The Kingston DataTraveler R3.0 flash drive is a nifty device that comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities, with pricing ranging from R170 to R730.
USB 3.0 performance makes the DataTraveler R3.0 great for professional use when users need to transfer large files, while it is also well suited to personal use.
The drive supports Windows 7, Vista and XP, as well as Linux and Mac, and is backed by a five-year warranty.
Look and feel
The flash drive comes in a bright blue rubber casing, giving it a rugged feel. It also has an eyehole that can be attached to a bunch of keys. I especially liked the rubber cap, which fits snuggly over the USB connection.
The drive is fairly standard when it comes to size, measuring 70 x 22.68 x 12.4mm.
The only thing I didn't like about the design was the light, which indicates when the drive is active. The light, while small, was a bit too sparkly for my liking. Even while off, it has a glittery look, and sometimes reflected pink.
Performance and speed
Kingston says the drive can reach read speeds of up to 70MB per second and write speeds of up to 30MB per second.
Testing the DT R3.0 on a USB 3.0 input, I found the drive had a maximum write speed of 32MB per second (it was tested on the Samsung Series 7 Chronos), while it reached the stated maximum read speed of 70MB per second with ease.
When I tried the drive on a USB 2.0 port, the speeds dropped significantly, but still did not disappoint at 20MB per second for writing and 30MB per second for reading.
In a nutshell
The DataTraveler R3.0 flash drive met or exceeded Kingston's stated performance statistics. It is a great device for speedy drives. Users opting for the 64GB drive will get to share a good deal of digital content without lugging an external hard drive around.
At R730 for the 64GB version, I think the DT R3.0 is good value for money in terms of performance and capacity.
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