USB 3.0 Super Speed Memory Sticks

In November of 2008 it was announced that a new Super Speed version of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol had been developed. A year later and the first Super Speed USB 3.0 Memory Stick was available to consumers. Since then, this newer and faster USB protocol has been widely adopted by most computer manufacturers, meaning that USB 3.0 Flash Drives can now be used pretty much everywhere.

The rise of USB 3.0 memory sticks

At first, in the branded/logo’d flash drive marketplace the uptake was quite slow, but I can confirm that it is now very much in full swing. In fact we now have 18 fully customisable flash drive models that are Super Speed USB 3.0 within our range

What about compatibility?

In order to take advantage of the Super Speed of a USB 3.0 Memory Stick, it will need to be plugged in to a USB 3.0 port. That being said, a USB 3.0 Memory Stick is backward compatible and so will still work in a USB 2.0 port but at only USB 2.0 speed. This is vice versa with a USB 2.0 Memory Stick in a USB 3.0 port.

Do they look any different?

Essentially the memory sticks can look almost identical, as it is what’s inside that differs. The only main difference is that the inner part of the male port is blue, rather than black as you can see on our latest usb 3.0 metal drives below.

Why would I want a USB 3.0 drive and are they more expensive?

USB 3.0 Memory Sticks are indeed more expensive than USB 2.0, but they are also considerably faster, with a data transfer rate that can handle up to 5gbps – that’s 10 times quicker than USB 2.0 is capable of. This significant increase in data transfer speed makes USB 3.0 a more practical option for any user that is uploading large data files, such as photographers, engineering companies, software vendors, schools, colleges and universities!

So what next?

USB 3.1, USB 3.0’s successor (which is also backwards compatible), was released in 2013 and is a staggering 10 times quicker than USB 3.0 ( so thats 10gbps!) but whilst the technology moves fast, consumer uptake always takes its time and so I expect we will have a bit of a wait before these hit the branded/logo’d marketplace.

Discover our full range of Super Speed USB 3.0 Memory Sticks >