USB Flash Drive Review: Kingston DataTraveler Max
Review of the Kingston DataTraveler Max 256GB
I will be reviewing the Kingston DataTraveler Max 256GB, which boasts some incredible specifications. I hadn't touched on it before because there weren't really any USB 3.x Gen2 compatible flash drives, but it turns out they do exist once you look into it.
Catalog Specifications (Manufacturer's Published Values)
It is a sliding plastic body with a width of 22.00mm, length of 91.17mm, height of 9.02mm, and weight of 14.0g. Performance-wise, it has a read speed of 1,000MB/s and a write speed of 900MB/s.
What makes it distinctive is that it is a USB 3.2 Gen2 compatible flash drive.
Benchmark Test (CrystalDiskMark)
With high expectations for its performance, let's look at the benchmark test results.
As for performance, it is super fast, comparable to the speed of older NVMe M.2 SSDs.
The sequential and random speeds are also performance that is second to none, even compared to external SSDs.
It is so fast that I wonder if it is really the performance of a USB flash drive. As a flash drive, it has performance that is beyond reproach.
Capacity/Read/Write Test (H2testw)
On the other hand, the read/write test results were a bit puzzling.
Both read and write speeds showed a significant drop, and looking only at the test result numbers, it was as if it were connected via USB Gen1.
What I find a bit hard to understand is that models like the Samsung Fit Plus and SanDisk Extreme Pro yielded better results, and the advantages of USB Gen2 were not seen in this test.
Ubuntu Installation/Boot Test
Installation (Write) Test
The installation took 2 minutes and 47 seconds. Since the overall average for verified USB flash drives is 25 minutes and 2 seconds, this is an incredibly fast result. It is also the first time I have seen a reference speed in the triple digits.
The reference speed is 119.76MB/s.
Boot (Read) Test
Booting took 31 seconds. The overall average for verified USB flash drives is 2 minutes and 37 seconds. This result classifies it in the faster-than-average category.
The reference speed is 258.06MB/s.
Other Good Points and Concerns
Good: Performance is everything
Concerns: Size is large for a USB flash drive (a stick SSD?)
Concerns: The sliding mechanism is difficult to use, and the locking mechanism feels like it catches
Concerns: The design on the back is... Sliding it doesn't really protect the plug
Here, I have listed a few points of concern despite its good performance.
The third point, the back design, is unacceptable. The photo is below.
I feel like the point of protecting the plug is diminished. In that case, I think a cap-style design might have been fine.
Kingston DataTraveler Max Verification Results Summary
To summarize briefly, the performance and other aspects are as follows.
File Read - ★★★★★ (Among the fastest for USB flash drives)
File Write - ★★★★★ (Among the fastest for USB flash drives)
App Installation - ★★★★★ (Among the fastest for USB flash drives)
App Booting - ★★★★★ (Among the fastest for USB flash drives)
Cost Performance - ★★★★☆ (Cheaper than average for USB flash drives)
* Cost performance is evaluated based on Amazon prices as of 2024/10/21.
In terms of performance, it is undoubtedly in the fastest class. Regarding cost performance, at 19.45 yen/GB, it is far cheaper than the overall average price. While the retail price may seem high at first glance, it might actually be a bargain when considering the cost per GB.
After finishing the verification tests for the Kingston DataTraveler Max
I had thought that USB 3.2 Gen2 support would be for stick-type SSDs, so I was surprised that there are products in the USB flash drive category that support this standard. The verification tests also revealed surprising performance.
In terms of performance, it is undeniably good, but there were a few points of concern regarding the design. While the size is somewhat unavoidable, this might be a model where the performance solves everything.