Kingston DataTraveler microDuo – Hardware Review
Recently we reviewed a DataTraveler from Kingston that was exceptionally fast. Now we’re looking at one that’s versatile. It’s a USB Flash Drive with both a normal USB2.0 interface as well as a Micro USB one. What does that mean? You can use it with a bunch of mobile devices!
Most smartphones and tablets now have a Micro USB slot. Kingston was quick to discover how they could help out mobile users as we all get out of storage on our devices fairly quickly. For the microDuo to work on those devices, they’ll have to support USB On-The-Go though. There’s a compatibility list you should look at before buying at Kingston’s website.
- Capacities: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB
- Interface: USB 2.0
- Dimensions: 27.63mm x 16.46mm x 8.56mm
- Operating temperature: 0°C to 60°C
- Storage temperature: -20°C to 85°C
- Warranty/support: 5-year warranty with free technical support
- Compatibility: Windows® 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista®, Windows RT, Mac OS X v.10.6.x+, Linux v.2.6+
We benchmarked the drive (8gb version) and it came out pretty well. It scored well above our generic flash drives and read speeds even get close to Kingston’s other drive, the DTR30G2, while still maintaining a decent write speed. It should be noted that when using the Micro USB interface, the drive will be considerably slower and speeds will depend on the device itself.
Another great thing about the drive is its form factor. It’s small so it is convenient and it’ll allow you to store it anywhere you like, be it on your key ring or in your pocket. The micro USB side is covered by a rotatable cap. The other side however is not protected at all which could be a problem on the long-haul as dirt might stack up or it might get damaged.
What we like
- Decent speeds.
- Small form-factor.
- Feels solid.
- Great rotatable cap system.
- Compatible with OTG supporting mobile devices.
What we don’t like
- Normal USB2.0 side not protected.
- Limited compatibility with mobile devices (no iOS, limited Android-support).
- No USB3.0.
Conclusion
The Kingston DataTraveler can be a great solution for people that have a need for extra storage on their mobile devices or just want easy data transfers. However you should check out the compatibility list before buying!
Kingston DataTraveler microDuo - Hardware Review,
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