Lexar Launches MagSafe-Compatible ES5 Portable SSD
Lexar has introduced the ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD, a compact external drive compatible with MagSafe and designed for mobile devices. The SSD is positioned as a high-speed storage solution for photography and video workflows, offering advertised transfer speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s read and write when connected via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2.
In practice, those figures depend heavily on device compatibility: Apple’s iPhones, including the iPhone 17 Pro, support USB 3.2 Gen 2 only, effectively limiting transfer speeds to around 1,000 MB/s. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra uses USB 3.2 Gen 1, capping throughput at approximately 500 MB/s. Therefore, despite the American company’s performance claims, neither device can fully exploit the 2×2 interface.
The SSD connects magnetically to MagSafe-enabled iPhones and can also attach to other smartphones using an included magnetic ring accessory. It is IP65-rated for dust and water resistance, features a drop tolerance of up to three meters, and includes a thermal control system intended to maintain stable performance during extended use.
Physically, the ES5 measures 85 × 54 × 11 mm and weighs about 80 grams. It features a slim profile with a liquid silicone exterior designed to improve grip and portability. The drive can be used for direct video recording and file offloading without the need for cables.
“The Lexar ES5 portable SSD supports both Apple ProRes and Samsung Video recording to make sure iOS and Android users everywhere have the storage they need to film, store, and organize 4K and 8K video without losing their creative momentum,” said Joey Lopez, Director of Brand Marketing. “By giving creators up to 4 TB of additional storage, they have the space they need to capture, edit, and export an entire day’s shoot from a single device.” However, the company has not confirmed full compatibility with Apple ProRes RAW capture, and specified that it will evaluate support once Apple releases Final Cut Camera version 2.0, which is expected to introduce ProRes RAW functionality.
The SSD shares its core design with Lexar’s earlier Armor 700 model, and its real-world transfer performance remains subject to the same interface limitations. For most mobile workflows, the ES5’s effective speeds should still be sufficient for high-bitrate video and image capture, but, as mentioned before, claims of 2,000 MB/s performance do not apply to current smartphones.
The ES5 is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities, priced at $119.99 and $199.99 respectively, with a 4TB version planned for early 2026.
