In the last few days we have had the opportunity to try Xiaomi Jessis, a stick with double plug, USB-C on one side and traditional USB on the other, which differs from the others especially for its construction.
It is not accompanied by any specific details in this sense but our tests have shown us that it is well capable of withstanding even a strong stomp: now we will tell you better.
How it's made
Let's start first with the dimensions: from one plug to the other it measures 5.3 cm but in reality it slightly exceeds 6 cm because it is accompanied by a rotating structure that protects one of the two plugs according to your preferences.
In fact, this is the secret of the incredible robustness of Xiaomi Jessis: the whole structure is made of metal that cannot be flexed even by squeezing it with all your strength between two fingers. In this way it flexes slightly only in the vicinity of the two spines, which in any case are solid and well built.
The USB-A connector is the natural continuation of the external chassis while the USB-C plug is composed of a bent sheet to measure and hooked inside the body, a choice of lesser value but which certainly helped the company to reduce the final cost of the product.
As we said, the key rotates inside a metal plate that uses a locking system to stop movement at one hundred and eighty degrees, i.e. when the key and the plate are perfectly aligned with each other.
The position of the plate does not affect the functioning of the key: paradoxically, the key can also be used by positioning the external “T” plate, as it is sufficient that there is enough space to connect one of the two plugs to a device, but to be able to hide a connector allows to reduce the size of the key, which can thus be connected, for example, to the USB-C plug of a MacBook while maintaining free access to a second adjacent socket.
What is missing is a metal ring to be able to possibly attach it to a set of keys, but nothing prevents you from taking advantage of the slight opening of the plate by fixing a lanyard on your own initiative.
How it goes
We mostly used it with our 2019 MacBook Air, so plugging it in via the USB-C plug, with pretty satisfying results.
From a performance standpoint, we relied on the usual Blackmagic Disk Speed Test for a more in-depth analysis. The USB-C socket promises a reading speed of about 104 MB / s and a writing speed that runs around 50 MB / s, with performances almost comparable to those of the USB-A plug (equipped with USB 3.1 technology) that we have connected to the same computer via a dedicated hub.
Based on our tests, however, these are quite theoretical numbers because in practice, the file transfer actually proceeds in fits and starts. In copying a 315 MB photo folder from the computer to the key, according to what the program detected, we should have completed the operation in about 7 seconds.
In reality it took us almost 20 because the copy stopped for a few seconds on more than one occasion (around 20%, then 40%, then 80%). Probably, but we can't get our hands on the fire, this is due to a poor quality of the memories used.
So if it is true that it can reach 50 MB / s in writing, in reality on average the speed that the stick is able to maintain is much lower, let's say around 20 MB / s. Now, if you work with documents and files of little weight then there are no problems, if instead you transfer GB and GB of photos and videos to them, the waits can be a bit long.
As for everyday use, construction is the real reason to choose it. As we have already explained it is really robust and if Xiaomi Jessis from this point of view has really convinced us it is thanks to our clumsiness.
On one occasion, when lending it to a friend, it fell from our hand and in trying to cushion the fall with our foot, we stepped on it with excessive energy. Well, the key came out practically unscathed, without even a scratch or bending at the ends that could have jeopardized its subsequent use.
Conclusions
Therefore, if you need a USB stick to use with USB-C devices that is above all robust, Xiaomi Jessis is the one that could be for you. It is not among the fastest on the market but you can at least hook it to a bunch of keys and mistreat it without too many hesitations.
Price
If you want to buy it, at the moment you can find it on Ebay at the price of 16.49 euros in the version with 64 GB of capacity or 28.49 euros for the one with a 128 GB memory.
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