives can last 5-10 years with normal use. Here are some tips to extend the lifespan:
- Avoid excessive heat – don’t leave plugged in or in hot environments.
- Eject properly from your OS before unplugging.
- Don’t expose to liquids, dust or drops.
- Use the included cap to avoid debris in the USB port.
- Store at room temperature in a dry location.
- Don’t store at max capacity – leave some empty space.
Avoiding overheating, physical damage, and prolongued max storage are key to maximizing the lifespan of your flash drive.
How flash drives store data
Flash drives use NAND flash memory chips to store data. These chips contain transistors with floating gate electrodes.
When power is applied, electrons can get trapped in the floating gate, changing its charge state. This charge state can be measured to determine if a binary 1 or 0 is stored.
Flash memory differs from old-school EEPROM chips in that it erases data in entire blocks rather than one byte at a time. This makes it much faster for large writes and file transfers.
Flash drive file systems
Flash drives can be formatted with either FAT32 or exFAT file systems:
- FAT32 – Compatible with all OSes. 4GB max file size. Up to 2TB drive capacity.
- exFAT – Newer system. No limits on file sizes or drive capacity. Not compatible with older OSes.
For maximum compatibility, most flash drives today still ship pre-formatted in FAT32. But you can reformat in exFAT for larger files and partitions over 2TB.
Formatting a flash drive
You may need to format your flash drive to change file systems or erase all data. Be warned – formatting permanently erases all data:
- On Windows, use File Explorer to right-click on the drive and choose “Format”.
- On Mac, open Disk Utility and select the drive volume to erase.
- On Linux, use mkfs.fat and mkfs.exfat utilities to format.
Choose FAT32 for compatibility or exFAT for larger capacity drives. NTFS for Windows is not recommended for flash drives.
Flash drive vs. cloud storage
Here is a comparison between flash drives and cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive:
| Factor | Flash Drive | Cloud Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | Only if drive is plugged in | Accessible from any internet-connected device |
| Capacity | Up to 2TB currently | Potentially unlimited |
| Speed | Up to 10 Gbps via USB 3.1 | Limited by internet connection speed |
| Price | Cheap per GB, one upfront cost | Monthly or annual subscription fees |
| Security | Physical control, risk of loss/theft | Encrypted, password protected |
In summary:
- Flash has fixed capacity but is cheap, private, and fast.
- Cloud has unlimited potential storage but with recurring fees and slower.
So each have advantages that make them suited for different purposes. Flash for local speed, cloud for accessibility.
Conclusion
In conclusion, flash drives and USB drives are essentially the same devices – small, portable flash memory storage units. Neither one is clearly “better” overall. It depends on your specific needs and use case.
Flash drives excel at their small size and simplicity. But external HDDs can offer more capacity for lower cost. For ultra portability and plug-and-play use on many devices, a quality flash drive from a top brand is an excellent choice for data transfer and backup needs. Just be sure to choose a capacity that fits your usage needs.
With the continued growth of cloud storage and faster internal SSD speeds, flash drives have less relevance than in the past. But they retain a unique versatility, capacity, price, and simplicity that ensures they will remain popular computer accessories for years to come.