Limited-Edition Kingston 2024 Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive Unboxing and Review

As the Lunar New Year is nearing, Kingston Technology launched its newest collectible USB flash drive in the Mini Collection family bearing the Chinese Zodiac.

To celebrate the Year of the Dragon and to bring some roar-someness, the limited-edition 2024 Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive boasts a generous 128GB capacity and USB 3.2 Gen 1 speed.

Fortunately, I was able to unbox and get a hands-on experience with this device. I want to share my unboxing journey, thoughts, and observations about the device. Let's start with the unboxing process, shall we?

Unboxing the Kingston Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive

The packaging of the Kingston Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive continues the tradition of the Mini Collection family. This year, the Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive is housed in an adorable dragon egg case. The top half of the case is transparent, providing a view of the Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive, while the bottom half features a white plastic with a cracked egg design. The front of the casing bears the Kingston logo and the 128GB storage capacity.

To open the Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive, remove the two side tapes and the transparent cover.

Design and Walk Around

The Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive continues the signature design of Kingston's Mini Collection. The smooth rubber exterior of the mini dragon serves as a protective cover for the USB flash drive, safeguarding it against falls and impacts when not in use.

When viewed from the front, the mini dragon looks cute yet stubby green dragon and is hovering in the clouds. It has tiny rubber horns on top of its head, with a gold “punk-like” head crest serving as the grip for the USB flash drive in the center. Its tiny wings extend out from the sides, while its hands rest on top of its stomach.

For portability, the tail is designed as a key ring loop. You can attach it to your bag, ID lace, or any place where you can access it quickly.

To use the USB thumb drive, remove first the mini dragon's gold punk hair and plug it into a USB port. The USB plug has a matte gold finish, with a Kingston logo printed on it, and indicates that it has a storage capacity of 128GB.

Performance

This year, the Kingston Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive has been upgraded to offer a capacity of 128GB, compared to last year's 64GB. The Mini Dragon USB Drive features a USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface, providing a rated performance of 200MB/s read and 60MB/s write speeds. This USB drive is user-friendly and compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Let’s test its performance to see how well it does.

We performed a test on the Kingston Mini Dragon USB flash drive using CrystalDiskMark, which is a simple disk benchmark software that can test the read and write speeds of any storage device or memory card. The sequential read speeds we measured were 235.57MB/s, which is quite impressive. Additionally, the write activity reached 110.81MB/s, indicating that the drive is also capable of high-speed writing.

We attempted to transfer a total of 2.49 GB of files, including videos and photos, from my Mac mini to the Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive using a USB dongle. The file transfer process was completed in approximately 1 minute and 20 seconds, which is still very fast.

Kingston 2024 Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive Specifications

• Capacities: 128GB
• Speed: USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds; Up to 200MB/s Read, 60 MB/s Write
• Dimensions: 31.7 x 33.63 x 40.24 (mm)
• Warranty/support: 5-year warranty with free technical support
• Compatible with Windows 11, 10, Mac OS (v.13.2.x +), Linux (v. 2.6.x +), Chrome OS

Price, Availability and Warranty

The Kingston 2024 Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive is now available at a price of Php1,388 SRP. You can purchase it through Kingston’s network of retail and e-tail outlets from December 25th onwards. Alternatively, you can also order it online via Lazada and Shopee.

As part of the launch promotion, customers will receive a complimentary limited-edition Kingston Keychain when they purchase a Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive. This USB drive is also supported by a 5-year warranty, free technical support, and the renowned Kingston reliability.

Verdict

Looking for a USB flash drive that is both cute and functional? Look no further than the Kingston 2024 Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive. This gadget is a must-have for 2024 and makes for an ideal gift. Despite its collectible or novelty status, the Mini Dragon USB Flash Drive still delivers the performance and capacity needed for daily use, whether for school, work, or personal use.