PNY Duo Link V3 USB flash drive review

PNY offers a wide range of regular USB flash drives, but the Duo Link V3 conforms to the USB OTG (On-The-Go) specification, meaning it can be connected to a range of devices, including Windows and Mac computers, along with Apple or Android tablets and phones. To further enhance the drive's compatibility, it features a Type C plug on one end, and a classic Type A connector at the other - no annoying adaptors required.

Read more: The best USB flash drives and memory sticks

Features

Unusually for a flash drive, the exterior of the Duo Link V3 is metal, giving it a reassuringly weighty feel, as well as the impression that it could withstand daily abuse. Simply rotate the main body of the drive within the outer shell to switch between the Type A and Type C USB plugs; the drive neatly snaps into place when either of the plugs is in line with the outer shell to prevent unintentional rotation . It's a clever solution that avoids the need for a separate plug adaptor, but the downside is one plug will always be exposed and vulnerable when you're transporting the drive.

The Duo Link V3 is available in four storage capacities: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. All are claimed to be capable of up to 1000MB/s read and 800MB/s write speeds over a USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection. I'm testing the 1TB capacity, but the other capacities are rated with the same maximum transfer speeds, so you shouldn't need to sacrifice any speed if you choose one of the lower capacities.

Performance

I tested the Duo Link V3 in a Windows desktop PC using its USB-A connector, along with a Windows laptop and my Android phone, each connected via the drive's USB-C plug. In all three use cases the drive was recognised by each device without issue and performed flawlessly. I used the Windows laptop for my performance tests, as its USB4 connection is more than fast enough to max out the speed of the Duo Link V3, ensuring no hardware bottlenecks.

I used the CrystalDiskMark storage benchmarking app to test the outright speed of the Duo Link V3. PNY claims up to 1000MB/s read and 800MB/s write speed - my results were even better, especially for write speed:

Storage benchmarks are all well and good, but to determine the real-world performance you're likely to get when using the drive to read and write files, I took a single large video file, as well as a folder full of small images, and moved both to and from the drive to see what sort of read and write speeds you can expect during typical use:

Moving multiple small files will always take a little longer than a single file of the same total size, so reduced transfer speeds are usually inevitable. But PNY has managed to keep read and write speeds consistently fast, regardless of the size and quantity of files being transferred.

Verdict

A flash drive is a simple device that only really needs to fulfil three basic requirements: it should be easy to use, perform well, and be built to last. The PNY Duo Link V3 excels in all three categories. Its integrated Type A and Type C USB connectors ensure wide, effortless compatibility with a variety of devices, as does its USB OTG interface. In my testing the drive also proved to be impressively fast, regardless of the type of files being transferred. Finally, the metal enclosure adds a touch a class and should help protect the drive for years of use. Considering that this is also one of the less expensive flash drives available when compared to rival drives of equivalent capacities, I've got no hesitation in recommending the PNY Duo Link V3.