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In this article, we are going to discuss the Best USB sized flash drives recommended for Tesla Dashcams  

Thanks to Tesla’s Sentry Mode, I recently faced the issue of having my Tesla dashcam USB full out of nowhere. And that left me wondering, what is the recommended Tesla dashcam USB size?

As I found out, when it comes to finding the best USB drive for Tesla dashcam, more is always better. This means that between the different storage sizes you get for Tesla USB, going with the largest one is the best choice. This usually caps off at 256 GB. This higher storage mainly fulfills the requirements for Tesla sentry mode USB size, which does not automatically overwrite its videos.

It is important to note that Tesla has an overwrite loop of 1 hour for video recording. In this function, whenever any videos are recorded during driving, they are automatically deleted and overwritten after 1 hour. But this functionality does not apply on Sentry Mode, which records events whenever your car is parked.

If you have Sentry Mode on, then your dashcam continues recording events for as much storage that it has left in its USB. The videos remain on your storage until you manually clear them out. This is why it is important that Tesla Sentry Mode USB size is large enough to handle all this footage.

Since Tesla dashcam records around 30 MB of video per minute, your Tesla USB also needs to have fast write speeds. USB 3.1 is usually fit for this task.

It is also important to note that each hour of video recording on Tesla dashcam requires about 1.8 GB of free space. Here, 256 GB drive gives you plenty of storage to boot.

To help you find the best USB drive for Tesla dashcam, here are two of the most popular options that are used by a large amount of Tesla owners. Both of them also work great as a Tesla Sentry Mode USB, which makes them an ideal option to be used with Tesla dashcam.

The Top Contenders for Best USB Drive for Tesla Dashcam

While you might find a lot of options out there to be used as a Tesla USB device, the following two top the list due to their price, efficiency, and reliability. Due to their large storage yet small size, they also eliminate the need to buy an SSD for Tesla dashcam.

Coming from two of the most popular storage solutions provider, both of these devices are almost on par with each other in terms of their overall functionality.

Tesla USB Reviews

Samsung Bar Plus 3.1

As the latest offering in the popular Samsung Bar USB flash driveline, the Bar Plus has a lot to live up to. Unsurprisingly, it does so with quite some aplomb.

Available in a sleek and easy to carry design, the Samsung Bar Plus is a major upgrade to using an SSD for Tesla dashcam. Boasting of USB version 3.1, the flash drive can write a little over 30 MB/s. This makes it an ideal candidate to be a Tesla USB.

Another important point to note here is that support is nonexistent for a Tesla dashcam exFAT version. Tesla by default requires you to format your USB flash drives using FAT or FAT32. Otherwise, the recording option does not work and you are left with the Tesla dashcam icon not showing.

Samsung Bar Plus supports FAT and FAT32 formatting. This way, you can easily use it as an option that also meets the recommended Tesla dashcam USB size requirements.

The USB flash drive is also sturdy. It is waterproof, shockproof, temperature proof, magnet proof, as well as X-ray proof. This means that you can rely on its long-term sustainability when you buy it as a Tesla Sentry Mode USB. With that being said, it weighs just a little over 4.5 grams and comes with the dimensions of 1.6 x 0.6 x 0.5 inches. All in all, it is a powerhouse of a USB packed in a nice little device.

SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.1

SanDisk is a renowned name in storage solutions. As a sleek and small device, SanDisk Ultra Fit is both easy on the eyes and impressive on the performance scale. Overall, it proves itself as a great choice for a Tesla USB while also meeting the requirements for Tesla dashcam USB size.

The SanDisk Ultra Fit is one of the smallest USB flash drives, yet comes with a promise of high performance. Available in up to 256 GB, this device has the capacity to perform as a Tesla Sentry Mode USB. This makes sure that you don’t run into Tesla dashcam USB full error as long as you keep weekly cleaning of your device in check.

The device claims to be 15x faster than USB 2.0, and it actually fulfills that claim by providing write speeds of over 30 MB/s. Once it is formatted to FAT32 or FAT to meet Tesla’s formatting requirements, you do not need to worry about the lack of support of a Tesla dashcam exFAT version or the Tesla dashcam icon not showing.

With faster write and read speeds, the USB flash drive could prove to fulfill your needs efficiently. It comes with a design so small you would barely be able to notice it sticking out of the dashcam’s USB port. This level of functionality in such a small design eradicates any needs for you to use an SSD for Tesla dashcam.

With a weight of just over 4.5 grams and the dimensions of 1.2 x 0.6 x 0.2 inches, it performs just as well in aesthetics as it does in performance. This has it fulfill the requirements for Tesla Sentry Mode USB size while also looking like it’s a part of your dashcam.

Wrapping Up

When put head to head, both Samsung Bar Plus and SanDisk Ultra Fit bring something to the table. While Samsung Bar Plus is a little bit expensive, it does bring added durability with it. On the other hand, SanDisk doesn’t have as much durability, but it is slightly cheaper than the Samsung Bar.

The final verdict to buy either of these devices falls upon your own shoulders. With that being said, spending a few extra bucks on Samsung Bar Plus in turn for superior durability doesn’t seem like a bad option. This way, you get to meet the requirements for Tesla dashcam USB size, while also enjoying greater performance and durability.

For more info, check out the Model 3’s User Manual and here’s the info straight from their site:

USB Flash Drive Requirements for Videos and Recording

• Use a flash drive with as much available storage as possible, since video footage takes up a large amount of space (Tesla recommends using a flash drive with at least 32 GB of storage). Some personal computer operating systems may not be able to format flash drives larger than 32 GB as FAT 32. Consider using a third party application to format flash drives larger than 32 GB.

• The flash drive must have a sustained write speed of at least 4 MB/s. A sustained write speed is different from the peak write speed. Check the product details of your flash drive for more information.

• The flash drive must be USB 2.0 compatible. If using a USB 3.0 flash drive, it must be able to support USB 2.0.

• Use a dedicated flash drive exclusively for saving footage for your vehicle.

• The flash drive must be properly formatted (see Formatting the USB Flash Drive on page 145).

• SanDisk Ultra Fit USB 3.1 Flash Drive

• Samsung MUF-64AB/AM FIT Plus –200MB/s USB 3.1 Flash Drive

UPDATE: There seems to be a new player in the game. Their name is Pure Tesla and they are slightly cheaper than their competitors and they sell pre-formatted Tesla USB drives. Click here to check check them out.