Best iPhone Flash Drives

Review & Comparison, Last Update October 28, 2024
Do you find yourself quickly running out of storage space on your iPhone? If so, the best way to get around this problem is by using ...Read more
PROS

Even with prolonged use of the device, the temperature of internal components does not exceed permissible values. As a result, the risk of the drive overheating is minimized. Flexible design is compatible with most cases.

CONS

The app is sluggish and nonresponsive at times.

OUR VERDICT

SanDisk is famous for creating high-quality and reliable flash drives, and this model is no exception: with it, you can copy photos, videos and music from your iPhone or iPad to get more free memory.

detailed parameters
Compatibility

Works with iPhones and iPads (with Lightning port), PCs (with USB Type-A port)

Memory Capacity

128 GB (32 GB, 64 GB and 256 GB also available)

Read / Write Speed

Up to 70 Mbps / Up to 30 Mbps (USB 3.0)

Extras

Compatible with iXpand Drive app, Touch ID Encryption Technology and Password Request, flexible design fits most cases

Warranty

1 year

PROS

When copying files from a PC to a USB flash drive, the writing speed can reach as much as 50 Mbps - relevant when transferring a large amount of data. When transferring files from mobile devices, the speed depends on their type of memory.

CONS

Has trouble connecting to phones in large cases.

OUR VERDICT

If you travel a lot and want to watch movies during a long and tedious trip, we recommend purchasing this model: with a memory capacity of as much as 256 GB, you can save several seasons of your favorite series here.

detailed parameters
Compatibility

Works with iPhones and iPads (with Lightning port), Android phones (with USB Type-C port), PCs (with USB Type-A port)

Memory Capacity

256 GB

Read / Write Speed

Up to 60 Mbps / Up to 50 Mbps (USB 3.0)

Extras

Compatible with Ydisk app, Touch ID Encryption Technology and Password Request, protective cover

Warranty

10 years

PROS

The drive case is made of durable aluminum alloy, so it is almost impossible to damage it mechanically. Protective cover protects the lightning port from deformation - an important point during transportation.

CONS

When you backup and view your images, they do not maintain the same name as the original.

OUR VERDICT

This model from HooToo is compatible with the format-Friendly iPlugmate App, and therefore you will be able to play multimedia files from a flash drive with the extension AVI, M4V, MKV, MOV, WMV, MP3, FLAC, AAC etc. on your iPhone and iPad.

detailed parameters
Compatibility

Works with iPhones and iPads (with Lightning port), PCs (with USB Type-A port)

Memory Capacity

128 GB

Read / Write Speed

Up to 80 Mbps / Up to 30 Mbps (USB 3.0)

Extras

Compatible with iPlugmate App, Touch ID Encryption Technology and Password Request, full aluminum alloy design, protective cover

Warranty

1.5 years

PROS

Thanks to the Touch ID Encryption Technology and Password Request, you can protect information on the flash drive and not worry that your personal photos and videos will fall into the hands of attackers.

CONS

Transfer speeds from PC to flash drive are extremely slow.

OUR VERDICT

Despite the relatively small amount of internal memory of only 32 GB, this flash drive will become an indispensable companion for every owner of an iOS device: it allows you to create a backup copy of all available files so as not to lose them.

detailed parameters
Compatibility

Works with iPhones and iPads (with Lightning port), PCs (with USB Type-A port)

Memory Capacity

32 GB

Read / Write Speed

Up to 80 Mbps / Up to 30 Mbps (USB 3.0)

Extras

Compatible with iDiskk Pro app, Touch ID Encryption Technology and Password Request, protective cover with key-chain hole

Warranty

1 year

PROS

To work with a flash drive on iOS devices, a special CooDisk app has been created that takes up minimal memory space, has an intuitive interface and boasts stable operation without freezes.

CONS

Flash drive case is quite flimsy.

OUR VERDICT

This universal flash drive has 3 types of connectors (USB Type-A, USB Type-C and Lightning port), which means that it can be used with almost any modern smartphone, tablet or laptop. Reading and writing speeds will also please you.

detailed parameters
Compatibility

Works with iPhones and iPads (with Lightning port), Android phones (with USB Type-C port), PCs (with USB Type-A port)

Memory Capacity

256 GB

Read / Write Speed

Up to 80 Mbps / Up to 30 Mbps (USB 3.0)

Extras

Compatible with CooDisk app, Touch ID Encryption Technology and Password Request, protective cover

Warranty

Amazon's 30-day return policy

USB Flash Drives iPhone Flash Drives

Best Name in Flash Drives

SanDisk is one of the most well-known names in flash storage, thanks to their seemingly never-ending parade of high-quality products over the years. This great reputation carries over to the SanDisk Flash Drive for iPhone and iPad, providing a quality storage option for those who find themselves quickly running out of storage space on their devices.

This flash drive is made of extremely high-quality components, as is the case for most of their products. Rarely will you hear of someone having a problem with a SanDisk product, and this extends to this drive. The internal components are made in a way to prevent overheating from being a concern, as the temperature inside the case is well-regulated.

It isn't just the internals of this device that make it a great product. The shape of the flash drive is made to where plugging it into your iPhone or iPad won't result in a large protrusion from the bottom, as the bulk of the drive will wrap around to the back of your device. The 128 GB of storage provided on the drive is large enough to accommodate even those with the largest storage requirements.

This drive uses the iXpand drive app to allow you to move files between the drive and your iOS device, making it quite easy to manage what files are stored here.

All in all, this high-quality flash drive from SanDisk has the right combination of form and functionality to make it one of the best iPhone flash drives on the market.

