USB Flash Drives

Some allow up to 100,000 write/erase cycles, depending on the exact type of memory chip used, and have a 10-year shelf storage time.

USB drives with USB 2.0 support can store more data and transfer faster than much larger CD-RW and DVD-RW drives.

USB 2.0 the Hi-Speed specification has a 480 mbs upper bound on the transfer rate, but after protocol overhead, that translates to only 35 mbs effective throughput. The fastest USB 2.0 flash drives approach that speed. That is considerably slower than hard disk drives or solid state drives via a SATA interface.

USB flash units can be partitioned just like hard drives.

The memory in flash drives is commonly engineered with MLC based memory that is good for around 3,000-5,000 program-erase cycles, but some flash drives have SLC based memory that is good for around 100,000 writes.

Regardless of the endurance of the memory itself, the USB connector hardware is specified to withstand only around 1,500 insert-removal cycles.