The $5 flash drive is still the most useful thing in my tech drawer, and no SSD changes that

Flash drives remain highly practical for everyday tasks despite the rise of SSDs and HDDs. Key advantages include low cost (often under $5–20), universal plug-and-play compatibility without cables or adapters, and suitability for common use cases like file transfers, bootable media creation, firmware updates, and even acting as a cheap NAS. While flash drives are slower and less reliable than SSDs or HDDs, they outlast their reputation — some decade-old drives still work fine. For tasks where speed and long-term reliability aren't critical, flash drives offer a cost-effective and convenient alternative that SSDs simply can't match on price or portability.