Lexar has revealed the Muse Ultra Slim Portable SSD, claiming the title of the thinnest external drive designed for smartphones. The credit card shaped accessory attaches magnetically to the back of mobile devices and transfers data at speeds up to 1050 MB/s. Lexar plans to release 512GB and 1TB versions later this year, though official pricing remains unannounced.
Announced at the IFA trade show to mark the company 30th anniversary, the drive measures 3.8 mm at its thickest center and tapers down to just 1 mm along the outer rim. Lexar managed to shrink the physical footprint by combining high density NAND flash with a custom thin circuit board. The back panel features built in magnets that lock onto phones and tablets without needing separate mounting clips.
Connectivity relies on a proprietary Pogo Pin interface linked to a SnapLink magnetic cable with N52 neodymium magnets. The other end plugs into standard USB Type C ports on smartphones, tablets, or computers. This breakaway magnetic connection helps protect phone ports from damage if the cable gets pulled accidentally while filming on location.
Performance benchmarks reach 1050 MB/s for read operations and 1000 MB/s for write tasks. That bandwidth is fast enough to support direct Apple ProRes 4K recording at 120 fps directly onto the drive. Shooting directly to the accessory keeps internal smartphone storage free during long video shoots.
Lexar confirmed the Muse Ultra Slim will ship in 512GB and 1TB capacities before the year ends. Full retail pricing and regional store availability will be shared closer to the official market rollout.
