Lexar Sl500 2 Tb 2000Mbps

Lexar SL500 2TB Portable SSD – 2000MB/s USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 External Drive

The Lexar SL500 2TB portable SSD is a credit-card-sized external solid-state drive designed for content creators, mobile professionals, and power users who routinely move large volumes of data between devices. It connects via USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 and achieves sequential read speeds of up to 2000MB/s, making it one of the faster USB-connected portable drives currently available at this capacity. Additionally, its aluminium unibody build, IP54 rating, and 2-metre drop resistance make it a dependable daily-carry storage solution for demanding workflows.

At 85mm x 54mm x 7.8mm and just 43g, the SL500 is genuinely pocket-sized. However, reaching full 2000MB/s performance requires a host device that supports USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 — systems with only USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) will see lower speeds, typically in the 1000MB/s range. Mac computers, in particular, do not currently support the Gen 2×2 standard, so speeds on macOS will be reduced. The drive is nonetheless useful across a wide range of devices; it works with Windows PCs, Android smartphones, iPhones (15 series and above), iPads, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and compatible cameras.

The SL500 also supports Apple ProRes recording directly to the drive at up to 4K 60FPS with iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, which makes it a practical field recording target for mobile videographers. Furthermore, 2TB of usable space holds approximately 50,000 RAW files from a 40-megapixel camera or around 100 hours of 4K H.264 footage at 50Mbps — enough for extended shoots without needing to offload mid-assignment.

Technical Specifications

Use Cases and Applications

4K and ProRes Video Production: Videographers working with iPhones or mirrorless cameras need fast external storage that keeps pace with high-bitrate recording. The Lexar SL500 2TB portable SSD supports direct iPhone 15 Pro ProRes recording and handles continuous write workloads without speed drops, making it a reliable field recording and backup target. Moreover, 2TB provides sufficient headroom for full-day shoots before requiring an offload.

Photography Workflows: Photographers shooting high-resolution RAW files benefit from the SL500’s fast write speeds during tethered shooting or card offloads. Transferring 100GB of RAW files from a camera card takes under a minute on a compatible USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 system. Consequently, photographers can spend more time shooting and less time waiting for transfers.

Remote Work and Business Travel: Professionals who carry project files, design assets, or client deliverables across multiple computers benefit from the SL500’s broad device compatibility. The drive connects to a Windows laptop in the morning and an Android tablet in the afternoon using the same USB-C cable, without adapters.

Gaming Console Storage Expansion: The SL500 is compatible with PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, allowing users to store and transfer game libraries directly. Fast transfer speeds reduce the time needed to move large game files between systems or from a PC.

Encrypted Portable Backup: IT administrators and business users handling sensitive data can use the SL500 with DataShield encryption as a secure portable backup target. Files remain inaccessible without the correct password, even if the drive is connected to another machine.