Flash drive and OTG adapter: how to choose

A flash drive is a cheap product, so people often buy one without thinking, and then two problems show up: files copy very slowly, or the drive will not connect to the phone at all. Both can be settled in advance by looking at a word or two in the name. The Dona catalogue has 9 products in the flash drive and OTG adapter section, from 12,000 to 229,000 UZS.

USB 2.0 and USB 3.0: a noticeable difference#

If the name says USB 3.0, the drive works on the newer standard and copies large files much faster. USB 2.0 is fine for documents and photos, but copying a video of several gigabytes means a long wait. The price difference is small, so the choice is simple: if you work with films, video or installation images, take a USB 3.0 model.

The cheapest options in the catalogue come in 16 GB. That is plenty for documents and presentations, but little for one long video. If the drive is for video and backups, the 128 GB version makes sense.

Connector type: USB-A or Type-C#

A classic flash drive has a USB-A connector, the wide rectangular socket on a computer or laptop. Most phones, though, have Type-C, and a USB-A drive does not plug into it directly. There are two solutions here.

The first is a flash drive with Type-C in its name. It plugs straight into the phone. The second is an OTG adapter: a small converter with Type-C on one side and USB-A on the other. With it you can connect an ordinary flash drive to a phone, and even a mouse or a keyboard will work.

Why an OTG adapter is useful#

An OTG adapter is one of the cheapest accessories, but it does several jobs. With it you can plug a flash drive into your phone and watch a video, read a card, connect a mouse or a wired keyboard, and in some cases charge another phone. If you keep a set of cables and chargers at your desk, it is handy to keep the adapter in that set: it is tiny and easy to lose.

There is one thing to watch: the adapter has to match your phone’s connector type. For a Type-C phone you need an adapter with a Type-C end. Connectors look alike from the outside, so check before you order.

About the body and shape#

A flash drive with a metal body lasts longer in a bag, while the cap on plastic models gets lost in the first week. A model with a loop can go on a key ring, and that makes it less likely to get lost. Mini flash drives bought for music in the car are made short on purpose: they do not stick out of the socket and do not get knocked and broken on the road.

Real prices (Dona, September 2026)#

Prices are taken from the app catalogue as of 11 September 2026. A seller can change a price at any time; the current price and availability are shown on the product page in the app.

• OTG adapter Bv18 — a basic OTG converter — 12,000 UZS. The cheapest option in the catalogue.
• OTG adapter Hoco UA46C — Type-C to USB-A, data transfer — 19,000 UZS.
• Flash drive Ud6 16Gb — USB-A, 16 GB — 59,000 UZS.
• Flash drive Bud4 16Gb — USB 3.0, 16 GB — 68,000 UZS.
• Flash drive Ud11 16Gb — USB 3.0, 16 GB — 72,000 UZS.
• Flash drive Ud5 16Gb — USB 3.0, 16 GB — 79,000 UZS.
• Flash drive Ud8 Type-C 32GB — plugs straight into a phone — 94,000 UZS.
• Flash drive Bud2 128Gb — 128 GB, for video and backups — 124,000 UZS.
• Flash drive UD9 Smart Mini Car Music — a mini model for a car stereo — 229,000 UZS.

If you need phone accessories in one place, cables and power devices are in the chargers section, and how to choose the wattage and number of ports is covered in the phone charger guide.

Why a flash drive is easier to buy in a live stream#

In photos every flash drive looks the same: small, black, with a connector. In a live stream the seller turns it around in their hand and you see its size, body material and connector type clearly. Most importantly, the seller can plug the drive into a phone or laptop right there and show that the system recognises it. If you type your phone model in the chat, the question of whether a Type-C drive fits or you need an OTG adapter gets settled during the sale.