PNY PRO Elite V3 Flash Drive review
PNY PRO Elite V3: 30-Second Review
The market for ultra-fast, high-capacity USB SSD sticks is growing, and the Netac US9 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Flash Drive is a prime example of a seemingly superior device. With its high-quality all-metal construction and dual connectors (USB Type-A and Type-C), it is widely compatible with a wide range of computers and mobile devices. The drive is plug-and-play and comes pre-formatted with ExFat for compatibility with Mac, PC, Android and iOS devices.
Sleek and functional in design, the USB SSD was immediately recognized by all test devices. The initial build quality seems to be excellent, thanks to the all-metal construction, which gives it a solid and high-quality feel. However, upon closer inspection you’ll find that while one major feature is a weak point, the cover flips over the connector. The cap on the USB Type-A connector is held in place by small magnets and usually stays secure until flipped up intentionally. On the other hand, the cap on the USB Type-C connector tends to wobble around because the little magnets used to hold it in place are too weak.
Despite this design flaw, the SSD’s performance is undisputed. like any Best Portable SSD (and by this device, we really mean portable), it boasts fast transfer speeds, making it a great solution for anyone looking to increase their mobile or computing storage capabilities. The overall build quality is durable, but the loose USB Type-C cover is a weak point that can cause damage to the connector. Still, the Netac US9 is a good enough choice for reliable and fast storage expansion.
PNY PRO Elite V3: Pricing and Availability
- how much does it cost? From £35/$32
- When will it be released? Now available
- Where can you get it? Sold through online retailers.
Overall, the PNY PRO Elite V3 is slightly cheaper in the US than in Europe, but not by much. us price amazon.com Prices for 256GB are $31.99, $61.06, and $84.99. 512GB and 1TB models respectively.
UK A Pricingmazon.co.uk Prices for the same capacity are £34.99, £61.19 and £86.20.
This makes it more expensive than the Kingston DataTraveler Max, but only by a few pounds or dollars. Low-profile brands like Integral, SSK, and Patriot all make cheaper drives with similar specs, but these products generally don’t offer the same build quality as the PNY PRO Elite V3. PNY is positioning this drive as a premium solution that isn’t overly priced, nor is it cheap.
PNY PRO Elite V3: Specifications
| Part number | P-FD1TBPROV3-GE |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 256GB. 512GB and 1TB |
| Capacity test | 1TB |
| Tested sequential performance (read/write) | 905/888MB/sec |
| connect | USB3.2 Gen 1 or Gen 2 (Type A) |
| controller | unknown |
| encryption | not applicable |
| aspect | 57 x 19 x 6 mm (WxHxD) |
| weight | 41 grams |
| power supply | USB bus power |
| Warranty | 2 years |
PNY PRO Elite V3: Design
- Metal switchblade design
- Type A blade
- Robust
Looking at the previous V2 design, the V3 model doesn’t seem to be any materially different.
This is a metal housing with a sliding part that allows the A-shaped blade to be retracted, measuring 57mm in length in both positions. The transition between blade deployment and retraction is a friction-controlled movement that seems overly stiff when you first use the drive. Thankfully, the blade comes out easier after a while of use.
There’s a small cutout on the end without the blade, which appears to be a lanyard designed for those who want to wear the drive around their neck, although PNY doesn’t include this feature in the blister packaging that comes with the drive.
While the construction of this drive seems to be unusually sturdy, mostly due to the metal construction, I did note that PNY makes zero claims about the physical or environmental effects this drive may be subjected to, and I doubt it will compete with The best rugged hard drive At this point.
I’m sure it’s not waterproof, but I imagine it could easily be dropped from a fairly high height since it only weighs 20 grams. Depending on the individual’s weight and shoes, it may be able to withstand standing.
My only concern with this design is that USB-A ports will be replaced by USB-C in laptops in the future. Also, PNY makes a USB-C version of the drive, but none offer both blade types.
PNY PRO Elite V3: Performance
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Read (MB/sec) | Write (MB/sec) |
| Aja | 992 | Chapter 941 |
| crystal disk mark | 1050.09 | 1029.87 |
| Behavior | 1010 | 986.99 |
| solid state drive | 1003.95 | 942.53 |
Unfortunately, while I did hit PNY’s claimed write performance, I couldn’t hit the quoted read speeds. Actual performance on CrystalDiskMark is probably the most accurate representation of how the drive will perform, assuming the test environment effectively supports USB 3.2 Gen 2.
To increase the speed of this drive, I activated performance mode using a policy in Device Manager, but this had no material impact on the benchmarks.
Some drives can get closer to the magic 1,000MB/s read speed, but compared to this model, the difference is less than 10%.
PNY PRO Elite V3: Verdict
Sometimes, simple products are the best solution because there are fewer opportunities for error and they are easier to understand. In a nutshell, this is the PNY PRO Elite V3.
It’s a reasonably capable Gen 2 drive that looks solid and fits nicely in your pocket.
PNY doesn’t offer software to synchronize files, but the storage market appears to be moving in that direction.
There are faster options, like the Crucial X9 Pro, available in 2TB and 4TB options, which is another limitation here. For some customers, 1TB may be appropriate.
That’s about $5 more than reasonable from a price perspective, but it’s unlikely the account will refuse to do so due to excessive overspending.
For those at PNY developing the V4, the product needs dual USB-A and USB-C, needs to be vibration and drop tested, and should come with a short extension cord at a higher price.
The PNY PRO Elite V3 is a good product, but not great.
Should I buy PNY PRO Elite V3?
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Row 0 – Cell 1 | Row 0 – Cell 2 |
| value | Well made, but not enough to justify the price | 3.5/5 |
| design | Metal construction, but no certification, no lanyard, only USB-A | 4/5 |
| Performance | It’s fast enough, but not the fastest Gen 2 drive. question | 4/5 |
| all | The price is slightly more expensive and limited by port type. | 4/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
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