Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Good 10Gbps light-duty performer
- Affordable
- Clever, flick-to-open Type-A design
Cons
- Slows drastically throughout very lengthy writes
- Plastic-y tactile sensation
Our Verdict
Though not the drive you need for super-long writes, this skinny, flick-to-open USB stick from Kingston is aces for small file units.
Price When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Best Pricing Today
Price When Reviewed
256GB: $37.99 I 512GB: $67.99 I 1TB: $119.99
Best Prices Today: Kingston DataTraveler Max 10Gbps USB stick
Increasingly, distributors are upping the ante in relation to the efficiency of their USB sticks. It’s now commonplace to see 10Gbps, as employed by the Kingston’s DataTraveler Max reviewed right here.
I’ve little question {that a} USB4 thumb drive will quickly make an look. Okay, possibly not quickly, however they are going to arrive in some unspecified time in the future. For now, I could make do with 1 gigabyte-per-second transfers.
Read on to study extra, then see our roundup of the best external drives for comparability.
What are the Kingston DataTraveler Max’s options?
The DataTraveler Max is a 10Gbps (USB 3.2) USB stick/SSD sporting a Type-A connector. It’s round 3.63 inches lengthy, 0.85 inches huge, and a mere 0.32 inches thick. Weight is hardly price mentioning at 0.5 ounces.
The 1TB DataTraveler Max that Kingston despatched me was black with a maroon sliding cowl that clicks into place. As the duvet is simply a clamshell, whenever you slide it ahead to cowl the Type-A connector, it leaves the underside half of stated connector nonetheless uncovered. Basically, don’t drop it into water.
Also, the sunshine weight and onerous materials makes the drive really feel a bit flimsy, although it held up nicely in my hands-on analysis. Beyond that, I fairly just like the design.
Because you push on the precise drive portion for insertion, there’s no frustration of a lever or swap slipping.
I additionally received a kick out of holding the drive between my fingers and my thumb, and utilizing my thumb to slip the duvet forwards and backwards. Much such as you’d flick a Bic. (Look it up.)
How a lot does the Kingston DataTraveler Max value?
Though the DataTraveler Max retails at $38 for the 256GB capability, $68 for the 512GB, and $120 for the 1TB, I discovered it on sale on Amazon for $32.95, $56.39, and $92.43, respectively. At one level, the 1TB model was as little as $80 on Amazon — that’s fairly darn inexpensive for a 1TB exterior SSD, USB stick or no.
But as all the time, go searching. There are opponents such because the considerably newer and faster-with-large-files PNY Pro Elite V3 which can be priced even lower than the DataTraveler Max’s sale costs.
Because of that, I’m guessing that Kingston’s sale costs on this merchandise gained’t disappear anytime quickly. (Don’t maintain me to that.)
I received a kick out of holding the drive between my fingers and my thumb, and utilizing my thumb to slip the duvet forwards and backwards. Much such as you’d flick a Bic.
How quick is the Kingston DataTraveler Max?
For gentle obligation, the Kingston DataTraveler Max compares properly to different 10Gbps USB drives. But it’s completely not the drive for lengthy writes. While it positioned 63rd amongst all drives and fourth amongst eight thumb drives in general efficiency, it completed lifeless final in our 450GB write (69th place). It wasn’t shut both — nearly 9 minutes behind the subsequent worst performer. Ahem.
In CrystalDiskMark 8 the DataTraveler Max carried out nicely under par with the 64GiB knowledge set we usually make use of whereas writing. Much just like the Teamgroup X1 Max. Maybe cease naming your USB sticks “Max”? Just saying, people.
With CrystalDiskMark 8 utilizing a a lot smaller 8GiB knowledge set, the DataTraveler Max carried out extra on par with its friends. I’ve included each outcomes right here, however the 64GiB outcomes are the official ones. Note that AS SSD 2.0 confirmed the drive with superb numbers utilizing its 10GB knowledge set.
Random efficiency was a lot the identical story — good, however not on tempo with probably the most glorious SK Hynix Tube T31.
The DataTraveler Max turned in first rate, if not top-tier 48GB switch instances.
Where the DataTraveler Max actually fell aside was in our 450GB write check. Not to pile on, however once more, it completed lifeless final on this check, at 69th place, nearly 9 minutes behind the subsequent worst performer.
Below you possibly can see the place the difficulty with the Kingston DataTraveler Max’s lengthy writes falls. It slows to round 80MBps (Yowser!) as soon as it runs out of secondary cache. That nearly certainly signifies that the NAND is QLC. I simply complained in regards to the PNY Pro Elite V3’s 1,800 second write time, so you possibly can guess how I really feel about this one.
Note that the DataTraveler Max did recuperate nicely after this lengthy write. Subsequent 48GB writes proceeded at their regular (for the DataTraveler Max) 700MBps tempo. Hence, with smaller knowledge units you need to get good efficiency even because the drive fills.
Should you purchase the Kingston DataTraveler Max?
Given the suitable value, the Kingston DataTraveler Max simply meets the wants of most customers — I don’t hesitate recommending it for comparatively gentle hundreds. I additionally love the best way the duvet flicks and clicks in place. However, in case you’re in search of one thing that’s quick with actually massive recordsdata, look to anything.
How we check
Our storage assessments at present make the most of Windows 11 (22H2) 64-bit working on an X790 (PCIe 5.0) motherboard/i5-12400 CPU combo with two Kingston Fury 32GB DDR5 modules (64GB of reminiscence complete). Intel built-in graphics are used. The 48GB switch assessments make the most of an ImDisk RAM disk taking over 58GB of the 64GB complete reminiscence. The 450GB file is transferred from a Samsung 990 Pro 2TB, which additionally comprises the working system.
Each check is carried out on a newly formatted and TRIM’d drive so the outcomes are optimum. Note that as any drive fills up, efficiency will lower because of much less NAND for secondary caching, and different components.
The efficiency numbers proven apply solely to the drive we have been shipped in addition to the capability examined. SSD efficiency can differ by capability because of extra or fewer chips to learn/write throughout and the quantity of NAND accessible for secondary caching (writing TLC/QLC as SLC). Vendors additionally sometimes swap elements. If you ever discover a big discrepancy between the efficiency you expertise and that which we report (programs being roughly equal), by all means — tell us.