Samsung DUO Plus, BAR Plus and FIT Plus USB flash drives review
16.11.18
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USB flash drives Samsung DUO Plus (right), BAR Plus (center) and FIT Plus
All three models presented in this review, Samsung DUO Plus, BAR Plus and FIT Plus, are the latest USB flash drives in Samsung’s range.
They are supplied in similar blister packaging. There are no accessories, such as a lanyard, included.
Appearance of the packaging of the presented flash drives
Flash drives are well protected. In this case, we are not talking about data protection. Samsung DUO Plus, BAR Plus and FIT Plus are stated to be waterproof. The devices can remain operational after being in water for up to 72 hours. Resistance to falls, the ability to operate in very wide temperature ranges, and protection from magnetic and radiation influences are also indicated.
Samsung DUO Plus, BAR Plus and FIT Plus support the USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface. For reference, USB 3.1 Gen 1 is just a more modern name for the USB 3.0 interface that is familiar to many. Of course, drives with USB 2.0 interface are backward compatible. When working via USB 2.0, the maximum performance will be limited accordingly.
Let’s look at the features of each USB flash drive model separately.
Samsung DUO Plus (MUF-256DB)
Samsung DUO Plus
The Samsung DUO Plus (MUF-256DB) flash drive is medium in size. The device body is plastic. This model is available in 32, 64, 128 and 256 GB versions.
Our test presented the maximum 256 GB version of the MUF-256DB.
Samsung DUO Plus
The device consists of three parts. The central one is the USB drive itself with a USB-Type C plug. This plug is covered with a cap on one side (pictured on the left), and on the other, an adapter adapter from USB-Type C to a “standard” USB plug is “parked” in the device Type A (pictured right).
Samsung DUO Plus with a connected USB-Type C to USB-Type A adapter
The DUO prefix in the name of the Samsung DUO Plus (MUF-256DB) flash drive just means the ability to connect to both a USB-Type C port and a “regular” USB.
USB-Type C connection allows you to install a flash drive on either side
USB-Type C allows you to connect a flash drive directly not only to laptops like Apple MacBook Pro or ASUS ZenBook S, which are completely devoid of USB Type-A connectors, but also to modern smartphones and tablets (the device must support USB OTG).
By the way, the adapter adapter, in general, you can use not only with this flash drive.
To test the performance of all USB flash drives presented in the test, we used a laptop ASUS ZenBook Pro 15.
The manufacturer claims very high read speeds of up to 300 MB/s. According to the results of tests in the CrystalDiskMark application, we received a value of 272 MB / s. Yes, this is somewhat lower than stated, but very close.
Samsung DUO Plus (MUF-256DB) USB flash drive performance in CrystalDiskMark test
However, the manufacturer states on its website that “actual speed may vary depending on the host device and actual usage conditions.” We are ready to agree with this. You can also add that the speed may depend on the memory capacity of the drive in the line.
I must say that the read speed of 272 MB/s is simply an excellent result for this flash drive, taking into account the fact that it does not belong to any extreme series.
Copying a 10GB video file from this drive will take about 40 seconds or less. Of course, this is provided that your drive in the system is capable of writing data at this speed, and the DUO Plus is connected via a USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface.
But the recording speed turned out to be noticeably more modest – 79 MB/s. This is not bad, but compared to the reading speed, the figure is not impressive.
It is curious that on the official website the characteristics of Samsung DUO Plus indicate only the recording speed. Apparently not by chance.
Characteristics of Samsung DUO Plus (MUF-256DB)
| Capacity of the drive shown | 256 GB |
| Connect | USB, USB Type-C |
| Available drive capacities in the line | 32, 64, 128, 960 GB |
| Case material | Plastic |
| Interface | USB 3.1 Gen 1 |
| Dimensions | 60×18×7 mm |
| Weight | 7.7 g |
| Supplier | Samsung Representative |
| Price | The cost of the 256 GB version has not yet been specified |
Samsung BAR Plus (MUF-128BE)
Samsung BAR Plus
The main feature of the Samsung BAR Plus is its design and body materials.
Perhaps this is the most solid external flash drive that I have had the opportunity to hold in the last couple of years.
It is relatively weighty, solid and feels like a pebble or a solid block of metal in your hand. The body of the model is actually made of metal. Taking this into account, you need to be careful not to scratch other devices with this flash drive if, for example, they are in the same compartment of the bag.
Two color options are available: titanium gray, as in our test, and silver.
For review, we received a 128 GB modification of the Samsung BAR Plus (MUF-128BE). The BAR Plus line includes flash drives with capacities of 32, 64, 128 and 256 GB.
Samsung BAR Plus (MUF-128BE) USB flash drive performance in CrystalDiskMark test
In terms of operating speeds, Samsung BAR Plus turned out to be similar to Samsung DUO Plus, when the read speed is much higher than the write speed.
The values we obtained were 265 MB/s (read) and 46 MB/s (write).
Characteristics of Samsung BAR Plus (MUF-128BE)
| Capacity of the presented drive | 128 GB |
| Connection | USB |
| Available drive capacities in the line | 32, 64, 128, 256 GB |
| Case material | Metal |
| Interface | USB 3.1 Gen 1 |
| Dimensions | 15.6×40×11.7 mm |
| Weight | 10 g |
| Supplier | Samsung Representative |
| Price | $52 (128 GB) |
Samsung FIT Plus (MUF-32AB)
Samsung FIT Plus
Compared to its brothers described above, Samsung FIT Plus is noticeably more compact. In addition to the usual use for transferring and storing files, flash drives of this form factor are often used to expand the free space of a laptop or in car radios.
Samsung FIT Plus is not a record holder for miniature size; compact flash drives of smaller sizes are available on the market, but in this case speed and volume are not sacrificed.
The Samsung FIT Plus line of USB flash drives includes models with capacities of 32, 64, 128 and 256 GB.
Interestingly, our 32 GB Samsung FIT Plus (MUF-32AB) achieved a read speed of 221 MB/s, which is even higher than the manufacturer’s stated value of 200 MB/s.
Samsung FIT Plus (MUF-32AB) USB flash drive performance in CrystalDiskMark test
As in the case of DUO Plus and BAR Plus, the recording speed turned out to be noticeably more modest (34 MB/s).
Characteristics of Samsung FIT Plus (MUF-32AB)
| Capacity of the presented drive | 32 GB |
| Connection | USB |
| Available drive capacities in the line | 32, 64, 128, 256 GB |
| Case material | Plastic |
| Interface | USB 3.1 Gen 1 |
| Dimensions | 23.6×18.8×7.3 mm |
| Weight | 3.1 g |
| Supplier | Samsung Representative |
| Price | $15 (32 GB) |
Conclusions
With a huge selection of a wide variety of USB flash drives, it is sometimes not so easy to choose a quality device.
Yes, in terms of storage capacity and cost, Samsung DUO Plus, BAR Plus and FIT Plus may not look so advantageous compared to many other offers on the market, but in this case there is no doubt that you are really getting a high-quality product.
What all three devices have in common is a very high write speed with a noticeably more modest read speed.
It is also important that the devices are protected from water and are provided with a 5-year warranty.
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