I reviewed this dual-connector USB drive and it’s almost perfect - but not quite

PNY Duo Link V3: 30-second review

The PNY Duo Link V3 is a fast and convenient flash storage drive that offers both USB-A and USB-C connectors, ensuring maximum compatibility for old and new digital devices and computers. The build quality is solid, with a metal exterior holding the USB flash drive on a central pivot so that the drive can be rotated to expose the connector required.

While the quality is superb, and the black finish and logo look great, I'm a little concerned that, at all times, one of those connector ends is almost always exposed to the elements; the only time it's not is when it's plugged into a machine. It's just a shame the design wasn't slightly more involved to ensure both connectors could be covered.

The build quality feels good and robust, even if one connector doesn't benefit from the full metal design. Testing on both USB-A and USB-C gave similar results, with USB 3.2 Gen 2 offering up to 10 Gbps of data transfer.

In testing, it was apparent that this small storage device was more than capable of keeping up with what was demanded of it, getting close to and, in some cases, exceeding the quoted rates. The read and write speeds through the test were closer than advertised, and performance overall was solid. For backing up data on the move and transporting large quantities of files, this small flash drive is a perfect solution.

However, whilst capacity, speed, and quality are good, when it comes to more day-to-day use, the fact that there is no protection over one of the connectors at any time means that it will limit its durability. So, if you are considering attaching it to a lanyard (of which there is a lanyard hoop integrated into the design of the body), then you will need to be careful once again of that exposed end.

While not the very best USB flash drive I've tested, the PNY Duo Link V3 is a well-made drive, although it's unfortunate that one connector is always exposed, and while it has those dual connectors that offer maximum compatibility, the design limits its use in and around the office.

If you're looking for a portable, large-capacity flash drive to use in the field, then I would look elsewhere. However, for internal use and if you need to transfer files from one location to another, then the large capacity and fast transfer speed make it a great option.

PNY Duo Link V3: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? £166 / $159
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Widely available

The PNY Duo Link V3 is widely available, with the 2 TB version that I've looked at in this review available directly from the PNY website for $159 / £166.99.

The flash drive can also be purchased from most online retailers, including Amazon.com. Alongside the 2TB version, there's also a 1TB, 512GB and 256GB, with the smallest capacity available for just $33.99.

• Value: 4.5 / 5

PNY Duo Link V3: Specs

Capacity: 256, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Connector: USB-A, USB-C
Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2
Write speed: 800M
Read speed: 1000MB/s

PNY Duo Link V3: Design

The design and build of the Duo Link V3 is a bit of a mixed bag. On the surface, it's of high quality with a full metal build, which is strong and extremely robust. The pivot mechanism to rotate the central drive to expose the USB-C or USB-A connector is well thought out, and it has a nice click-through as it rotates to expose the connector you want.

However, whilst the build quality is exceptional, it does worry me that there is no end cap for those connectors. Whilst one end will be covered to some degree by the exterior casing, the other end will always be exposed to the elements and could potentially get damaged.

Away from that one issue, there are some other nice design features, including the integrated lanyard loop, which enables you to tether into a bag or pocket. It's also a very robust flash drive and extremely flexible, with the option for both USB-A and USB-C offering maximum compatibility.

For example, if you have all of your images on your mobile phone, then it's quick and easy to plug the USB-C port into the base of your phone, download the images to the drive, and then transfer those across to your desktop, more than likely using the USB-A. No need for adapters or complex downloads.

• Design: 3.5 / 5

PNY Duo Link V3: Features

The PNY Duo Link V3 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C Duo Flash Drive is a traditional stick-like drive with a huge 2 TB capacity and dual connectors.

The drive itself is essentially encased within a slim U-shaped outer casing. This enables the drive to rotate to expose either the USB-A or USB-C connector so it can be plugged into your digital device or desktop computer.

The drive utilises the USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, which enables up to 1,000 MB/s read speed and 800 MB/s write speed, more than enough for most uses to fill out that huge 2 TB capacity. In this review, I've looked at the 2 TB version, although there are 1 TB, 512 GB, and 256 GB options as well.

