Transcend ESD310 128GB External SSD, Up to 1,050MB/s, Dual USB Flash Drive for iPhone/iPad/Mac/Windows, Android/Tablet/PC, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Thumb Drive Photo Stick, 2-in-1 Type C &Type A Memory Stick

This is one of the most convenient portable SSDs I’ve used. It’s fast, tiny, and the dual connectors make it compatible with phones, laptops, TVs — everything. Transfer speeds are excellent, and it's perfect for backups or moving videos. Very impressed.

This thing is incredible, to the point where I can't even believe there was a time I didn't own it. I bought the 128GB version when I started a YouTube channel about 6 months ago because it was the only way I could think to bridge the hardware gap between my extremely old PC and my extremely new phone that I use to film. I quickly discovered that this little SSD is good for so much more than transferring B-roll, though. Before long, I realized I hadn't emailed a picture or document to myself in weeks! The write speed on this bad boy is so insane that it's frankly easier using it to ferry files to and from devices than going through the rigmarole of typing out your email address, adding an attachment, coming up with some nonsense subject line, and tapping your foot while it sends. Even now, I only resort to the dreaded email terminal in times of extreme duress. That is, those rare moments when I don't have one of my Transcend SSDs on me. Yeah, that's right, it's so good that I bought the 512GB when I saw it was on sale! I've since been using that one for my videos, and I still haven't made a dent in its storage limit even after putting hours of unprocessed, HD footage on there. Even the comparatively modest 128GB is nothing to sneeze at. In the last week alone, I've used it to install Windows on my new PC, back up the last year's worth of photos, and just today I used it to move vocal tracks for a song I'm working on from my laptop to my main workstation. Let me reiterate, that's just what I did with the $30 option, people. Now, it is true that these drives get pretty hot, especially if you're moving a lot of stuff onto one. I tried to put a ton of footage on the 512GB all at once a few months back, and it actually shorted out my phone. Luckily, no lasting harm was done, otherwise this would be a mere 4-star review, but that's definitely something to consider. I would certainly caution against "bulk jobs," as such, because at a certain point you start tempting fate. That said, when I was backing up this year's pictures and videos, I was comfortably able to transfer batches of about 50-100 items at a time without issue, so even with a certain level of restraint, you can move a lot of volume with one of these. All in all, these flash drives have become very crucial pieces of equipment for me, and if you're on the fence about buying one, I implore you to check them out! I'm probably going to splurge for the 1TB once my old HDD finally gives up the ghost.

I'm glad I pulled the trigger on this little 2TB Bad Boy. It's super-fast and just works. Depending on your use, you may get different results. First, don't pay any attention to the speed specs of any stick or SSD drives. They all base their exaggerated speed claims on best-case scenarios. That being said, I use mine for storage and playing movie files on my Samsung Smart TV as I no longer use disc drives. It plays a full 2-hour to 3-hour movie without getting very hot and without a hiccup. When transferring movie files to it, I regularly got 200 to 300 MB/s write transfer speed (my Samsung T-5 and T-7 SSD drives write at 30 to 35 GB/s). If I transferred 200 to 500 GB at a time, it would get very hot by the time it wrote 150 GB's or so. If I blew air on it while it was writing, it cooled down considerably. And after a hundred GB or so and hot temp, it would slow down to around 80MB/s speed for a while but pick back up in speed, especially if I blew air on it to cool it down. So, I would recommend transferring about 100GB at a time instead of half a TB at a time. But either way will work fine. Don't let the hot temp bother you. It's designed to operate at the extreme temp. My Patriot 500GB and 1-TB sticks gets super-hot as well and they have never failed me. So, this is not abnormal. I also love the USB "C" connection it has on one end. Now I can finally make use of my "C" connection on my laptop and keep the other 2 USB-3 ports open. I use this Transcend stick to play movie files and my Samsung 2TB T-7 as the backup SSD drive for my movie files. But the Samsung SSD movie file transfer speed is only about 35 GB/s while this Transcend stick writes movie files at 200 to 300GB/s. So, I'm definitely going to get another one of these Transcend 2TB sticks. The hot temps and occasional slow-downs are really not a big deal when you consider the small size, convenience and extreme speed of this stick. And the end caps fit on snug. No issue there. If you've been thinking about this little gem, just get it. You'll be glad and impressed.

Got the 256gb version. Pretty good speed on both USB A and USB C ports. Seen highs of about 400MB/s, but can drop to just a couple of megabytes per second depending on the size if the files. Was able to transfer about 32GB of data to the drive in less than 2 minutes. Maybe less than 1 minute; don't remember exactly, but it didn't take long at all. It does get warm quickly, but you can definitely still touch it and it doesn't seem to impact performance at all in my limited testing. The outer shell feels like it's made of metal, not cheap plastic. Though it's the same size as a conventional full length flash drive, it has a bit of weight making it feel robust and sturdy. If it holds up, this may be my go to brand.

This USB stick is a fantastic blend of speed and portability, making it a great choice for anyone who needs to transfer files on the go. I was particularly impressed with the transfer speeds. Moving large files, like videos and steam games was quick. If you're tired of waiting around for files to transfer, this drive is a definite upgrade. Beyond its speed, the compact size of this USB stick is a major plus. This is perfect for me, as I often need to carry files between my home computer, steam deck, phone and other devices. The lightweight design also means I don't even notice it's there. So far, the drive has performed reliably. I've used it extensively for several weeks, transferring various file types and sizes, and I haven't encountered any issues with connectivity or data corruption. This gives me confidence in the drive's ability to store my important files safely. Reliability is crucial for any storage device, and this USB stick has proven itself to be dependable. However, there's one small design element that I find a bit frustrating: the dual-sided cap. While the idea might seem practical, in reality, it can be a bit fiddly. Because the stick itself is so small and compact (which is a good thing!), trying to remove one cap often results in accidentally knocking off the other cap. This can be a little annoying, especially when I'm in a hurry and just want to quickly access my files. It's a minor inconvenience, but it's worth mentioning. Perhaps a different cap design would have been more user-friendly. Despite the minor issue with the cap, the overall performance and portability of this USB stick far outweigh this small drawback. The fast transfer speeds, compact size, and reliable performance make it a valuable tool for anyone who needs to carry files with them. If you're looking for a fast and portable USB drive and the cap design doesn't bother you, I would definitely recommed.

Very reliable and very quick. Haven't had any issues with it on windows, linux, or apple.

fastest usb jumpdrive I've ever used. Does get hot if transferring massive amounts of data.

This is a good drive so far. I am using it to install linux on my computers that i build. But it is all black and easy to lose. it almost needs a tracking light or beep or bright colors. Feels well made. Only had it a short time and SSDs should last forever -- who knows, is it even possible to find out? With more stable SSDs and with fast usb 3,2 and C, then putting your operating system on this external device is practical. But will it be reliable?