Lexar’s new SL500 Portable SSD is an ultra-compact 2TB drive built for content creators, including iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max owners who want to record high-quality Apple ProRes video at 60 fps.

“Whether users are looking to speed up their work or accelerate their creativity, this drive delivers the performance needed to take projects and pursuits to the next level,” said Joey Lopez, Director of Marketing. “It’s incredible read and write speeds translate into both faster downloads and faster transfers.”

The device has a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 design, which means its performance on Mac devices is half of its potential maximum. The SL500 boasts read and write rates of up to 2,000 MB/s and 1,800 MB/s for USB 3.2 Gen2x2 devices, respectively.

The SSD’s footprint is only slightly larger than a credit card and not much thicker. It measures 85 x 54 x 7.8 millimeters, with the thickness tapering toward the edges. Its thinnest point is 4.8 millimeters. The drive is only thick enough at its thickest point to accommodate the USB-C connection. When using the provided cable, it is almost flush with the SL500 SSD. The drive weighs only 43 grams.

In addition to working with PCs, Macs, and iPhone devices, the Lexar SL500 Portable SSD is suitable for direct usage with an interchangeable lens camera, Android smartphone, or video game console. The drive has Lexar DataShield software, which guarantees 256-bit AES encryption to keep files secure.

Back to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max compatibility, the SL500’s compact and lightweight form makes it an appealing option for mobile cinematographers. Apple’s latest flagship phones are capable of recording Apple ProRes 4K video at up to 60 frames per second. However, cellphones cannot shoot in such format natively, so users must record it on an attached suitable SSD. The Lexar SL500 is one choice, and one of the most compact.

The Lexar SL500 Portable SSD is now available in a 2TB capacity for $230. It will also be available in a 4TB variant by the end of next quarter. The SL500 joins another new Lexar portable SSD, the SL600, which the company introduced just over a month ago.