Background

I have had the same Kingston DataTraveller DTSE9 since around 2010, when I was still in school. I’ve carried it on my keychain for at least 12 years and it still works, its “the old reliable”.

That said, it’s slow. Very slow. I use it mostly as a boot USB for Linux / Windows, so I need several sticks with decent random read speed, and decent write speed for when I update them.

My criteria were:

  • All-metal construction for durability, including the keychain loop
  • Sits well on a keychain next to keys
  • Reasonable speed, including random reads.

Testing method

I evaluated the sticks in two ways.

I ran CrystalDiskMark with 256 MiB (x5) configuration.

I also measured the angle at which the USB stick sits on a keyring. I found that several of them could not sit perpendicular to a keyring it because of their geometry, which makes it difficult to comfortably use them next to keys.

At the datum of 0 degrees, the key sits perpendicular to the keyring.

Results

The competitors

Here are the 6 main competitors in this space I bought.

All transfer units are in MB/s.

Product Price (£) Angle on keyring (0deg is best) Sequential reads Q8T1 Sequential reads Q1T1 Random reads Q32T1 Random reads Q1T1 Sequential writes Q8T1 Sequential writes Q1T1 Random writes Q32T1 Random writes Q1T1
Corsair GTX 128GB 65 (256GB version) 0 470.214 429.330 157.436 19.390 436.990 414.201 166.829 38.937
Samsung Bar 64GB 10 55 305.424 305.268 14.517 13.428 36.434 36.247 20.537 21.619
Kingston DTSE9G3 64GB 11 0 246.705 244.496 13.756 13.028 100.236 110.054 0.484 0.474
Integral Arc 3 10 0 162.336 161.338 15.567 11.188 49.457 47.965 5.032 4.244
Kingston DataTraveller Micro 64GB 11 0 247.000 245.247 13.788 12.961 100.932 101.292 0.496 0.470
Sandisk Ultra Luxe 64GB 12 25 403.863 399.974 12.438 12.054 91.835 91.685 4.272 4.258

Some additional notes:

  • The Samsung Bar had really sharp corners. You might need to file them down like I did.
  • Corsair GTX: the 128GB version is no longer available and the lowest capacity is 256GB. It’s more of a portable SSD in the form of a USB stick, which makes it really fast, but it’s bulkier than a normal USB stick, though not by much. Often it takes up more than one USB port because it’s wide. It’s still very good and I recommend it.

Other devices

Some related products I own but don’t qualify for this comparison but are offered up here for context.

Here’s why they don’t qualify.

  • Crucial P3 Plus: It’s an NVME SSD. Can be made portable with a good enclosure, but too bulky for what I’m looking for.

  • Samsung 860 Evo: It’s a SATA SSD, definitely not the right form factor.

  • Sandisk Ultra Curve: I bought this thinking it was made out of metal, but it was not. It’s fairly flimsy plastic.

  • Kingston DTSE9 16GB: This is my old stick. The old reliable. No longer sold, but I’ve tested its successor.

  • Samsung SD Card: It’s a 2016 MicroSD card connected to my PC via a MicroSD-SD adapter and a USB card reader. I included this as a meme.

Product Sequential reads Q8T1 Sequential reads Q1T1 Random reads Q32T1 Random reads Q1T1 Sequential writes Q8T1 Sequential writes Q1T1 Random writes Q32T1 Random writes Q1T1
Crucial P3 Plus M.2 NVME 2TB 1598.227 1332.131 305.220 46.643 1560.989 1452.256 238.134 102.502
Samsung 860 Evo SATA 1TB 564.446 539.913 272.631 43.322 536.440 518.168 238.752 101.313
Sandisk Ultra Curve 160.091 158.859 9.271 9.043 58.680 60.377 2.902 3.209
Old Kingston DTSE9 16GB 18.452 18.220 8.473 8.096 13.626 13.629 0.115 0.026
Samsung Memory Pro Plus Micro SD Card 20.765 20.969 5.146 5.102 19.493 20.316 2.181 3.421

Conclusion

There are no clear winners in this fight.

  • The Corsair GTX is the fastest in all categories by a country mile, but has a larger form-factor than other entries and higher price. Very good, but not for everyone.
  • Samsung Bar has the fastest random writes, and decent performance in other metrics for its USB stick form factor, but sits awful on a keychain due to the angled hole.
  • The Integral Arc 3 has solid random performance, but worst sequential performance than the rest.
  • Sandisk Ultra Luxe gets the best overall balance of performance, but does not sit on the keychain super well.
  • The two Kingston’s perform effectively the same, with the Micro being much more compact. That said, that can be a disadvantage on a keyring if there are adjacent items.
  • All competitors (bar the GTX) had similar random reads.

For me, I’d say the right choice is either the Kingston DTSE9G3. It’s a nice upgrade over my old DTSE9 and sits nicely next to it’s grandfather. If I needed any random writes though, for copying lots of small documents like code files, I’d pick the Integral Arc 3.

  • Thurstylark@lemm.eeEnglish
    36·
    10 days ago

    Oh my god, thank you so much for this. I have always had the hardest time finding these exact same requirements, and this is perfect. All metal construction and coexisting with keys has always been a priority for me, but it seems like everyone is inexplicably fine with copping out by just dangling their data on this flimsy little string tied to a brittle plastic case and I cannot understand it.

    I’m not currently looking for one at this exact moment, but I will be returning here when I am. You’re doing the lord’s work out here!

