Lexar has introduced two new portable SSDs (solid state drives) as part of a strategic partnership with Silicon Motion. Revealed at CES 2024, the collaboration aims to boost the competitiveness of Lexar's portable solutions by combining its self-developed storage products with Silicon Motion controller chips.
The first product to emerge from this partnership is the Lexar SL500 portable SSD.
With read and write speeds of up to 2000 MB/s and 1800 MB/s, respectively, the SL500 is powered by Silicon Motion portable SSD controllers. It can be used with a variety of devices, including laptops, cameras, and mobile devices. Notably, it supports Apple Log video recording in 4K 60FPS ProRes format on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The second product is the Lexar ARMOR 700. It has storage capacities ranging from 1 TB to 4 TB, with read and write speeds of up to 2000 MB/s. Protected by a durable rubber exterior and an IP66 rating against dust and water damage, the ARMOR 700 is designed to be highly durable. It also offers a drop resistance of 3 meters, ensuring the safety of files even in unexpected situations.
And there is more
Both new devices use Silicon Motion's portable SSD single-chip controller solution, which combines hardware, software and integrated data security features. They are equipped with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface and four NAND channels.
Additionally, the company also announced the Professional SL600 portable SSD (in 512GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities) and the SL660 BLAZE Gaming portable SSD (in 512GB and 1TB capacities). Both are already listed on Lexar's site.
Despite the impressive features, it's a shame that none of Lexar's new devices come with USB4 or Thunderbolt 4. This could be a missed opportunity for Lexar as it attempts to capture a larger share of the professional portable SSD market.
There is no word on pricing or availability at the moment, but Lexar intends to launch these products in the first quarter of 2024.
