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If you want a USB flash drive that stays close to a laptop, TV, or other host instead of sticking out like a conventional thumb drive, these five manufacturer-documented USB-A options are worth comparing. They differ in body dimensions, stated speeds, and—most importantly for a drive that may remain plugged in—how much of the drive protrudes. Verbatim is the only one of the five whose cited product page specifies protrusion: 5 mm. The others do not provide a directly comparable inserted measurement.
How to compare low-profile flash drives
“Slimmest” is a practical description here, not a strict ranking. Manufacturers list dimensions in different axis orders, and a drive’s overall length does not tell you how far it sticks out once inserted. The product specifications below are vendor claims, not results from a common independent test.
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- Check physical fit: Confirm that your host has a USB-A port and enough space around it. A neighboring port, laptop case, or TV enclosure can make a compact drive awkward to insert.
- Compare all dimensions: Read each vendor’s complete measurements rather than picking the smallest number. The order of the dimensions may vary by manufacturer.
- Match the exact capacity SKU: Some manufacturers give different read-speed claims for different capacity variants.
- Choose for the job: A drive left in a laptop or TV may benefit from minimal protrusion. For frequent large transfers, consider the claimed interface and speed, then check the specification for the exact model you plan to buy.
Five compact USB-A drives
| Drive | Manufacturer dimensions | Capacity and manufacturer-stated read speed | Protrusion or practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston DataTraveler Micro | 24.95 × 12.2 × 4.5 mm (Kingston’s listed order) | 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB; up to 200 MB/s read | Kingston describes a low-profile metal casing for plug-and-stay use. No directly comparable inserted protrusion figure is stated on the cited page. |
| Samsung FIT Plus, 64 GB / 128 GB | 23.60 × 18.80 × 7.30 mm (Samsung’s listed order) | The cited UK 64 GB page claims up to 300 MB/s read; the cited UK 128 GB page claims up to 400 MB/s read. | Standard-A connector. The read-speed claim differs between the cited capacity variants; do not apply one figure to the whole range. No directly comparable inserted protrusion figure is stated on the cited pages. |
| SanDisk Ultra Fit | 29.80 × 14.30 × 5.00 mm (SanDisk’s listed order) | 16 GB–512 GB. The cited data sheet lists up to 130 MB/s for 32–64 GB and up to 400 MB/s for 128–512 GB; it does not give those speed tiers for every capacity in the range. | USB 3.2 Gen 1. SanDisk says transfer rates vary with host and conditions. No directly comparable inserted protrusion figure is stated in the cited data sheet. |
| Verbatim Store ‘n’ Stay NANO | 17.15 × 14.85 × 7.7 mm (Verbatim’s listed order) | The cited listing is for 16 GB; up to 10 MB/s read, USB 2.0. | Verbatim says only 5 mm remains protruding when inserted into a USB-A port. Its stated read speed is substantially lower than the USB 3.x claims listed for the other products, so it is better suited to unobtrusive use than to prioritizing fast transfers. |
| Transcend JetFlash 710 | 22.4 × 12.2 × 6 mm (Transcend’s listed order) | Capacity and read speed are not stated on the cited page. | Transcend describes the small design as fitting unobtrusively into a USB port. No directly comparable inserted protrusion figure is stated on the cited page. |
Which one should you choose?
For the most clearly specified low protrusion
The Verbatim Store ‘n’ Stay NANO is the only option here with a manufacturer-stated inserted measurement: Verbatim says 5 mm remains outside a USB-A port. Its cited 16 GB listing and USB 2.0 specification, including a claimed read speed of up to 10 MB/s, make it a fit-first choice rather than a speed-focused one.
For a low-profile design with a stated higher read-speed claim
Kingston describes the DataTraveler Micro’s metal casing as suitable for plug-and-stay use and lists up to 200 MB/s read. Check the clearance around your port and the capacity SKU; the product page does not give an inserted protrusion measurement.
#1 Best Overall
- Compact plug-and-stay design to instantly add storage to your laptop, game console, in-car audio, and more
- Save time with ultra-fast transfer speeds up to 400MB/s (Based on read speed. 1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors. USB 3.0 port required.)