  • ChojinDSL@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    25·
    9 days ago

    I’m curious if anyone has ever done a longevity test. Rather than Io performance, I’m more interested in how quickly they wear out.

  • SapphironZA@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    22·
    9 days ago

    One of these took me through university in 2002

    I really miss the hardware read only switch.

    Computer labs did not have front USB back in those days, so we had to choose between floppies or diving under the desks. I was in the diver club.

    32MB was massive for documents at the time. It could hold your entire academic life back then.

  • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    13·
    9 days ago

    Others have said this but THANK YOU SO MUCH! This is extremely valuable info for me as I pretty much only want full metal flash drives. I have a couple Samsung Bars, and I will absolutely snag a GTX.

  • Fuzzypyro@lemmy.worldEnglish
    141·
    9 days ago

    This is dope! I wish there was a proper community that did tests like this in mass using open source standardized methods/hardware.

  • Ookami38@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    8·
    8 days ago

    I love the documentation.

    Just… Why is it shaped like that? What possessed Samsung to make that design…?

      • Ookami38@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        2·
        8 days ago

        It also provides a raised grip for removing, but they could do both of those without THAT shape. Even rotating the hole 90 degrees would make it a little better on the key ring and still keep those marginal benefits.

        • mishielda1234@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          7 days ago

          I think all of that could be aided by putting the stick on a small ring, and then putting that ring on your larger key ring. Might help it not stick out as much

  • Atherel@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    7·
    9 days ago

    I had one Samsung Bar fail after two years, the second one still works.

    At the moment I’m using a Philips Moon Edition USB stick but only since February. Can’t speak for long term usage and didn’t do any benchmark but I’m happy so far and the form factor would meet your criteria.

  • BeatTakeshi@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    9 days ago

    Have you come across a USB c only key that would be compact? Like just a stick the width of the USB c port

  • tvik@lemmy.mlEnglish
    7·
    9 days ago

    Thanks for the post! I’d be interested in having a similar analysis but with USB c’s - I already have most my devices use it and I think it would be a nice future proofing. Then again for PC’s specifically I think I would go with your recommendation as well. Also have a Kingston data traveler from way back and it’s still slow and kickin. Thanks!

  • BlueLineBae@midwest.socialEnglish
    7·
    10 days ago

    My husband has had a metal USB stick that is shaped like a key and is very thin specifically for this purpose. I don’t know the brand as it’s not printed on it, but it’s lasted him a long time and I would assume it to win this contest by a landslide. Excellent analysis, very interesting!

    For reference, it looks like this (not the same brand):

    • foggenbooty@lemmy.worldEnglish
      8·
      9 days ago

      It would win the “will it fit nicely on a keychain” by a landsline.

      However I doubt it would suit OP’s needs as the contacts are exposed so durability may be suspect, and seeing as it is generic I doubt the performance is up to his standards.

      • BearOfaTime@lemm.eeEnglish
        3·
        9 days ago

        The contacts were surprisingly robust. Mine just died, sadly.

        New ones are crappy knockoffs, but they’re cheap enough.

    • BearOfaTime@lemm.eeEnglish
      5·
      9 days ago

      LaCie IAmAKey. No longer made. Current ones are made from aluminum and bend easily. Originals were stainless and rigid.

      My 2006 one just died, and I’m so frustrated with the new ones. Fortunately they’re pretty cheap, so who cares.

  • Jawa@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    9 days ago

    I also have a DTSE9 and it’s been on my keychain for at least 10 years now :D

    Recently I have just gotten 2 nvme ssd enclosures and have been very happily using them for the super quick image writes. I just checked if there’s some compact 2230 enclosures and some of those even have keychain attachment points… they definitely are a bit bulky for a keychain but I’d argue they still are an option and will look similar to a keyfob :)

  • Emerald@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    6·
    9 days ago

    Pro tip from me (a pro): Never buy flash drives that aren’t one metal body. I have broke a 128GB flash drive simply by putting a tad bit too much pressure on it and misaligning the USB connector. It now doesn’t work. I also injured one by misaligning the usb in the plastic case. It still works but isn’t ideal.

    Even if it is one plastic body, the plastic will chip away with insertions. My SanDisk Ultra Dual is in rough shape because of the weak plastic. Meanwhile my SanDisk Ultra Dual Luxe (the metal variant) is still pristine.

    Also, don’t buy cheap flash drives if you wish to use them frequently. They have terribly slow speeds even if they use a USB 3.0 interface. They might work okay as install media which you only need to use every few months or years, but they have painfully slow write speeds.

    Edit: Yes, I know the metal drives have thermal issues. But thermal issues are better then losing the entire drive because the casing chips away and exposes the connector to things that eventually kill it.

    • Armand1@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      5·
      9 days ago

      I agree of course, hence why I am only picking metal ones. I’ve lost USB sticks to broken clips and bodies.

      Why would they have thermal issues? If anything, they should dissipate heat better than plastic drives.

      Or is it that by thermal issues people mean that they get hot to the touch?

  • SapphironZA@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    6·
    9 days ago

    This is probably my favourite metal flashdrive of all time. I had a 1GB of the first generation and then later another usb3 one of 32GB

    These days I carry one of these on my keychain.

    Surprisingly fast given the size. Will do 300MB/s sequential read. About 90MB/s write

    I use medicat/ventoy on it with windows 11 , debian and linux mint ISOs on it.

    • Armand1@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      9 days ago

      I did see that second one, but I realised it would not fit my criteria for the angle of the hole, so I didn’t get one.