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Amazon Basics

Amazon Basics 256 GB Ultra Fast USB 3.1 Flash Drive

USB Flash Drive

4.6/ 5 on Amazon33,600Amazon ratings1,000+bought last month2.7ProductDome score

Better rated than 68%
More reviewed than 79%

Limited evidenceUpdated 8 days agoAmazon data + ProductDome analysis · methodology

Best forYou want cheap, high-capacity storage for photos and video and do not mind reformatting for large files

A dependable, inexpensive way to add 256GB of portable storage, with the caveat that you will want to reformat it before moving large video files.

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Sizes Available

128 GB256 GB

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ProductDome scorecard

How it ranks among the 19 usb flash drives we track

2.7/ 5ProductDome scoreLimited evidence

Owner satisfaction · 56% of scorecategory median 4.5★4.6

4.6★ across 33,600 Amazon ratings, Bayesian-smoothed toward the category average.

Evidence strength · 17% of scorecategory median 6,633 ratings5.0

33,600 Amazon ratings, weighted on a log scale so huge counts don't drown everything.

Buyer demand · 11% of score4.1

1,000+ bought on Amazon last month.

Data quality · 11% of score2.5

Brand identity, imagery, description and spec coverage.

The ProductDome score is separate from the Amazon rating shown above: it combines the Bayesian-smoothed Amazon rating with evidence volume, tracked demand, and data quality across the 19 usb flash drives we track - how the scorecard works · full usb flash drives data report. Confidence: limited - incomplete product information.Updated 8 days ago. Data-computed, not a hands-on test. Compiled by the ProductDome Research Team.

Overview

A 256GB USB 3.1 flash drive with a retractable, keyhole design for clipping to a keychain or bag. Built for shuttling photos, video and music between computers, rated at up to 130MB/s read speed on a USB 3.0 or 3.1 port.

The listed usable capacity of over 230GB reflects normal formatting overhead, not a defect. It ships formatted FAT32, which reads and writes on both Windows and Mac but caps any single file at 4GB until you reformat to exFAT or NTFS. There is no activity light, so nothing blinks to confirm a transfer finished.

256GB capacity, USB 3.1 Gen 1
Up to 130MB/s read speed
Retractable, keyhole-ready design
Backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports

Who it's for

Fits anyone who wants a large, pocketable step up from a phone's storage for backing up photos and video. Not the pick for someone who plans to copy files over 4GB right out of the box, since that needs a reformat first.

Strengths and trade-offs

Drawn from this product's published specifications.

What stands out

Retractable design protects the connector when not in use
256GB holds roughly 64,000 photos or over 16 hours of 1080p video
Keyhole loop lets it clip onto a keychain or bag

What to check first

Ships FAT32, which caps single files at 4GB until reformatted
No LED to confirm a transfer is in progress
Write speed (30MB/s) trails read speed by a wide margin

Performance notes

Rated speeds of 130MB/s read and 30MB/s write apply only on a USB 3.0 or 3.1 port; on an older USB 2.0 port it still works but drops to that standard's slower ceiling. Real-world speed also shifts with file size and the host device.

Specifications

Brand	Amazon Basics

How it compares

This product against the closest alternatives we track in usb flash drives.

Product	Amazon rating	Ratings	ProductDome score
Amazon Basics 256 GB Ultra Fast USB 3.1 Flash DriveThis product	4.6 / 5	33,600	2.7 / 5
PNY 128GB Turbo Attaché 3 USB 3.0 Flash Drive 2-PackPNY	4.6 / 5	4,675	4.7 / 5
Samsung Type-C USB Flash Drive 256GBSamsung	4.5 / 5	17,700	4.7 / 5
SanDisk 64GB Ultra Dual Drive Go USB Type-C Flash DriveSanDisk	4.6 / 5	15,000	4.6 / 5
USB Flash Drive 32GBMaspen	4.5 / 5	4,670	4.6 / 5

Frequently asked

Questions about the Amazon Basics usb flash drives

Common buyer questions answered straight from the product spec data - no fluff, no "it depends".

Does the Amazon Basics 256GB flash drive work with a USB 2.0 port?

Yes, it is backward compatible with USB 2.0 ports, though transfer speed drops to that standard's lower ceiling instead of the rated 130MB/s.

Why does this drive show less than 256GB of usable space?

Operating systems report storage using a different measurement standard than the label, and the manufacturer states available capacity runs above 230GB, which is normal.

Can I copy a large video file straight onto this drive?

Only up to 4GB per file out of the box, since it ships formatted in FAT32; for larger files, reformat it to exFAT or NTFS first.