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USB flash drives are going extinct. Use these better alternatives instead

USB flash drives are going extinct. Use these better alternatives instead

When was the last time you used a USB flash drive? I had to think for a moment myself — and to be honest, I can’t remember exactly. For years, the USB stick was the device of choice when it came to fast and uncomplicated data transfer. Why do these practical storage aids hardly play a role today, and are they possibly even on the verge of extinction? A look at current developments sheds some light on this. Why are USB flash drives no longer popular? As compact and handy as they are, USB flash drives have lost much of their relevance in recent years. One of the main reasons is their comparatively low storage capacity. Many commercially available models end at 256GB or 512GB, which means that large amounts of data such as 4K videos, complete photo archives, or system backups can only be transported to a limited extent. Although there are also some high-end sticks with up to 2TB of memory, such as the Seagate Ultra Compact SSD , many people prefer to use an SSD for such capacities. The reason: SSDs generally use more powerful flash chips, which ensure higher data transfer rates and a longer service life. Another problem: The classic USB-A connection is hardly suitable for modern devices. Most laptops and tablets rely on USB-C, as do smartphones. mentioned in this article Seagate Ultra Compact SSD Read our review Price When Reviewed: 181,50 Euro Best Prices Today: €191.9 at Alternate | $79.99 at B & H Photo | 173,99 € at Amazon Marketplace CE Although there are now USB sticks with Type C connectors, such as the aforementioned Seagate Ultra Compact. There are also so-called dual sticks with USB-A and USB-C connections, but in practice this is often a compromise. Many of these models rely on simple controllers and cheaper flash memory, which results in significantly slower transfer rates — especially when writing large files. Modern alternatives to USB flash drives External hard drives: Lots of storage for little money External hard drives, such as External drives, such as SSDs, are robust and powerful — with significantly more storage space than the average USB stick. External drives — whether classic HDDs or fast SSDs — are among the most popular alternatives to USB sticks. They offer significantly more storage (up to 4TB and more), and SSDs in particular impress with their high transfer speed via USB-C or Thunderbolt. While HDDs offer a lot of space at a favorable price, SSDs are the better choice for large amounts of data, as they are faster, more robust, and hardly more expensive in higher storage classes than comparable USB sticks. Advantages: Significantly more storage space than USB sticks Shock-resistant and durable, higher-quality flash chips Ideal for backups or large amounts of data Disadvantages: Larger and heavier than a USB stick Sometimes more expensive, especially for SSD models Sandisk Extreme Portable SSD 1TB (portable NVMe SSD) External drive with SSD technology 2.5 inch, USB-C, up to 2,000 MB/s read and write, NVMe SSD, IP65, 5-year warranty buy it on amazon for $119.99 Mattias Inghe Crucial X10 Pro 1TB Portable SSD External drive with SSD technology, USB-C, up to 2,100MB/s read and 2,000MB/s write, IP55 buy it on amazon for $104 Jon L. Jacobi SSK 2TB portable, external NVME SSD External drive with SSD technology, NVMe SSD, 2.7 inch, USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1,050MB/s read and 1,000MB/s write speed buy it on amazon for $134 Amazon Further reading : The best external drives we’ve tested SD cards: Small, fast – but not universal SD memory cards can be used SD memory cards can be used to expand mobile phone memory, for example. SD cards (or microSDs with an adapter) are also a compact alternative to USB sticks. They are standard, especially for cameras, drones, and mobile devices, as well as some laptops. In combination with a USB-C card reader, SD cards can even be used as mini storage drives for notebooks. Further reading: SD cards, demystified: How to decipher the confusing jumble of specs The advantage over classic USB sticks: SD cards can be used more flexibly in many areas, are often cheaper per gigabyte and — depending on the class and model — also achieve high transfer speeds. They are also easy to replace or permanently integrate into devices, such as cameras or laptops with card readers. So if you work with memory cards anyway, you can easily use them as a mobile drive (and save yourself the extra stick). Advantages: Extremely small and light Good speeds with modern UHS-II cards Can be used directly in many devices Disadvantages: Susceptible to loss or damage A card reader is usually required for use on a PC Amazon Basics microSDXC 128GB SD memory card with 128GB and SD adapter, 100MB/s maximum read speed buy it on amazon for $11.99 Sandisk Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I memory card 512GB Sandisk UHS-I memory card, 512 GB, V30, transfer speed 200 MB/s, U3, 4K UHD videos, Sandisk QuickFlow technology buy it on amazon for $72 SanDisk Cloud services: Storage space always with you The cloud is probably the most modern alternative to USB sticks. Services such as Google Drive , Dropbox , iCloud , or OneDrive offer storage space on the internet that you can access from any device — without a physical drive. Advantages: Access from anywhere with an internet connection Ideal for collaboration and shared files Automatic synchronization possible Disadvantages: Dependent on a stable internet connection Limited free storage, followed by a paid subscription Data protection and encryption are important issues Conclusion: USB drive only for special cases? The humble USB flash drive has not yet completely lost its place — it is quite common and ideal for simple data transfers, firmware updates, or as a boot stick. But as an everyday solution, it is long outdated. The combination of limited memory, decreasing compatibility, and growing requirements makes it a discontinued model. Modern alternatives such as SSDs, SD cards, or cloud services offer better performance, more flexibility and, in many cases, a better price-performance ratio. Further reading: 6 genuinely helpful uses for the USB port on your router

MLS playoff matches to be available to all Apple TV subscribers, MLS Season Pass not required

MLS playoff matches to be available to all Apple TV subscribers, MLS Season Pass not required

As first reported by Sports Business Journal , all of the Major League Soccer playoff matches will be watchable with an Apple TV subscription (formerly Apple TV+), meaning fans don’t need the add-on MLS Season Pass subscription to tune in. The playoff schedule begins on Wednesday. In light of the news that F1 will stream on Apple TV in the United States as part of the base subscription, there has been some speculation that the separate MLS Season Pass product could be going away … more…

China says the NSA has been hacking its National Time Service Center, which provides high precision time services for the government and others, since 2023 (Bloomberg)

China says the NSA has been hacking its National Time Service Center, which provides high precision time services for the government and others, since 2023 (Bloomberg)

Bloomberg : China says the NSA has been hacking its National Time Service Center, which provides high precision time services for the government and others, since 2023 —  China said it's uncovered “irrefutable evidence” of US government cyber attacks on the country's main agency responsible for timekeeping.

Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic are providing millions to the American Federation of Teachers to build AI training hubs aimed at educating 400,000 teachers (Jocelyn Gecker/Associated Press)

Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic are providing millions to the American Federation of Teachers to build AI training hubs aimed at educating 400,000 teachers (Jocelyn Gecker/Associated Press)

Jocelyn Gecker / Associated Press : Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic are providing millions to the American Federation of Teachers to build AI training hubs aimed at educating 400,000 teachers —  Add AP News to Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.  Share