Rank #3 in Best 256GB USB Flash Drives 2026: 10 Ranked by Their Own Spec Tables
Kingston DataTraveler Exodia M 256GB USB-A
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Kingston DataTraveler Exodia M 256GB is a USB 3.2 Gen 1 flash drive with a retracting connector, a loop that takes a key ring, and a listed price of £26.70. It sits third in our guide to 256GB USB flash drives and carries a 4.3 average from 27,165 ratings.
The thing worth looking at on this listing is the distance between its own two speed figures. The specification table gives 200 MB/s read and 20 MB/s write — a ten-to-one gap, printed in one table, with no headline speed in the bullets to argue with it. The colour is less tidy: the title says black and teal, the specification field says black/green, and a bullet says colour varies by capacity, which is consistent with a reviewer describing a red body. Everything on this page comes from the Amazon listing, not from testing we carried out ourselves.
How those 27,165 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.3 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £26.70 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 out of 5, from 27,165 ratings |
| Capacity | 256 GB |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB Type A |
| Read speed | 200 MB/s (as listed) |
| Write speed | 20 MB/s (as listed) |
| Connector | Retractable, per the spec field; the bullet calls it a moving cap (as listed) |
| Colour | Black/Green in the spec field, black + teal in the title (as listed) |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Worked without any issues. As is typical the read speed far exceeds write speed and is very good. This stick seems to have a relatively fast write speed compared to others that I have used although couldn't be described as fast. It's a bit chunky which could be a problem if USB ports are fitted close together. It stays cool in use.”
Verified purchase“A robust, fast speed USB 3.2 usb stick, has a very robust body and easy to use, would buy another. No cap to lose, just slide the red body down to open. I like that it has a keychain loop, but no keychain ring supplied etc.Excellent value and robust well known brand USB.”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best 256GB USB Flash Drives 2026: 10 Ranked by Their Own Spec Tables.
Questions people ask
How fast is the Kingston DataTraveler Exodia M 256GB?
The specification table in the listing gives 200 MB/s read and 20 MB/s write. Both figures come from that table; the bullets do not quote a speed at all.
Why is the write speed so much lower than the read speed?
The listing does not explain it. It simply carries 200 MB/s read and 20 MB/s write in the same specification table, a ten-to-one difference.
Does the Kingston DataTraveler Exodia M 256GB have a cap to lose?
No separate cap. One bullet describes a moving cap design that protects the USB connector, and the specification field describes a retractable connector; a reviewer describes sliding the body down to open it.
Can I put the Kingston DataTraveler Exodia M 256GB on a key ring?
Yes. The listing says the loop attaches easily to key rings, though a reviewer notes that no key ring itself is supplied.
What colour is the Kingston DataTraveler Exodia M 256GB?
The title says black and teal, the specification field says black/green, and a bullet says colour options vary by capacity.
What devices does the Kingston DataTraveler Exodia M 256GB work with?
The listing names personal computers, laptops and televisions as compatible devices, with a USB Type A connector on USB 3.2 Gen 1.
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