Lexar SL500 Portable SSD, 1TB, USB-C 3.2

When it comes to performance, the Lexar SL500 portable SSD delivers. It was able to reach its advertised speeds and has been pretty consistent. Copying/transferring files to and from the SL500 was easy, and I didn’t encounter any issues. I could also copy and transfer files and record 4K ProRes video with my iPhone 15 Pro Max. Unfortunately, I could not benchmark it with the iPhone 15 Pro Max since I couldn’t find a reliable app or way to benchmark the SL500 with the iPhone. By the way, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are only capable of up to 10Gbps transfer speed, so they’re not fully utilizing the SL500’s potential speed. Nevertheless, since my desktop PC has a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 port, I can still take advantage of its speed. The only thing I would nitpick about the SL500 is its build quality and aesthetics. While it is nice that it is slim and compact, it lacks water resistance and dustproofing. I wouldn’t use the SL500 in harsh environments. I also don’t know how shock or fall-resistant the SL500 is. The housing feels a bit thin, and I think it’s best to use it in an office environment instead of outdoors. Finally, there’s no doubt that the Lexar SL500 portable SSD was able to deliver when it comes to performance. Price-wise, it has gone down a bit since its initial release. But there are plenty of USB 20Gbps-capable portable SSDs in the market. Competition is tough, and one way for Lexar to outshine its competition is to keep the pricing low and very competitive. If you ever spot an SL500 at very attractive pricing, I say it’s worth considering or buying this portable SSD.