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32 GB Flash Drive: 15 Most Affordable Products
Modified: December 6, 2023
15 affordable 32 GB flash drives that are guaranteed to serve your data storage needs! Find your perfect storage device today.
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Who’s using a 32GB flash drive these days?
Well, many people —from photographers to architects.
A 32 GB flash drive holds how many pictures, you ask? Well, a 32GB flash drive should be enough for 10,400 photos or 8,000 songs or 480-minute video. So, in most cases, a flash drive with 32GB flash memory should get you covered.
With tons of 32 GB flash drives in the market, finding the right thumb drive is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
To help you find what you need, we rounded up 15 reliable flash drives. And don’t worry about the price – we made our picks with budget-conscious buyers in mind. A 32 GB flash drive price starts from as low as $9.
When you’re choosing the best buy flash drive based on price, SanDisk Ultra CZ48 should be on the shortlist. At less than $9, this 32GB flash drive already runs on USB 3.0.
Yes, there are cheaper drives for the same price but many of them are still running on USB 2.0 -which is 10x slower than USB 3.0. And don’t worry about getting this USB 3.0 flash drive since it should run in a USB 2.0 or 3.0 port without issues.
SanDisk Ultra CZ48 also comes with a Secure Access software which features 128-bit AES encryption so you can add password-protected files in your flash drive. The accompanying RescuePRO Deluxe data recovery software also provides a restore function in case you delete a file accidentally.
Aesthetics is not exactly your top priority when looking for a USB drive, but it counts!
With a metal body and a sturdy keyring, this compact and sleek flash drive from Kingston costs under $10. If you’re hunting for a USB drive with business purposes in mind, you can also add your logo to the metal casing.
As for performance, Kingston DTSE9G2 is a USB 3.0 drive featuring faster data transfer of about 100 MB/s read speed and about 10 MB/s write speed.
Like most companies, this flash drive comes with a five-year warranty. And reliability is similar to most Kingston devices.
If you’re not after the looks and you don’t mind carrying an ancient-looking flash drive, Kingston Data Traveler G4 would be a budget-friendly option. This USB 3.0 drive, which sells for less than $6, would fit your budget.
Although it’s not much of a deal-breaker, Data Traveler G4 has a cap to protect the USB plug. The cap would fit the key ring perfectly but if the drive is hooked to a keychain –it’s easy to lose that cap.
Data Traveler G4 also comes with larger data storage options: 64GB and 128GB flash drive.
Anyone who owns a tablet or an Ultrabook knows that thin computers come with certain disadvantages. Bulky flash drives may still work on these devices but they’re not practical.
With USB 3.1 tech, expect a transfer speed of 200MB/s. This speed is two times faster than most flash drives and you can look forwards to seamless data transfers. Because of the size of this flash drive, it’s not surprising why it comes with a key ring.
Samsung Fit Plus is also shock-proof, waterproof, temperature-proof, magnet-proof, and X-ray proof to minimize data loss and damage.
If you’re looking to buy a 32GB flash drive to expand your Ultrabook or tablet storage, Samsung USB 3.1 Flash Drive FIT Plus is an affordable solution. But if you’re constantly transferring data using a flash drive, you might want something larger and more convenient to hold.
PNY Turbo was a player in the memory manufacturing market. But in recent years, the company has gone to offer affordable flash drives.
The device comes with a capless collar and a slot to attach the flash drive to a keychain. PNY Turbo is not the fastest in the market but it is a clear upgrade from a USB 2.0.
If speed is also a major consideration, check out other items on this list. The price may be a bit higher than PNY Turbo, but the difference shouldn’t be that much.
With read speeds of up to 180MB/s and write speeds of up to 50MB/s, you should experience faster data transfer speeds with this USB 3.0 drive.
Backed by a five-year warranty, Patriot Supersonic Rage XT should be one of the flash drives to consider given that the company behind it is also known for providing excellent customer service.
The form factor is also another reason to love this 32GB flash drive. The rubber-coated housing protects the drive from daily abuse, spills, and drops. It also comes with a retractable design and even if it’s small, it comes in bright colors so it’s easier to find if ever lose it.
With a bright green metal attachment loop, it’s easy to find this flash drive and you’ll know exactly where the keyring is. Aside from the metal attachment, the rest of this flash drive is covered in a black anti-scratch and anti-shock rubber material.
This 32 GB drive comes with impact and pressure protection, water, and heat resistance. Similar to the smartphone’s Gorilla Glass, the USB 3.0 Gorilla Drive prides itself on safeguarding your files. So, it’s not surprising that this flash drive comes with features to complement its rugged appearance.
Advertised speed for this flash drive is at 100 MB/s which is similar to other flash drives within its price range.
One of the most notable features of the ADATA 2102 Pro is its lifetime warranty -although it’s a limited warranty, most manufacturers only offer a five-year warranty for flash drives.
