Samsung BAR Plus 64GB Review: Fast Reads, Slower Writes

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Samsung BAR Plus 64GB Worth It?

Quick to read and tough enough for a key ring, the BAR Plus saves its speed for opening files, not saving them. Samsung quotes reads of up to 300MB/s, but writes are much slower, so copying a big video folder onto it still takes a while, and the metal body gets warm during long transfers. For documents, music, photo backups and a bootable installer carried on your keys, it is an easy pick.

NoFussDeal rates the Samsung BAR Plus 64GB 4.7 out of 5 at $13.99. Last updated September 27, 2026.

Key Facts

Color: Silver
Connectivity Technology: USB
Read Speed: 300 Megabytes Per Second
Model Name: BAR Plus
Hardware Connectivity Technology: USB Type A

What Stands Out

Read speeds of up to 300MB/s over USB 3.1, according to Samsung.
Backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports.
Metal casing with a key ring loop to help prevent loss.
Samsung rates it waterproof, shockproof, magnet proof, temperature proof and X-ray proof.
Operating temperature of 0 to 60 degrees Celsius.
Built on Samsung's V-NAND flash memory.

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

Fast reads for opening files, playing media and running software.
Solid metal casing that survives bags and key rings.
Slim body that does not block the neighbouring port.
Samsung rates it waterproof, shockproof, magnet proof and X-ray proof.
Backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0.
Good for bootable installers and persistent OS setups.

What does not

Writes are much slower than reads, so large copies take time.
Gets warm to hot during long transfers, which can slow them.
Full speed needs a USB 3 port; USB 2.0 is far slower.
No cap, so the plug is exposed on a key ring.
USB-A only, so USB-C laptops need an adapter.

Features in Depth

Read Speed and the Write-Speed Catch

Read Speed Up to 300MB/s Interface USB 3.1 Capacity 64GB

Samsung quotes read speeds of up to 300MB/s over USB 3.1, and in everyday use reading is where the drive shines: files open quickly, media plays straight from it and software run from the drive responds well. One owner moved frequently used apps onto it to speed up an ageing office computer and found them launching noticeably faster. Writing is much slower. That is typical of compact flash drives, which put their effort into reads, and it shows up when copying large files onto the drive: one owner who benchmarked three units found consistent results but writes well below reads, and another found that copying a large batch of files took an hour or more. For documents, photos, music and backups of modest size it hardly matters. For regularly moving large video projects, it is the main limitation.

$13.99 4.7/5 Check price

Metal Body and Key Ring Design

Casing Metal Colour Champagne silver Attachment Key ring loop

The BAR Plus uses a rugged metal casing with a loop for a key ring, and build quality is one of its most praised points. It feels solid rather than plasticky, it shrugs off being carried in a bag, and the raised end near the loop gives something to grip when pulling it out. The body is only as wide as the USB plug, so it will not crowd the port beside it, though it is a little longer than the tiny drives designed to stay plugged in permanently. There is no cap, so the plug is exposed on a key ring; one owner added a simple rubber cover to keep dust and dents away. The champagne silver finish is a subtle, professional look.

$13.99 4.7/5 Check price

Toughness Ratings and Heat

Operating Temperature 0 to 60°C Protection Water, shock, magnet, temperature, X-ray Memory Samsung V-NAND

Samsung rates the BAR Plus as waterproof, shockproof, magnet proof, temperature proof and X-ray proof, and lists an operating temperature of 0 to 60 degrees Celsius. Those ratings are about data surviving everyday accidents, such as a trip through the wash in a pocket, an airport scanner or a drop onto a hard floor. Durability is still mixed overall, as with any small drive that lives on a key ring. Heat is the other practical point. The metal body conducts heat, and during long transfers it gets warm and, for some owners, hot to the touch, with one noticing transfers slow down as it warms. Letting the drive cool between very long copy jobs keeps it working at its best, and it should always be dried completely before use if it has got wet.

$13.99 4.7/5 Check price

Compatibility and Everyday Uses

Plug USB Type-A Backwards Compatible USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 Model MUF-64BE3/AM

The drive has a standard USB Type-A plug and is backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0. On a USB 2.0 port it works, but only at that port's much lower speed, so the quoted 300MB/s needs a USB 3 port. Computers with only USB-C ports need an adapter or hub. The drive works with both Windows PCs and Macs, and it is well suited to jobs where fast reads matter most: carrying documents and presentations between computers, storing a music library, backing up photos, and holding a bootable installer or a persistent Linux system, which one owner uses it for and finds quick at boot. Treat it as a way to carry files rather than the only copy of anything important, and eject it before unplugging.

$13.99 4.7/5 Check price

How We Scored It

Based on: The manufacturer's published specifications and the product's live Amazon listing.
Owner rating: 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon, recorded September 27, 2026
How we score: We score each thing that comes up most in owner feedback on the SAMSUNG BAR Plus 64GB. Eight things come up most in owner feedback: six draw praise and two split opinion. Its ratings average 4.7 stars (83% five stars, 11% four, 3% three and 3% one or two), so every score starts at 94, that average on a 100 point scale. Where opinion is split, we take off 6. Where it draws mostly complaints, we take off 12. Then we read seven owner reviews in full (every one we found gave it four or five stars) and move the score up to 5 points either way depending on how the owners who mention it rated the product. Our overall score starts from the same 4.7 star average and loses 0.1 for each thing that draws mostly complaints, with 0.1 more when at least a tenth of ratings are one star, never more than 0.3 in all. Nothing comes off here, so it stays at 4.7. Read our editorial standards

Performance

Two of the seven owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 98: we started at 94 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive, capped at 98, the highest any score goes.

