The appearance of Apple Files application was a before and after in terms of user experience of iPhone (iOS) and iPad (iPadOS) operating systems. Since the launch of this application, the management of files on the mobile devices of the bitten apple firm has been fully maximized, and with it pendrives, skewers, USB sticks or hard drives.

Flash drive memories, often referred to as “sticks” or pen drives, are small units only 10 centimeters long that attach to devices, equipment, and terminals to transfer or store files. So, if you want to transfer songs, series, movies, documents or business projects from your PC or Mac to your iPhone or iPad, flash drives are a very interesting and reliable alternative.

There is a wide variety of pen drives and USB flash drives for iPhone and iPad. But before you buy a USB flash drive, you should make sure it has all the features you want, especially since it has a Lightning connector in the case of the iPhone or a USB-C connector for the iPad. Also, it must be formatted correctly for it to work properly on iOS and iPadOS.

Pendrives, USB sticks and flash drives: features, format and connectors

Samsung MUF-128DB USB stick

Pen drives have different formats and connector types. In the list below, we’ll briefly explain which features of USB flash drives are best for you and what the differences are in order to ensure compatibility with your iPhone and/or iPad.

connectors

These are the different types of connectors that flash drives have:

• USB-A: It is the most common type of connector, especially among pen drives. They have a flat, rectangular surface and are compatible with all USB stick versions from USB 1.0 to USB 3.0.
• USB-B: Standard B connectors are square and not very popular. They are often seen in computer peripherals such as printers, scanners, and older game consoles or storage units.
• USB-C: It is the most modern type of connector and has an elliptical coating. Compatible with USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1 and USB 3.2 versions. This is the connector type compatible with iPad Pro models.
• Micro USB: Micro USB port connectors are designed to minimize space on devices. They are commonly found on devices such as tablets, smartphones, and game console controllers. Its configuration is USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 and above.
• Lightning-USB: Such connectors are designed specifically for Apple devices. That’s why it’s the type of connector we want for USB flash drives for iPhone and older generation iPad models.

Format

Like any computer or device, USB flash drives have their own operating system, or rather format. There are multiple types of formats for flash drives, all with their own characteristics that give USB memory a number of advantages and disadvantages.

• exFAT: ExFAT format allows you to transfer large files, it is one of the most popular pen drive formats recently. Compatible with PC and Mac.
• FAT32: USB flash drives with the FAT32 format are very versatile and are the most common format you can find among all pendrives. It is compatible with PC, Mac and Linux, but the file transfer limit is 4GB.
• NTFS: The NTFS file system was developed specifically for PC and Windows. It is a very reliable format with a fairly high file size limit.
• APFS: APFS (or Apple File System) is Apple’s solution for next-generation file systems. APFS replaces the HFS format and improves it in many ways, including the maximum file size.

Apple recommends using “single data partition” USB sticks formatted as FAT, FAT32, exFAT, or APFS. However, when you buy a pendrive, you will be able to reboot the unit and change its format very quickly and easily.

The best flash drives for iPhone and iPad

Pendrive Phone Bar

Made by Azalea, this USB stick has plenty of storage capacity and is compatible with a multitude of devices. Its capacity 250GB. There is a USB-A connector and a Lightning USB connector for iPhone that you can replace. Compatible with iOS, Android, Mac and PC. It has 40 Mbps write speed and 80 Mbps read speed.

Pendrive Phone Bar

USB flash drive for iPhone and iPad

The JSL JDTDC USB flash drive is Apple MFi certified (Made For iPhone), so you get a highly reliable product warranty. has the capacity 512GB and silver color is available. It has a USB-A connector and a Lightning USB connector. The Lightning port has a read speed of 15 Mbps and a write speed of 10 Mbps, while the USB 3.0 connector has a read speed of 80 Mbps and a write speed of 40 Mbps.

JSL JDTDC USB Flash Drive

SanDisk Ultra Dual Type-C

SanDisk is one of the most trusted manufacturers in the industry, and the 128GB SanDisk Ultra is one of the best flash drives on the market. there are versions 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256GB. It has a port for iPad Pro models as well as a USB-C type connector for Mac computers.

SanDisk Ultra Dual Type-C

Samsung MUF-128DB

The Samsung MUF-128DB USB flash drive has an interface USB3.0 and storage capacity 128GB. It has a USB-C connection, has a read speed of 400 Mbps and a write speed of 60 Mbps.

Samsung MUF-128DB

On the other hand, if you don’t want to buy a flash drive with a specific connector for your iPhone and iPad, you’ll be glad to know that you can still use your USB sticks even if they have an incompatible connector. . Of course, you will need a USB-C to USB-A adapter or a USB Lightning to USB-A adapter or the port for your flash drive’s connector. However, it is worth noting that these USB flash drive alternatives are very reliable and provide excellent value for money.

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