Western Digital announced it has released several new Flash storage solutions to help pros and consumers get ready for the holidays. Whether looking for the perfect gift, or planning a new venture in the New Year, the innovative products from its award-winning SanDisk and WD_BLACK brands reach new levels of speed, reliability, and capacity, serving a diverse set of digital storage needs.

High Performance, Super Capacity Portable SSDs
The expanded SanDisk portfolio of portable SSDs includes two offerings that feature next-generation SSD speeds and help defy the limits of durability. The new drives are perfect for pros or creators and anyone else who needs to store large amounts of data on the go in the toughest of climates.

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to announce the public release of the Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub following the successful launch on Kickstarter which successfully garnered $1M in user pledges. This super-compact SSD and hub duo provides the ultimate setup, allowing users to easily shoot seamless video straight from a mobile phone, including Apple ProRes video in 4K 60 FPS with an iPhone 15 Pro/Max or later.

The SSD, which is about the size of a thumb, is available in up to 2TB to store more high-res photos and videos. It offers USB 3.2 Gen 2 performance of 1050 MB/s read, 1000 MB/s write to capture stunning video and speed through backups and post-production work. It also features an IP65 rating for dust- and water-resistance so users can use it confidently in wherever their creativity takes them. For longer shoots, or to add peripherals to their setup, creators can use the SSD and hub combination. The hub has four USB Type-C ports where users can plug in lighting, a microphone, a power bank, and more. It also comes with adapters and cables, giving users maximum flexibility to customize their setup to suit the shoot.

KIOXIA Europe, a worldwide leader in memory solutions, announce the EXCERIA PLUS G2 Portable SSD Series, a new external storage solution. Utilizing KIOXIA's SSD technology and BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory, the EXCERIA PLUS G2 Portable SSD Series features a compact, elegant, and handy design that is ideal for on-the-go users and content creators.

The KIOXIA EXCERIA PLUS Portable SSD series puts emphasis on both timeless design and portability with its elegant, pocket-sized housing. Compact and easy-to-grip, this portable SSD series fits up to 2 TB of data in the palm of your hand. Smaller and lighter compared to its award-winning predecessor, the new EXCERIA PLUS G2 Portable SSD's aluminium housing further improves ergonomics while enabling effective heat dissipation during heavy workloads. With speeds of up to 1050 MB/s read and 1000 MB/s write, the EXCERIA PLUS G2 Portable SSD Series features a slim USB Type-C connector with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface enabling fast transferring of 4K videos and high-res photos. Capacities will be offered in 500 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB.

MSI is excited to announce the launch of the DATAMAG 20 Gbps, a magnetic portable SSD designed for fast, reliable, and convenient data storage. Available in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB capacities, the DATAMAG offers SuperSpeed USB 20 Gbps transfer rates and a unique magnetic attachment system, making it an ideal choice for users who need both speed and portability.

With read/write speeds up to 1,600/1,500 MB/s, the DATAMAG 20 Gbps is built to handle demanding tasks such as ProRes 4K video recording and large file transfers. Whether you're a creative professional working on high-resolution video projects or someone who needs reliable storage on the go, this SSD provides the performance needed to keep your workflow efficient and smooth and supports the highest ProRes formats for video recording on iPhone 16 / 15 Pro (Max).

Team Group announced its partnership with B&H PHOTO, a leading U.S. retailer of photo and video equipment. Founded in New York in 1973, B&H is renowned in the industry for its professional photo and video equipment, exceptional service, and fast logistics. With over 50 years of expertise in the U.S. market, B&H brings extensive experience in market operations and a sophisticated understanding of consumer demand, leveraging insight to anticipate market shifts, identify emerging trends, and deliver products and services that resonate with American consumers. Team Group and B&H will drive growth in the U.S. professional photography and videography market, offering creators unparalleled solutions and support.

Team Group has achieved remarkable success in the U.S. market over the years, having established a strong presence initially through e-commerce for many years. With the rise of the Creator Era, Team Group leveraged its robust research and design capabilities to launch the T-CREATE brand in 2020, which aims to unlock the creators' limitless potential through innovative technology. The U.S. is a vibrant market for multimedia producers, attracting pioneering professionals who demand the highest quality in creative production and photography equipment. This market represents immense potential and business opportunities. Team Group is well-positioned to meet the ever-evolving needs of creators in the U.S. market.

Lexar, the globally renowned storage brand, attended IFA 2024, where it hosted a product launch event and workshops showcasing its innovative new industry-leading catalog, including Portable SSDs, memory cards, DRAM, and other innovative products.

Marking IFA's centennial in 2024, the 'Creation' theme underscores storage's integral part in driving innovation. Under the 'Memory Creates Endless' theme, Lexar set up a 'Journey of Memory' booth area, displaying groundbreaking storage products tracing back to a century ago. This vividly showcased how the evolution of storage technology has influenced and empowered creators. Through this technological evolution, Lexar has remained at the forefront, consistently delivering products and services that exceed users' expectations.

ORICO, a leading innovator in data storage solutions, is thrilled to introduce MagPro, a Magnetic Portable SSD designed specifically for iPhone 15 series users, especially those working with ProRes content. The latest iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models support recording videos directly to external hard drives in Apple's ProRes video format. Photographers and content creators use ProRes aiming for high-quality and extended video captures. MagPro delivers a significant storage boost for this large video format.

MagPro features advanced flash memory technology, and provides a seamless experience with no moving parts. This results in a faster read speed of 2000 MB/s and write speed of 1800 MB/s, ensures greater durability and higher reliability. Available in 512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB capacities, it's perfect for YouTubers, filmmakers, and other enthusiasts looking to produce and store high-quality video and photographic content.