98Positive

Speed

Samsung lists the read speed as 300 Megabytes Per Second. Five of the seven owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 98: we started at 94 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive, capped at 98, the highest any score goes.

98Positive

Storage Capacity

Four of the seven owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 98: we started at 94 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive, capped at 98, the highest any score goes.

98Positive

Size

Five of the seven owner reviews we read mention it. All of them gave the product four or five stars. Score 98: we started at 94 and added 5 because the owner reviews that mention it are positive, capped at 98, the highest any score goes.

98Positive

Reliability

Two of the seven owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 6% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 88: we started at 94 and took off 6 because opinio…

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88Mixed

Durability

Read the full note (411 characters)

88Mixed

Owner Satisfaction

83% of ratings are five stars and 11% are four. 3% are three stars and 3% are one or two. Very few ratings land that low. Score 94: its 4.7 star average on a 100 point scale.

94Positive

Value for Money

98Positive

Specifications

Materials and warranty

Color: Silver

Performance

Read Speed: 300 Megabytes Per Second

Other specifications

Connectivity Technology: USB
Model Name: BAR Plus
Hardware Connectivity Technology: USB Type A

What Buyers Say

Performance, speed, storage capacity, size, build quality and value all draw strong praise: it reads quickly, feels solid, leaves neighbouring ports free and hangs easily on a key ring. Reliability and durability are more mixed, and the specific complaints are about writing rather than reading: large transfers onto the drive can be slow, and the metal body gets warm to hot during long copies, which can slow them further.

Based on 13,955 Amazon customer ratings, averaging 4.7 out of 5, recorded 27 September 2026. See the reviews on Amazon

5 stars		83%
4 stars		11%
3 stars		3%
2 stars		1%
1 stars		2%

★★★★★

I tried something different ... and it worked!

At my dinky little, non-air conditioned office in a small West Virginia town, we use very slow Mac Minis from 2012. Their hard drives are notoriously slow with abysmal transfer speeds. And, … Read it on Amazon

Nick Vendura · July 25, 2020 · Verified

★★★★★

Fast for the price, great form factor for key ring, consistent performance across multiple units, stylish - see DiskMark results

Bought three of these Samsung BAR plus in 64GB, two for key chain use, one to have handy on my desk. Made sure Amazon was the seller to help avoid any risk of non-genuine Samsung parts. Just… Read it on Amazon

Robbster · July 3, 2018 · Verified

★★★★★

Super Fast and Reliable USB Drive

I’ve been using the SAMSUNG BAR Plus 64GB USB 3.1 flash drive for a few weeks now, and I’m genuinely impressed. The transfer speeds are amazing, moving large files is effortless, and I no lo… Read it on Amazon

Savio DSouza · April 3, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Very fast and work well.

These drives are very fast and work well. I bought some cheaper flash drives with lower specifications. These wrote at an average of 30 MB/s while the cheaper ones were 4 or below, and often… Read it on Amazon

TechnoBob · March 16, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Works great for persistent OS installs!

Works great for persistent OS installs! Solid physical case full metal very nice. Expected speeds are met and if not exceeded in some situations. Very easy to use and mount and has great fil… Read it on Amazon

Jamal Thompson 3rd · June 28, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Setting It Up

Use a USB 3 port

Plug the drive into a USB 3.0 or later port for full read speed. It works on USB 2.0, but much more slowly.
Add an adapter if needed

If your laptop only has USB-C ports, use a USB-C to USB-A adapter or hub.
Check the format

Before storing files, check the drive's format suits your computers, and reformat it if you need to, bearing in mind that reformatting erases everything on it.
Copy large files in batches

For big transfers, allow time for the slower write speed and let the drive cool between very long copy jobs.
Eject before unplugging

Always eject the drive in your operating system before pulling it out to avoid corrupting files.

Common Questions

How fast is the Samsung BAR Plus 64GB?

Samsung quotes read speeds of up to 300MB/s over USB 3.1. Write speeds are much slower, so copying large files onto the drive takes considerably longer than reading them back.

Does it work in a USB 2.0 port?

Yes. It is backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, but on a USB 2.0 port it runs at that port's much lower speed.

Will it plug into a USB-C laptop?

Not directly. It has a USB Type-A plug, so a laptop with only USB-C ports needs an adapter or hub.

Is the BAR Plus waterproof?

Samsung rates it waterproof, shockproof, magnet proof, temperature proof and X-ray proof. Dry it completely before plugging it in after it gets wet.

Does it get hot?

It can get warm to hot during long transfers because the metal body conducts heat. Letting it cool between very long copy jobs helps keep speeds up.

Can I use it as a bootable drive?

Yes. Its fast reads suit operating system installers and persistent Linux setups, and it plugs into any USB Type-A port.

Samsung BAR Plus 64GB Review: Fast Reads in a Tough Metal Shell

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Samsung BAR Plus 64GB Worth It?

Key Facts

What Stands Out

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

What does not

Features in Depth

Read Speed and the Write-Speed Catch

Metal Body and Key Ring Design

Toughness Ratings and Heat

Compatibility and Everyday Uses

How We Scored It

Performance

Speed

Storage Capacity

Size

Reliability

Durability

Owner Satisfaction

Value for Money

Specifications

Materials and warranty

Performance

Other specifications

What Buyers Say

I tried something different ... and it worked!

Fast for the price, great form factor for key ring, consistent performance across multiple units, stylish - see DiskMark results

Super Fast and Reliable USB Drive

Very fast and work well.

Works great for persistent OS installs!

Recomendado

Setting It Up

Use a USB 3 port

Add an adapter if needed

Check the format

Copy large files in batches

Eject before unplugging

Common Questions

The Verdict

Who should buy it

Who should skip it

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