Transcend has been a pioneer in the field of flash drives, and we’d like to introduce you to their JetFlash 890S.
The JetFlash 890S is a special OTG (On-The-Go) flash drive with a USB 3.0/3.1 connector on one end and a reversible USB Type-C connector on the other. This is particularly useful now that the USB Type-C port is no longer exclusive to premium phones and is becoming more of a standard, especially with Samsung including it in their latest flagship phones.
Both connectors on the JetFlash 890S are designed to provide high-speed transfers. Transcend claims read speeds of up to 90 MB per second, and in our tests, the 890S consistently performed around the 80 MB per second mark. We tested the flash drive on both Windows laptops and MacBooks, and it was detected quickly with good speeds. The USB 3.1’s 1st generation implementation seems to be good here.
Using the device with PCs, laptops, or Macs requires no additional software installation. However, Transcend has developed the Elite App (free) for using the flash drive with smartphones and tablets via USB Type-C ports. The app also includes an option to encrypt files using a 256-bit standard, which is useful in case of device loss. We tested the flash drive on phones like the Redmi Note 3 (with an adapter), OnePlus 3, Gionee S6, and LeEco Le 2, and it worked seamlessly. The 64GB variant we tested had around 58.8GB of usable space. There are also 16GB and 32GB variants available.
One of the standout features of the 890S is its dust-proof and water splashproof design. This is a useful addition, as these tiny flash drives can easily be dropped into water or exposed to dust during everyday use. The small cap fits on both ends, covering the USB end while using the OTG interface, which also prevents the cap from getting lost.
While the 890S has many strengths, there are some drawbacks too. The build quality is mediocre at best, and after just a week or two of normal use, we noticed signs of the inner plastic build getting shaky, raising concerns about its durability. This is something that Transcend should’ve taken care of, especially for the price that one pays for it, coming at 3500 INR (64GB).
In summary, the transfer speeds are good, and with dust and water splashproofing, the 890S is a good offering for functionality but the build could’ve been better. The price is certainly steep but in the transition phase, companies would make most of the money. Coming at just 3 grams, if you’re willing to pay the price and take care of it, the JetFlash 890S could be a reliable companion.
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