For many people, the smartphone has become the primary device for content creation. As we use it to capture more and more photos and videos, storage has become extremely important, which is why many people who use their phones heavily for content also carry a portable SSD with them. Problem is, even portable SSDs can add a bit of bulk once you stick them to the back of your phone, which isn’t the most comfortable. That’s what makes ultra-slim storage devices like the Lexar Muse extremely critical accessories.
Lexar’s newest portable SSD, it’s not just another external storage with a very slim profile. Instead, it’s currently the slimmest of its kind in the world. Measuring just 3.8mm at its thickest point and tapering down to 1mm at the edge, it lets you add an external SSD to your phone while adding very little bulk, keeping things extremely pocketable while giving you access to a whole lot more storage capacity.
The Lexar Muse is a portable SSD that’s designed to be as thin as possible. To achieve this, it uses high-density NAND stacking, a custom-made ultra-thin PCB architecture, and an integrated internal structure, all of which combine to maximize available space without compromising performance. All that optimized hardware is stashed underneath an ultra-slim enclosure that’s precision-machined from a single piece of metal, allowing it to minimize any seams and joints that could add unwanted bulk. Suffice to say, they pulled out all the stops to make it as thin as possible.
To maintain that compact size, they actually eliminated the USB-C port that’s been a fixture on most recent portable SSDs. Instead, it’s equipped with a magnetic pogo pin connector on one side of the drive, which, let’s be honest, is quite annoying to use, since the connector tends to fall off a lot. Hopefully, they figured out a way to make the magnetic connection stronger to keep it firmly in place. It comes with its own proprietary SnapLink cable, by the way, which has the pogo pin connection on one end and a USB-C connector on the other.
The Lexar Muse has read speeds of up to 1,050 MBps and write speeds of up to 1,000 MBps, so it offers decent operating speeds that should come in handy for all those video content you’re recording. According to the outfit, that’s fast enough to support direct external recording of Apple ProRes 4K video at up to 120 fps, so it’s pretty capable as far as media storage goes. It should be compatible with any device equipped with a USB-C slot.
The SSD comes with a wallet-style pouch designed to snap to the back of a MagSafe connection (or any compatible magnetic unit) at the back of the phone. Just slip the portable SSD inside the pouch and make sure to line up the pogo pins with the cutout near the bottom of the pouch. Why not just put the magnets right on the SSD to cut down the bulk? We’re guessing it’s so they can achieve the whole “thinnest portable SSD in the world” moniker, but needing a pouch to stash it in definitely seems to defeat the purpose.
The Lexar Muse will be available in the fourth quarter of the year, in 512GB and 1TB capacities. No pricing has been announced yet.