- Transfer a full-length movie to the drive in less than 30 seconds (Based on 1.2GB MPEG-4 video transfer with USB 3.2 Gen 1 or USB 3.0 host device.)
- Get space for your high-resolution photos, videos, and more at a great value with up to 128GB of storage (1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less.)
- Password-protect files using a downloadable software (Password protection uses 128-bit AES encryption and is supported by Windows 10+ and macOS v10.9+ (Software download required, see Password Protection page on SanDisk site).)
For capacity-specific speed claims
Samsung’s cited UK FIT Plus pages distinguish between the 64 GB and 128 GB variants: up to 300 MB/s read for the former and up to 400 MB/s for the latter. SanDisk’s Ultra Fit data sheet lists up to 130 MB/s for 32–64 GB and up to 400 MB/s for 128–512 GB. These are manufacturer-stated maximums, not comparable real-world test results, and SanDisk notes that transfer rates vary with the host and conditions.
When a small design matters more than a complete spec sheet
Transcend calls the JetFlash 710 unobtrusive in a USB port, but the cited page does not state capacity or speed. Check the exact regional listing before choosing it, especially if transfer speed or storage size is a deciding factor.
Rank #2
- A compact, plug-and-stay, high-speed USB 3.1 flash drive that’s ideal for adding more storage to laptops, game consoles, in-car audio and more
- Simple, fast way to add up to 32GB of storage to your device [1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes - Actual user storage less]
- Read speeds up to 130MB/s(1) [(1) Write to drive up to 15X faster than standard USB 2.0 drives (4MB/s); USB 3.1 Gen 1 or USB 3.0 port required. Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device; 1MB=1,000,000 bytes]
- Write up to 15X faster than standard USB 2.0 drives(1)
- Move a full-length movie to the drive in less than 30 seconds(2) [(2) Based on 1.2GB MPEG-4 video transfer with USB 3.1 Gen 1 or USB 3.0 host device; Results may vary based on host device, file attributes and other factors]
USB-C compatibility and availability
All five candidates in this comparison are USB-A-oriented. If your phone, tablet, or computer has only USB-C, these products are not direct plug-in choices; the cited sources do not establish a comparable shortlist of low-profile USB-C flash drives. A public discussion captures the kind of question buyers may have—“Has anyone ever found a USB-C flash drive that is small and low profile?”—but it is an individual discussion, not evidence of a representative trend: Reddit discussion.
Product capacities and listings can differ by region and SKU. The Samsung pages cited here are UK listings, the Verbatim page is a Europe page with the country parameter set to GB, and the other linked product pages are from their respective manufacturers. Confirm the exact model and specification where you plan to buy.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Length: 16.7mm
- Width: 12.2mm
- Thickness: 2.3mm
- Weight: 0.8g
- Capacity: 64GB
Rank #4
- 32GB STORAGE CAPACITY: Provides convenient additional storage for documents, music, photos, and other everyday files on compatible USB-enabled devices.
- USB 3.0 CONNECTIVITY: The USB-A interface supports fast file transfers between compatible computers, notebooks, car stereos, and other devices.
- LOW-PROFILE PLUG-IN DESIGN: The compact, snag-free Nano drive is small enough to remain connected to a notebook or car stereo without getting in the way.
- BROAD SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY: Works with compatible Windows, macOS, and Linux systems for flexible file storage and sharing.
- COMPACT AND RELIABLE: The dime-sized design can be removed easily when needed for file sharing and is backed by a Verbatim Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Rank #3
- USB 3.1 TECHNOLOGY: Elite-X Fit USB 3.1 Gen 1 Flash Drive, backwards compatible with USB 2.0 (USB 3.1 Gen 1 offers identical performance as USB 3.0, but under a new name)²
- ADVANCED READ SPEEDS: Amazing performance with read speeds up to 200MB/s, ideal for large files and demanding applications²
- FASTER TRANSFERS: Transfer speeds up to 10 times faster than standard PNY USB 2.0 Flash Drives²
- PLUG-AND-STAY ACROSS DEVICES: A compact, plug-and-stay flash drive that’s ideal for adding more storage to computers, in-car stereos, game consoles, and more
- ULTRA COMPACT & CONVENIENT: Micro-sized, long stay, low profile design can remain connected to host devices or maximum convenience. No need to insert and remove it after each use
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