One of the great things about having a dual connector is that it's compatible with mobile devices that offer data transfer through the USB-C connector (usually found at the base of the device) and also fully backwards-compatible due to the USB-A connector, with legacy devices including desktops and laptops that might feature USB 3.0 and USB 2.0.

When it comes to the design, it's good and durable as a whole, and the solid metal design feels good and robust. Otherwise, when it comes to features, the lanyard loop at one end is a nice touch, but ultimately, this is a very simple and flexible USB flash drive for use in the home or office, but the exposed connectors make it less suitable for field use.

• Features: 4 / 5

PNY Duo Link V3: Performance

In use, the small Duo Link V3 flash drive works exceptionally well with great compatibility, speed and capacity. Plugged into a Mac or laptop that only offered USB-C, the drive was instantly recognised and ready to transfer files. Data transfer is impressively quick, and in the benchmarking test on the Mac, it proved consistent at 800–900 MB/s for both read and write, ensuring all files were copied from the flash drive to my machine quickly.

Transferring over to a desktop PC that offered USB-A, once again, it was instantly recognised and connected, enabling the files from the Mac to be downloaded to the PC. Transfer rates were impressive, and again, the benchmarking tests proved exceptionally fast read and write speeds.

After using the drive to transfer video and images from the Mac back to a desktop PC, both the capacity and data transfer rate impressed, enabling only a small amount of downtime waiting for files to copy across.

Used in and around the office, the robust full metal build felt good and durable, and the fact that the flash drive was a single piece, allowing rotation to expose the connector, made it simple to use with no fuss and no connector caps to lose. This made it ideal for the office environment, where the most abuse it usually suffers is being dropped on the office floor. I gave this durability a test and dropped from a height of about a metre and a half; the drive had no issues at all, not even a scratch, and plugging it in proved that it still worked absolutely fine.

Moving over to using it in the field, once again, with the small lanyard loop integrated into the case design, it could be secured neatly into my bag. The one thing I've already mentioned that did worry me was the fact that the two connectors are exposed, which could lead to dust and other particles getting into the contacts.

During the period of this test, this wasn't an issue; I know from experience that out in the field, you cannot always guarantee cleanliness, and dust really does get everywhere, however careful you are. So, having a connector exposed does make me worry about its suitability for fieldwork.

Whilst the drive is absolutely fine and transferred images from my laptop for backup perfectly well, it's not a drive I would probably use for that function. I'd rely on something with more robustness and, most importantly, with covers for the two connectors.

However, back in the studio, I like the fact that the two connectors are exposed, and it still has that rugged, full-metal build, which gives reassurance as it's bashed around in the studio.

So, whilst I have my reservations because of the exposed connectors out in the field, within the studio, I actually see it as quite a benefit, enabling fast transfer speed, little fuss, and ultimately nothing to get lost.

Taking a look at the benchmarking tests, across the board, it did exceptionally well, meeting, and in many cases just exceeding, the quoted transfer rates for both read and write. In real-world tests, the speed of transfer seemed exceptionally good.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

PNY Duo Link V3: Final verdict

If you're looking for a USB flash drive with both USB-A and USB-C connectors, then the PNY Duo Link V3 is an absolutely ideal option. In and around the office or studio space, the large capacity, fast transfer speed, and flexibility of connection make it a great option, especially for backward compatibility. However, out in the field, I would use something with a little more protection for the connectors. Whilst performance is good and the build quality is exceptionally high, just having those connectors exposed does cause me a little concern.

In the studio or office, however, that capacity and speed really come into their own, enabling me to transfer files between machines and devices easily, with superb compatibility across mobile phones, tablets, and computers.

If you're looking for a large-capacity, fast flash drive for use in the home or office, then the PNY Duo Link V3 is an excellent option, with plenty of flexibility, capacity, and speed.

Should I buy the PNY Duo Link V3 USB drive?

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