Review: Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0

Unlike the Transcend JetFlash 760 we reviewed at the same time, the Kingston DataTraveler HyperX 3.0 comes with no ‘lifetime’ warranty, no software and no fanfare. It’s a plain barebones USB 3.0 flash drive with a five year warranty and a chunky build. Capacities range from 64GB ($198) to 256GB ($882) – we tested the 64GB version.

That chunkiness factors in a rubberised cover that offers more protection than a plain drive, but it still seems larger than it needs to be. The cap only slots onto the USB socket one way, and has no way to keep it with the flash drive, if you’re the sort who is prone to losing USB flash drive lids. Having said that, it’s solid and has a nice wide keyring attachment and comes with a keyring loop.

But where the HyperX stands out is its performance. We achieved average write speeds for movie files and large files of 100Mbytes/sec, with read speeds at a very tasty 156Mbyte/sec. For small files, the Kingston HyperX was more pedestrian, rating very similarly to the Transcend Jetflash 760 with 2.5Mbyte/sec write and 6Mbyte/sec read. For someone lugging around large files for large-scale graphics or video work, the performance is excellent.

The price is steep, it must be said, but when you look at the performance compared to an equivalently-sized USB 2.0 gadget or even an external USB 3.0 hard drive, it’s quite reasonably priced for the immense ruggedness you get. If you’re after a keyring companion with serious data-transfer chops, this is your new best friend.