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $45.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B01CIEBXZG

Fast Storage Option

An issue that many people encounter with flash drives of all types is their read and write speeds. Many flash drives, while offering a ton of convenience, will often not win any awards when it comes to their access speeds. This tends to make read and write operations take forever, removing much of the convenience of the drive.

The PANGUK Flash Drive for iPhone and iPad, however, has created a flash drive that should impress you in all aspects, including with its access speeds. This drive has a writing speed of up to 50 Mbps when connected to a PC, meaning that moving even large files will be speedy.

Similarly, the read and write speeds when connected to your iOS device should also be fast enough to add to this drive's convenience.

Connecting this drive to your iPhone or iPad is quite easy, as it connects through the Lightning port. What's more, you can also connect this drive to an Android device through the included USB Type-C port, so you aren't just limited to iOS devices.

This drive includes 256 GB of storage capacity, which will greatly expand the storage on any device, making it perfect for backing up large amounts of data. Just be aware that the design of the device may make it difficult to connect to phones that are using large cases, so keep that in mind if you use a case for your phone.

Despite this small drawback, this large capacity thumb drive for iPhone from PANGUK will please with both its storage capacity and data access speeds.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07YS57JTZ

Durable Casing

As handy as flash drives tend to be, there are a number of problems with many of them that tend to take away from their convenience. One of these problems is in the durability of many models, as often manufacturers will make them in cheap plastic cases, which in turn makes them quite susceptible to physical damage.

Not so with the HooToo Flash Drive for iPhone and iPad, however. This flash drive for iPhone is made with a durable aluminum alloy casing that protects the internals quite well from physical damage of any kind.

Furthermore, the Lightning port also has a physical cover that protects it during times when you are transporting the drive. Simply put, this is probably the drive you want if protection against physical damage is a concern.

This drive's durability is far from all it has going for it, though. The drive has a capacity of 128 GB, which should be enough for most iPhone users, and the read and write speeds are quite fast as well, being competitive with the other drives we have reviewed here.

The drive uses the iPlugmate app on your iPhone or iPad for transferring data between the drive and the iOS device.

One downside to this is that files that are moved to the drive will often not maintain the same filenames as on the device, so be prepared for this. Outside of that, this drive provides iPhone and iPad users with a very durable and convenient memory stick that should suit most everyone's data storage needs.

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01LSBMH1Y

Secure Your Data

Flash drives can be highly convenient to have, but one of the biggest concerns in regard to their use is in data security. Most flash drives do not come with any special means of keeping your data secure, which can definitely become a problem should someone get ahold of the drive. That's why it is important for any flash drive you get to have some kind of support for data security.

With the iDiskk Flash Drive for iPhone and iPad, you get everything you need to keep your data safely secured and away from prying eyes. This flash drive supports both the Touch ID Encryption Technology and Password Request, so you can be assured of complete data security.

The drive comes in a durable case that also keeps it equally well-protected against physical damage. Not everything about the drive is rosy, though. The small storage capacity of 32 GB may simply not be enough for many users, and the read and write speeds of the drive tend to be extremely slow, so those who expect better performance from their flash drives may want to look at another product.

However, the data security that this drive provides is second to none, making this flash drive one of the top choices for those whose primary concern is in keeping their data safe. If you fall into this category, then this photo stick is worthy of your consideration.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B01MCW2PVN

Easy to Use App

Any flash drive that is compatible with an iPhone or iPad needs to use a special app to allow the user to access the data on the drive, as iOS does not include native support for the file system on third party flash drives. This can make the entire experience of using the flash drive hinge on how well the app works. Even high-quality flash drives can suffer from needing to use a terrible app.

With the Tankeo Flash Drive for iPhone and iPad, though, you can be assured of having a great user experience. This drive uses the special CooDisk app, which takes up a minimal amount of space on your device yet has an extremely intuitive interface, making the whole experience of using this drive much better than most other models.

Another great thing about the app is that it facilitates fast data transfer speeds between the drive and your iOS device, and all without the worry of freezes during data transfers. This is particularly great for those who wish to fully utilize the 256 GB of storage space on the drive, which is suitable for even the most demanding users.

About the only negative we can really find here is that the drive is enclosed in a flimsy plastic case, so those who worry about the drive sustaining physical damage will want to be careful with handling and storing it.

That said, this capacious flash drive will definitely prove itself to be a highly convenient option for storing photos, videos, and other data from your iPhone thanks to its total ease of use.

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B07XDTHQ18

What Is an iPhone Flash Drive?

Out of the two main types of smartphones that are available nowadays, iPhones have a rather large base of users who much prefer their way of operation. To them, the benefits of the iOS ecosystem outweigh whatever negatives it might have. One of those negatives, though, and one that many people wish could change, is the lack of expandability of the internal storage of an iPhone or iPad. This is one area where many Android devices have a big advantage, in that many support upgrading the storage by adding an SD card. iPhones and iPads simply don't have that option.

Users of iOS devices are not without hope, though. Recent changes in the way iOS works has allowed for the connection of some third party flash drives that allow the user to add or remove files from their iPhones. These USB flash drives connect to the iPhone through the Lightning port, and will generally also have a standard USB port for allowing connection to PCs or other devices. This helps give iPhone and iPad users a method of managing and expanding the internal storage on their devices, as well as providing a great backup option.

Many of the iPhone flash drives available are made to work with iPhones that are using a case. If you need a great case for your iPhone, take a look at our reviews of some of the best waterproof cases.

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