This 32GB, USB 3.1 flash drive from ADATA has a read speed of 90 MB/s and a write speed of 25 MB/s. Compared to other flash drives in this list, this advertised speed is a bit slower. But transfer speed is higher for flash drives with higher capacity.
This flash drive also comes in two colors – blue and titanium – and it has a cap to protect the USB plug.
This US 3.1 flash drive from Samsung promises a transfer speed of 200MB/s. With backward compatibility, this flash drive should work with any USB 2.0 or 3.0 port on your computer.
Like all things Samsung, the rugged metal casing comes with a sleek and minimalist design promises reliability and endurance. Samsung BAR Plus is resistant to magnets, shock, temperature, water, and X-rays and it also comes with the standard five-year warranty.
Given the size of this flash drive, you should attach it to a lanyard loop so it’s easier to find. The Samsung BAR Plus also comes with 16GB, 64GB, and 128 GB flash drive options.
When transferring data over the cloud means higher mobile data charges or is impossible or inconvenient, it’s better to use a flash drive. And that’s exactly what SanDisk Ultra USB-C is for.
This 32GB flash drive comes with the regular USB connector and the USB Type-C port. With the retractable design, this thumb drive is highly portable and convenient to use. Data transfer speed should be up to 150 MB/s but actual performance could vary between computers.
For Android devices, the SanDisk Memory Zone app makes it easier to manage files and backup information on your smartphone.
The main selling point of the Samsung Duo Plus is clear from its name alone—having two flash drives in one device. This USB 3.1 drive’s read speed of up to 200 MB/s should help you transfer information quickly between smartphones, computers, and other devices. Backward compatibility with USB 3.0 and 2.0 also makes this device easier to use even if you’re using an older computer.
Samsung Duo Plus comes with a five-year warranty. It also provides better security for your data because of its shock-proof, magnet-proof, temperature-proof, X-ray-proof, and waterproof body. If you’re into capless flash drives, this can be a bit of a letdown, but it isn’t much of a deal-breaker.
With a zinc alloy metal casing, this dual interface USB C flash drive is ideal for the latest MacBook, tablets, and smartphones. The swivel cap design protects the USB port with no detachable cap.
Silicon Power Jewel J80 utilizes the Chip on Board packaging technology which makes it vibration, dust, and water-resistant. This unique design equips the drive with a stronger layer of protection against data damage and loss.
Managing the information stored in this flash drive is also easier with the SP File Explorer app that allows you to store and backup your data.
When you’re looking for one device which features both the USB Type-C and the USB Type-A port, Kingston Digital Data Traveler Micro Duo is another practical choice. This affordable but reliable device allows you to transfer data between devices.
This USB 3.1 flash drive from Kingston also supports backward compatibility. As for performance, transfer, it features read speeds of up to 100 MB/s, but the write speed is a bit slow at 15 MB/s.
This flash drive also comes with a rotating cap and it comes with a five-year warranty.
Here’s another best buy flash drive when you’re looking for one with a Type-C and Type-A connector. The PNY Duo Link comes with a sliding design to protect the USB plug when not in use.
Thus flash drive is also compatible with PC, Apple computers, iPhones, tablets, and smartphones. With a transfer speed of 130MB/s transfer speed, the Duo Link appears to be faster than other flash drives on paper.
Since this drive uses On the Go protocol or OTG, make sure that your phone supports that.
When it comes to affordable flash drives, SanDisk remains to be one of the top companies. Here’s another pick for anyone looking for the best buy flash drive – the SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C. This USB 3.1 drive comes with a USB Type-A and Type-C connector. Advertised read speed is up to 150MB/s.
With the accompanying SanDisk Memory Zone app, you can back up photos automatically. Like other products from SanDisk, this 32GB flash drive also comes with a five-year warranty.
Which Flash Drive Is Right For You?
For transferring anything from photos to software to data files offline, using a thumb drive is faster and more convenient. Cloud storage is great but syncing large files could take hours – well, depending on your internet speed.
You may have noticed that all our top picks are USB 3.0 drives and there’s a reason behind it.
Transfer speed is almost always a big factor, so we recommend getting a USB 3.0 flash drive. The price difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0 shouldn’t be that significant anyway. Yes, you can still use USB 2.0 but expect the transfer speed to be 10 times slower compared to USB 3.0.
These days, most of us couldn’t tolerate sluggish data transfer. And spending a few more dollars for faster data transfer is worth it. Always think about the overall purpose of your flash drive. And don’t forget to compare prices based on the capacity.
Sometimes, the price difference between a 32GB flash and a 64GB flash drive is just a dollar or two. And don’t forget to factor in the delivery price.
If you need more storage than what a 128GB flash drive can provide, it’s time to think about buying SSDs. Solid-state drives are not only portable, but they are also more reliable, and the price could be lower than a flash drive.
Consider all these things before you decide on the 32 GB flash drive staples that could serve all your needs. And if 32GB is not enough for you, check out these 1TB thumb drive options.
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