Product spotlight: Slider & Flip Out USB Credit Cards
If you’re looking to send out or giveaway some sort of branded USB this year, then look no further than the popular USB card – these come in a range of different shapes with the credit card version being the most popular! All offer full colour printing options, front and back, across the whole surface area of the card, and the size gives great flexibility to include things like website addresses, phone numbers, email contacts and even QR codes!
Most of the USB cards in our rage have USB connectors that ‘flip’ out – you just push gently on one side of the card to reveal the USB connector on the other – with this type, commonly called ‘flip cards’, the USB piece stays attached to card. There is another version where the USB connector slides out completely and becomes separate to the card. Both are great, but the more popular is the ‘flip’ version because there is no chance of the USB itself being lost.
- Outer Casing: Aluminium with plastic components
- Available Colours: White
- Memory Sizes: 128Mb, 256Mb, 512Mb, 1Gb, 2Gb, 4Gb, 8Gb, 16Gb, 32Gb, 64Gb
- Dimensions: 85.5mm x 54mm x 3mm
- Branding Options: Full colour printing
- Imprint Area: Front/Back
- Imprint Size: 91.5mm x 60mm (inc. 3mm bleed)
- Special Options: Full Colour Print Available (Print to bleed edge)
- Artwork Requirements for this range
Please note that Pantone matching and matte rubber coating are not available on this range.
- Outer Casing: Plastic
- Available Colours: White
- Memory Sizes: 128Mb, 256Mb, 512Mb, 1Gb, 2Gb, 4Gb, 8Gb, 16Gb, 32Gb, 64Gb
- Dimensions: 85mm x 54mm x 3.5mm
- Branding Options: Full colour printing
- Imprint Area: Front/Back
- Imprint Size: 91mm x 60mm (Both Sides)
- Special Options: Full Colour Print Available (Print to bleed edge)
- Artwork Requirements for this range
Please note that Pantone matching and matte rubber coating are not available on this range.
Why use a USB Card?
The only downside with most USB sticks is that if you have a large logo or design to print then you may struggle. The reason is that the print area on most standard shaped USB sticks is tiny (typically 2cm x 4cm), so they don’t give much scope to get too creative. If you do print anything complex onto this small print area then there is a danger that it won’t be legible, and imagery may become really blurred or pixelated – not the most professional way to market your brand! With a USB card, you don’t have to worry, as you can print on both sides to the bleed edge (3mm) and on both sides – you can also choose different images if you so wish for each side. Just bear in mind that to achieve a really good quality finish you need good quality artwork or photography. Ideally this means vectorised (.ai or .eps format) artwork rather than a jpeg.
Size
Size is another factor that makes USB cards so popular. Despite being just a little over 2mm thick (fractionally more than any standard bank or credit card) these USB cards are available in memory sizes up to 16GB which is more storage than you got on a lot of desktop PC’s just a few years ago!
The fact that they are the same size as a typical bank card also means they’re a shape we’re all familiar with, and fit into most wallets and purses for easy access.
Cost
Cost is always an important factor, but don’t worry or expect to pay a huge premium for the cards – they are a little bit more expensive (because of the amount of printing involved), but it’s typically pennies extra rather than pounds!
Ease of Use
Both styles are easy to use, although the only slight negative with the Flip style is the way in which the USB connector is accessed and how it is subsequently plugged into a USB port. The ‘flip-out’ mechanism can be a little bit tricky to get used to, and for some it’s not immediately obvious how they work.
Also, once the flip section that contains the USB has been opened, you need some free space around the USB ports you’re plugging into, otherwise you run the risk of not being able to insert the USB correctly. A lot depends on whether you’re using the card with a laptop or desktop, what other peripherals you’ve got plugged into your USB ports, and whether the orientation of the ports is horizontal or vertical.
With the slider USB cards you lose none of the benefits of the flip version, but the card is easier to use because it’s obvious when you see it that the USB connector slides out. Once removed, you effectively have a small USB memory stick that will slot comfortably into any USB port irrespective or the ports orientation and whether anything else is plugged in alongside it!
When you’ve finished using it, the USB stick simply slides back into the host card and you can pop it back into your wallet or purse! No fuss, no hassle.
Both versions of the cards are available in a range of memory sizes, and both are available from stock in the UK in as little as 24hrs – that’s printed and data-loaded (if you need it) in 24hrs from your order being placed.
If you need more convincing then we can supply free mock-ups and/or free samples on both types of the USB card. Just give us a call or fill out our online quote request and we’ll get back to you in a flash!