PNY PRO Elite V3 Flash Drive review

PNY PRO Elite V3: 30-second review

The market for ultrafast, high-capacity USB SSD sticks is expanding, and the Netac US9 USB 3.2 Gen 2 flash drive is a prime example of what looks to be an exceptional device. With its high-quality full metal build and dual connectors (USB Type-A and Type-C), it offers wide compatibility with a range of computers and mobile devices. The drive is plug-and-play, preformatted in ExFat for compatibility with Mac, PC, Android, and iOS devices.

The design is stylish and functional, with the USB SSD being instantly recognised by all tested devices. The build quality initially seems excellent, thanks to the full metal construction that provides what seems to be a robust and high-quality feel. However, on closer inspection you'll notice that the covers that flip over the connectors although a major feature is a weak point. The cover over the USB Type-A connector is held in place by a small magnet, which generally stays secure until intentionally flipped upwards. On the other hand, the cover over the USB Type-C connector flaps around as the small magnet that's supposed to hold it in place is far to weak.

Despite this minor design flaw, the SSD's performance is undisputed. Like any of the best portable SSDs (and with this device, we really mean portable), it boasts fast transfer speeds, making it an excellent solution for anyone looking to boost their mobile or computing storage. The overall build quality is durable, although the loose USB Type-C cover is a weak point and could potentially expose the connector to damage. Nonetheless, the Netac US9 is a decent enough choice for reliable and fast storage expansion.

PNY PRO Elite V3: Pricing and availability

• How much does it cost? From £35/$32
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Sold through online retailers.

As a generalisation, the PNY PRO Elite V3 is a little cheaper in the USA than in Europe, but not substantially. American prices on Amazon.com are $31.99, $61.06 and $84.99 for the 256GB. 512GB and 1TB models, respectively.

UK pricing on Amazon.co.uk for the same capacities is £34.99, £61.19 and £86.20.

That makes it more expensive than the Kingston DataTraveler Max, but only by a few pounds or dollars. Lower-profile brands, like Integral, SSK, and Patriot, all make cheaper drives with similar specifications, but these products typically don’t offer a comparable build quality to the PNY PRO Elite V3. Not excessively priced or a bargain, this drive is pitched by PNY as a premium solution.

• Value: 3.5/5

PNY PRO Elite V3: Specs

PNY PRO Elite V3: Design

• Metal switchblade design
• Type-A blade
• Robust-ish

Looking at the prior V2 design, the V3 model appears to be no different in any substantial way.

This is a metal enclosure with a sliding section to enable the Type-A blade to be retracted, 57mm long in both positions. The transition between blade deployed and retracted is a friction-controlled motion that, when you first use the drive, seems excessively stiff. After some use, the blade came out more easily, thankfully.

On the end that doesn’t have the blade is a small cut-out notch that appears designed for a lanyard for those who wish to hang the drive around their necks, although PNY doesn’t provide this in the blister packaging that the drive comes.

While the construction of the drive appears to be exceptionally robust, mostly due to the metal construction, I did note that PNY makes zero claims for what the drive might endure physically or from the environment and I doubt it'd compete with the best rugged hard drives on that score.

I feel confident that it isn’t waterproof, though I imagine it might easily survive a drop from some considerable height since it only weighs 20g. Depending on the individual's weight and footwear, it would probably handle being stood on.

My only concern about this design is how, moving forward, USB-A ports are being left from laptops in preference for USB-C. And, PNY makes a USB-C version of this drive, but none that offers both blade types.

• Design: 4/5

PNY PRO Elite V3: Performance

Unfortunately, I couldn’t hit the quoted read speeds, although I did hit the write performance PNY claims. Real-world performance on CrystalDiskMark is probably the most accurate representation of how this drive operates, assuming the test environment supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 effectively.

To increase the speed of this drive, I activated performance mode using the policy in the device manager, but this didn’t substantially impact the benchmarks.

Some drives can get much closer to the magical 1,000MB/s read speed, but the difference is less than 10% over this model.

• Performance: 4/5

PNY PRO Elite V3: verdict

Sometimes, the simple product is the best solution, as there is less to go wrong, and it is easier to understand. And that, in a nutshell, is the PNY PRO Elite V3.

It’s a reasonable performance Gen 2 drive that seems robust and is highly pocketable.

PNY doesn’t provide software to sync files, but the storage market seems to be moving toward this.

There are faster options, like the Crucial X9 Pro, that offer 2TB and 4TB options, and that’s the other limitation here. 1TB might be on the snug side for some customers.

From a price perspective, this is about $5 more than it can justify, but it's unlikely to be rejected by accounts as an excessive overspend.

For those at PNY working on V4, this product needs to be dual USB-A and USB-C, needs to be tested for vibration and drop, and should come with a short extension cable at a premium price point.

The PNY PRO Elite V3 is a decent product but not exceptional.

Should I buy the PNY PRO Elite V3?

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