The world’s cheapest 1TB ‘USB flash drive’ is not what you think it is

Blurring the line between a flash drive and an external SSD

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RAVpower is certainly no one-trick pony; the company makes docking stations, USB-C hubs, laptop battery chargers and more. It’s a popular brand that’s well received among reviewers, including us.

However, unbeknown to many, the company is also responsible for a USB flash drive (AKA thumb drive) that is nothing short of exceptional, for two reasons.

First, its flagship model (the1TB RAVPower Mini) is one of the cheapest 1TB USB flash drives on the market. At the time of writing, it’sthemost affordable, costing a mere $139.99 atAmazonafter a $20 coupon discount (roughly £120).

1TB RAVPower Mini -$139.99 at AmazonWe’re not sure whether the 1TB RAVPower Mini should be considered a flash drive or an SSD - but it’s a magnificent specimen either way. Rapid read/write speeds, compact design and an affordable price tag make this one a no-brainer.

Secondly, it’s for all intents and purposes a tiny solid state drive, measuring 3.9 x 1.2 x 0.4 inch and boasting very, very fast 540MBps read/write speeds.

An alternative to cloud storage

The RAVPower Mini has a plastic and aluminium enclosure, which should protect it from most bumps. However - purists, look away - it doesn’t have a fixed USB connector and instead relies on a USB cable.

It also comes with a three-year warranty and a bundle application, called RAVPower Tool, that includes encryption facilities.

While demand for flash drives has fallen off due to the popularity ofmicroSDcards and cloud storage services, they certainly represent a viable alternative.

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Note, you’ll need a USB 3.0 connector to make the most of out the RAVPower Mini - this is a USB 3.1 Gen 1, rather than a “real USB 3.1” (which is now USB 3.1 Gen 2).

Désiré has been musing and writing about technology during a career spanning four decades. He dabbled inwebsite buildersandweb hostingwhen DHTML and frames were in vogue and started narrating about the impact of technology on society just before the start of the Y2K hysteria at the turn of the last millennium.

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