USB flash drives are not yet obsolete, but they are becoming less suitable for many modern storage needs as files grow larger and newer hardware demands faster transfers. Portable SSDs offer far greater capacity, speed and durability, making them a better fit for IT work, creative projects, backups and high-resolution video, though flash drives remain useful for simple, small-file transfers.

Most flash drives commonly top out at around 128GB, while portable SSDs often provide 1TB or more and support both USB-A and USB-C connections through cables. However, steep SSD price rises linked to demand for data-centre storage and memory may extend flash drives’ appeal: the article cites a 4TB Samsung 990 Pro rising from $318 in November 2025 to about $1,100, while flash-drive prices have increased more slowly.