Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate GT - Review 2022

The Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate GT ($1,650) has a 2TB chapters, and fits into the small front pocket in your jeans. Information technology has the distinction of being the largest chapters flash drive, doubling the storage of 2022's DataTraveler HyperX Predator 3.0. While we certainly applaud Kingston for achieving that technical goal, we doubt many consumers volition be jumping at the chance to buy it just all the same, since (SSDs) like the Samsung Portable SSD T3 are virtually as compact, faster, and much less expensive. The small gain in pocket space is not worth the $800 price difference for the same corporeality of storage. We can't recommend this drive at its electric current price.

Small but Sturdy

At outset glance, the DataTraveler Ultimate GT is thicker than your run-of-the-mill USB flash drive, like how a 15-stick pack of chewing glue compares to a regular 5-stick pack. It measures 0.83 past ane.0 by 2.8 inches (HWD) and weighs ii.1 ounces. That's small plenty to disappear in your commute purse or any pocket, only it's still a lot larger than most USB stick drives. On the plus side, the silver-colored zinc-blend metallic body volition protect the drive (and your data) from minor bumps and jolts. On the other hand, the thick case besides means that you lot may take trouble plugging the drive into shut-set USB ports.

We weren't able to plug the drive into our Apple iMac testbed, next to the plugs for a wired keyboard and mouse, without some rearranging. Thankfully, you lot become a USB three.0 extension cablevision with a standard-sized USB plug so you can connect the drive in situations like this. Other accessories that come with the drive include a drawstring carry handbag, presumably to keep its metallic body scratch-free, and a tin presentation box, which is fitting, considering that the drive costs as much as a squeamish piece of jewelry.

You may want to purchase the DataTraveler Ultimate GT because it is so compact, but there are several portable SSDs that share the thumb drive expect and feel. For example, the OWC Envoy Pro mini and the VisionTek USB Pocket SSD both come up in metal cases that mimic the DataTraveler's pocket-size proportions, and both have integrated USB plugs, though they also have protective caps that yous can lose. The Kingston's retractable USB plug comprehend is easier to deal with if you're forgetful. Besides, the Envoy Pro mini tops out at 480GB for $269.99, while the VisionTek has a maximum capacity of 512GB for $279.

Slightly Larger Alternatives

Physically larger SSDs like the 1000-Applied science G-Drive slim SSD USB-C and the OWC Envoy Pro EX come in 1TB capacities, while the Samsung T3 maxes out at 2TB. While the G-Bulldoze Slim SSD has a relatively large case that's the same size as a 2.5-inch portable hard drive, the Envoy Pro EX and Samsung T3 are both easier to carry around in your front end pocket. You'll have to carry a detachable USB cable with each of these alternatives, simply they're ultimately equally portable as the DataTraveler Ultimate GT. For instance, the Samsung T3 weighs 2.4 ounces with its USB-C-to-USB-Blazon-A adapter, and it's simply 0.4 past 2.iii by 2.nine inches, which is shorter, but a little wider. Equally nosotros'll come across below, these SSDs are much faster as well.

A Steep Price Per Gigabyte

At its $one,650 retail price, the 2TB DataTraveler Ultimate GT costs 83 cents per gigabyte. That's quite expensive, even compared with the SSDs mentioned above. For example, the $380 Chiliad-Techology One thousand-Drive slim SSD at 1TB is a relative bargain at 38 cents per gigabyte, as are the $470 OWC Envoy Pro 1TB (47 cents) and $850 Samsung T3 2TB (42 cents). A 1TB version of the DataTraveler Ultimate GT goes for $949, merely that'south an even worse bargain at 95 cents per gigabyte. The 2TB Oyen Digital MiniPro 3.ane USB-C Portable Solid-Land Bulldoze (29 cents) and 960GB SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD (52 cents), our latest top picks for SSDs, are besides more reasonably priced than the DataTraveler. Traditional portable hard drives will requite you the same 2TB of space for four cents per gigabyte, though they are exponentially slower, physically larger, and more fragile due to their moving parts. The bulldoze comes with a 5-twelvemonth warranty, much longer than the standard 1 to three years for portable drives, but we expect a lifetime warranty at this price.

Somewhat Speedy Service

The drive is formatted for exFAT format, and so information technology will work fine with Macs and Windows PCs. We tested the drive with both operating systems. The drive's USB three.1 Gen 1 interface is identical to USB 3.0, in both its operation and its USB Type-A plug. To apply the DataTraveler Ultimate GT with a USB-C or a USB-C with Thunderbolt iii port, you'll need a physical adapter, but the drive will continue to operate at USB iii.0 speeds.

Because of its capacity, pricing, and speed claims, nosotros tested and compared the DataTraveler Ultimate GT to SSDs, rather than the cheaper 32GB-128GB flash drives nosotros've reviewed in the past. The DataTraveler Ultimate GT's spec sheet boasts of upwardly to 300MBps read, and 200MBps write speeds (SSD-course throughput), only that ideal was never reached in our testing. To exist fair, inappreciably any portable storage device achieves its advertised throughput speeds, just the DataTraveler Ultimate GT tested much slower. When we tested the drive with the macOS-based Blackmagic drive exam, it returned middling scores of 166MBps on write and 53MBps on read operations. To put that into perspective, the Samsung T3 tested at 430MBps read and 376MBps write speeds on the same test. Granted, the T3 uses inherently speedy SSD chips and circuitry, but Kingston promised much better throughput speeds than we saw. Our top picks for portable SSDs, the Oyen Digital MiniPro 3.ane USB-C Portable Solid-Country Bulldoze and the SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD are even faster, coming together or exceeding 400MBps in both directions. In other words, it's a step up in speed from a basic USB thumb bulldoze that transfers files at 30MBps, simply it's nonetheless very disappointing for the price, especially if you're regularly transferring a terabyte of files or more than.

When we switched to our Windows 10 test bed, the drive returned a score of 187 points on the PCMark vii test. That'southward abysmal compared with the SanDisk Extreme 900, which scored four,980 points on the same examination. The Samsung T3 (4,908) and the VisionTek USB Pocket SSD (4,127) similarly screamed ahead of the Kingston. The drive took 9 seconds to transfer our one.22GB exam folder. That's not also shabby, just still a bit slower than the T3 (6 sec) and Extreme 900 (5 sec) for a simple drag-and-drop test.

You lot Tin Purchase the Largest USB Wink Drive, Only Should You?

The Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate GT is the largest chapters flash drive currently available, and information technology is an piece of cake way to carry 2TB effectually your home or role. But for the $1,650 price, you could purchase three 960GB SanDisk Extreme 900 SSDs that volition too fit easily in your pockets, or five Oyen Digital MiniPro 3.one USB-C Portable Solid Land Drives that are physically simply a bit larger. If you must take 2TB in one handy instance, both SSDs are available with that capacity (or close) for far less coin. The DataTraveler Ultimate GT is technically notable, but mode too expensive for what you get. It might exist worth considering when the price goes downwards in the future, but SSD prices volition also continue to drop.

Source: https://sea.pcmag.com/flash-drives/14866/kingston-datatraveler-ultimate-gt

Posted by: moorertholonever.blogspot.com

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