The versatility and convenience of a USB On-The-Go or USB OTG have allowed it to be a vital tool for our "new normal" life. Since we have gone from face-to-face to virtual activities, almost all data and information are being exchanged online, most often using our smartphones.
Hence, we have developed a stronger need for data storage that can be used with our mobile devices, and that is exactly what a USB OTG does. To help you purchase the best USB OTG that would work for your device, we curated a recommendation list and a buying guide for you!
Quick List - Top USB OTGs
SanDisk
Turn Your Smartphone Into an Entertainment Device With Just One Plug
Kingston
Speed and Compatibility in a Traveler-Friendly USB OTG
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Needless to say, it is important to identify which type of USB OTG you will purchase by checking which one your phone can support. You wouldn’t like to buy one that won’t fit your phone’s charging port!
Micro USB is almost considered the universal type since it’s compatible with most smartphones, external power banks, portable speakers, digital cameras, and Bluetooth earphones. You can easily identify it by its 5-pin design and black receptacle. Most OTG flash drives also come in the micro USB type, so you have more options if your phone supports this type.
The newest laptops, smartphones, and tablets support this type of USB. The USB-C or Type C features a symmetrical and reversible appearance that allows users to plug it in both directions. You wouldn't have to worry about your device's orientation anymore, and you can skip that constant flipping of your USB just to ensure that you're plugging the right side.
This type is not designed to be compatible with other devices aside from Apple ones. So if you’re an Apple device user running out of storage on your iPhone, there are also wide variations of lightning-based USB OTGs that can provide extra storage for your iPhone and other Apple gadgets.
There are two types of USB standards that are commonly available on the market, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. You can distinguish the two from one another in terms of speed. The type of files you are planning to transfer should also determine which of the two types you should get.
USB 2.0 can offer a transfer rate of 60 megabits of data per second. In comparison, USB 3.0 can transfer 640 megabits of data per second, making it relatively faster than the former. If you’re aiming to transfer small documents between your phone and your computer, then a USB 3.0 won’t differ much from a USB 2.0.
The speed of your USB OTG would also depend on the device you are using, as well as the bus type and USB ports to which you will attach it. However, remember that opting for a USB OTG with a better transfer speed means a more costly choice.
Another important thing to consider when purchasing a USB OTG is its storage capacity. The storage capacity will determine the number of files you can store. Your storage needs would depend on the type of files that you intend to save or transfer from and to the OTG flash drive.
If you are a student, a USB OTG with at least 4GB would be good enough to back up all of your documents, and you would still have a bit of space for some music and small video files. This would also work well for people who are just planning to make their USB OTG some sort of document keeper.
However, if you’re looking for something that can store a massive amount of files and videos, you might want to go for a sizable USB OTG. One with 64GB would be able to keep a few feature-length films and thousand document files.
USB OTGs come in different shapes and sizes; there are tiny ones that you can easily put in your pocket, while there are ones that can be as big as a pen. Some come with chains, allowing you to hang them with your keys, while others come with a removable cap. There are also swivel types with no cap and chains; you just have to turn them to use.
With the wide array of USB OTGs available online, there would surely be one to fit your preference. And in terms of size, it would be the best choice to select a USB OTG that is small enough for you to carry around but not too small to the point that you can easily misplace it.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SanDisk Ultra Dual USB 3.0 |SDDD2-128G-GAM46 | ![]() | Turn Your Smartphone Into an Entertainment Device With Just One Plug | |
2 | SanDisk iXpand Flip|SDIX90N-064G-GN6NN | ![]() | Provides Extra Storage for Apple Device Users | |
3 | Kingston DataTraveler MicroDuo 3C USB Flash Drive|DTDUO3C/64GB | ![]() | Speed and Compatibility in a Traveler-Friendly USB OTG | |
4 | Strontium Nitro|SR32GBBOTG2Y | ![]() | A Compact, Trusty, and Inexpensive Choice Best for Students | |
5 | SanDisk Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C | ![]() | Sleek Flash Drive That Permits Fast Data Transfers for Your USB-C Ports | |
6 | SanDisk Ultra 32GB OTG|SDDD3-032G | ![]() | Free Up Memory on Your Phone With This Reliable yet Affordable USB OTG | |
7 | HP x5600c | ![]() | Get Up to 200MB/S Transfer Speed With This Memory Stick | |
8 | Verbatim OTG USB 3.2 Gen1 | ![]() | Free Up Some Space in Your New Smartphone With This Type C USB OTG | |
9 | 4 in 1 USB Flash Drive | ![]() | The USB OTG for All Kinds of Devices | |
10 | Pendrive USB | ![]() | On-the-Go Memory Stick for Android and Apple Devices |
Looking for something you can use to transfer your massive PC files to your mobile? This very sturdy USB OTG might just carry out that task for you. You can transfer movies, audiobooks, and other large files in no time to your smartphone and turn it into an on-the-go entertainment device. Its transfer speed ranges up to 150mb/s.
Although this device also has the sliding mechanism that not a lot of people prefer, what makes this different is that it has a little lever that you can use to slide either end of the drive. With that, it will lock it into place nicely, allowing you not to worry about the other end retracting back into the housing when plugged into a port.
If you're an iPhone user looking for a way to transfer your mobile files to your PC and other devices, we have something for you. With the Apple device's port being lightning in type, finding a memory stick that will work with your phone could be challenging, but this USB OTG is made to cater to Apple device users.
To use it, you must download its companion app, SanDisk iXpand Drive, which can make it easier for you to back up, transfer, and manage photos, videos, and files between your iPhone, iPad, and computers. It also includes encryption software that will let you password-protect files. This way, you can make sure your important files are secured!
This Type C USB OTG really lives up to its name ‘Data Traveler’ because with its small size, you can practically bring it anywhere with you. It also comes with an attached protective cap, so fret not about misplacing those teeny tiny caps that keep your USB OTGs clean and safe.
Performance-wise, it can carry out at a maximum of 100 MB/s read speed and around 15MB/s on the write speed. And unlike some USB OTG drives, this device is not limited to Windows and MAC OS. It is also compatible with Linux (v. 2.6.x+) operating systems.
This drive makes it a good pick for students because it's a low-cost option with a decent transfer speed. When tested on a 3.1 port, it appears to have a read speed of 99MB/s and a write speed of 27MB/s. Several reviewers also shared their good experiences with this product. Some said that copying data as big as 27GB could only take 15 to 20 minutes.
Design- and size-wise, it is small and easy to carry around without the fear of losing it. It is all thanks to the protective cap and metallic chain that comes along with it. The only thing that some buyers pointed out is that it tends to heat up, which can be common for drives made of metal since the material loses and gains heat faster than other types.
With this drive, you can expect a speed performance of up to 150MB/s when plugged into a USB 3.1 compatible device. And when used hand in hand with the SanDisk Memory Zone App, it allows you to easily manage your files. It will enable you to access and back up all the files from your smartphone’s memory in one location.
The app that comes with this device can also automatically move files from your mobile device to your USB OTG to free up your phone storage. And in terms of speed, this USB OTG can manage a reading speed of 150MB/s when it comes to single large files and a sustained write speed of 20MB/s.
If you’re looking for a highly functional but affordable option, this USB OTG is suited for you. Despite being very small and relatively cheap, it possesses a USB 3.0 standard, allowing ultra-fast transfers between your devices. It can really live up to its 130MB/s read speed when it comes to small files, given that it’s plugged in a USB 3.0 standard.
On actual video tests conducted by some reviewers of this product, it was also shown that when it comes to transferring a single large file, this device has a write speed of 8-11 MB/s and a read speed of 80-90MB/s. The only downside is its sliding mechanism which may have difficulty sliding seamlessly at times.
Besides providing extended storage of 64GB for your Type C Android smartphones and tablets, this USB OTG can offer you up to 200MB/s read performance. With that said, you can easily access its content, whether it's a backup file or a clip you want to watch on the go using your phone!
This on-the-go flash drive uses a 3.2 Gen 1 standard that is said to be at least 10 times faster than USB 2.0. Thus, using this, you can expect a faster performance compared to other devices. Plus, it is a suitable option for those who use recent smartphone models, as the latest smartphone models have a Type C port.
Newer smartphones and tablets have Type C ports, so this USB OTG is the perfect pick if you own a more recent device. It possesses both USB-A and Type-C USB that can allow you to transfer files and other content between your computer and smartphone.
You can use it to backup files from your phone or tablet to give more space to new photos, videos, or applications. It is also an excellent pick for those notorious for constantly losing their USB caps, as this USB OTG is housed in a compact metal with a swivel design.
This device does not just support three types of USB - it supports four! It has the standard USB A that usual flash drives have, a Type C compatible with the newer smartphones and tablets, a Lightning type for Apple devices, and a micro USB that is compatible with most gadgets.
With this one, even if you have devices with different ports from another, you wouldn’t have to stress over getting different USB OTG for each. Moreover, this USB OTG has a decent write speed of 8-20MB/S for its affordable cost.
If you own an iPhone and an Android device and you are wondering if there is a single USB OTG that will work with both of your devices - the answer is yes! Unlike most USB OTGs, which offer only another type of connector apart from the standard USB A, this one has a micro USB and a lightning connector.
Because of that, it allows you to transfer files between your Apple and Android devices quickly. Moreover, you will love that this device is equipped with USB3.0, which means it promises a fast transfer speed. Several reviewers also say it does its job well despite its affordable price!
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Navigate through Settings, go to "Connected devices," and enable OTG. Usually, when you plug a USB OTG into your device, an alert will also pop up asking you if you want to turn on OTG, so you can simply click this to be directed. To see OTG files, you can go to your phone's file manager, and you should see your USB OTG storage there, along with your phone storage and memory card.
Simply access the settings menu of your Android device and go to storage. After that, select Format USB OTG. Another way to do this is by going to your file manager and selecting your USB OTG, then managing its settings.
USB OTG cannot work if your mobile device does not support the OTG feature. It could also be because the OTG setting is simply not turned on. And like other USB sticks, you can check as well if it's properly plugged.
Now that you’re about to get your hands on your new USB OTG that you will use for your smartphone, enhance the on-the-go experience by getting products that will help increase your convenience level. Read our other articles below to get the best ones!
Author: R. Victoriano
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: SanDisk|Ultra Dual USB 3.0 |SDDD2-128G-GAM46
No. 2: SanDisk|iXpand Flip|SDIX90N-064G-GN6NN
No. 3: Kingston|DataTraveler MicroDuo 3C USB Flash Drive|DTDUO3C/64GB
No. 4: Strontium|Nitro|SR32GBBOTG2Y
No. 5: SanDisk|Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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