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to announce their Kickstarter program for the upcoming Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub. Offering the ultimate setup to shoot seamless video from a mobile phone, the innovative Lexar Professional Go Portable SSD with Hub is a revolutionary solution that lets creators use the SSD on its own for unmatched freedom and portability or with the hub to add peripherals like lighting, microphones, power banks, and more. Weighing a mere 13 grams but packing a capacity of 1 TB-2 TB, the powerful SSD delivers USB 3.2 Gen 2 performance of 1050 MB/s read, 1000 MB/s write to shoot seamless Apple ProRes 4K 60 FPS video from an iPhone 15 Pro/Max or above and perform post-production processes right on the drive.

The Kickstarter campaign, which is already underway, gives consumers a chance to not only be first in line to receive the product when it launches, but seeks to engage with them for input, feedback, and an overall better understanding of what customers' needs and pain points are. The campaign currently has more than 2,375 backers with 20 days left.

Sabrent teased its upcoming Rocket XTRM5 portable SSD. The company's flagship portable storage product, the drive implements Thunderbolt 5 (works on Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3 at reduced speeds). It is able to take advantage of Thunderbolt 5 with 80 Gbps per-direction bandwidth, although we haven't seen anything in the product's teaser to suggest that it implements the Intel Bandwidth Boost technology, which would have given it 120 Gbps on one of the directions (either reading or writing), while the other direction is reduced to 40 Gbps.

The Rocket XTRM5, like most portable SSDs these days, is an enclosure with an M.2-2280 slot inside. This one encloses an M.2 Gen 5 NVMe SSD, and while Sabrent hasn't put out any performance numbers, we expect them to be above 64 Gbps (Gen 4 x4 maximum theoretical bandwidth per direction), to take advantage of the 80 Gbps per direction Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth. It is slated to come in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB capacity variants. Its enclosure is well-ventilated, and is made of aluminium all around. The company didn't put out a release date.

Team Group showed off its latest portable SSDs at the 2024 Computex. We begin our tour of the Team Group booth with the T-Force M400, a portable SSD that takes advantage of the 40 Gbps USB4 interface to serve up phenomenal transfer speeds of up to 3700 MB/s reads, with up to 3400 MB/s writes. The M400 comes in capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB. The T-Create P35 is a compact high-security portable SSD, which comes with native encryption, and the SSD Security Toolbox interface that protects data even against bruteforcing and BadUSB attacks. This drive packs TCG-Opal 2.0 with 256-bit AES hardware encryption. The drive takes advantage of the 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, and offers transfer speeds of up to 1000 MB/s reads/writes.

The T-Create CinemaPr P31 is a high performance portable SSD meant for lossless digital cinematography. It's designed to fit with popular cinema camera rigs, as well as video rigs made of DSLRs or even smartphones. The drive features a 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface, and has up to 2000 MB/s of transfer speeds on tap, with enough speeds for 4K or 8K raw captures. There's also the T-Create CinemaPr R41 CFexpress 4.0 Type B, a related product with similar camera-mounting capabilities.

MSI also brought plenty of SSD products to the Computex 2024 show, including the new SPATIUM M560 PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 SSD based on the Phison E31T controller and Kioxia's 218-layer BiCS 3D TLC NAND, the new SPATIUM non-metal Vapor Chamber SSD Thermal Solution, and a couple of SSD accessories, including the DATAMAG Magnetic Portable SSD and the DATAVAULT SSD Enclosure.

As said, the new SPATIUM M560 PCIe 5.0 NVMe M.2 SSD will use the Phison 7 nm E31T controller paired up with Kioxia 8th generation 218-layer BiCS 3D TLC NAND and offer transfer rates of up to 10,000 MB/s. The controller, according to MSI, should bring up to a 15 percent reduction in power consumption as well as "maximize bandwidths and link efficiency". It will be available in 1 TB, and 2 TB capacities, and MSI will probably have a version that will include the new SPATIUM non-metal Vapor Chamber SSD Thermal Solution which has been also showcased at the Computex 2024 show. MSI says that this is yet another world's first, which uses "a two-phase flow transition of gas and liquid with minimal signal interference, ensuring rapid and silent heat exchange." According to MSI, the new SPATIUM non-metal Vapor Chamber SSD Thermal Solution should provide up to 11 degrees lower temperature compared to a standard aluminium heatsink.

JMicron Technology Corporation, in collaboration with Vinpower, Inc., have developed the first of its kind Enhanced 10Gbps Portable SSD (PSSD), using the collaboratively developed iVP817 IC Chip, that's compatible with Apple iOS devices supporting the iPhone iAP2. The PSSD offers super-fast Read/Write (R/W) data transfer speeds and is the first of its kind to provide Secure, High Powered, High-Speed backup and storage across all computing platforms, which includes the Apple iOS platform, as well as Android, PC, MacBook, Chromebook and more. While the R/W transfer speeds for USB flash storage devices compatible with smartphones and tablets typically range from 20 MB/sec to 80 MB/sec, the enhanced PSSD achieved verifiable R/W transfer speeds at more than 800 MB/sec with an iPhone 15Pro and 15Pro Max. That means, when using the enhanced PSSD with Vinpower's iAP2 based App, one could backup a 10 GB video, from an iPhone 15Pro or 15Pro Max, in around 12 seconds. On top of that, the PSSD will accommodate a range of NVMe SSD with varying form factor lengths and capacities up to and exceeding 8 TB of secure storage.

JMicron is a leading IC design company specialized in high-speed data and signal interfaces bridge controllers including NVMe to USB bridges, while Vinpower is a leader in designing IC chip firmware, circuit design, and manufacturing Apple iOS backup and storage devices and related Apps. The two companies recognized the enormous untapped market potential for a new solution that can perform smooth, fast, and secure data transfer and backup for portable mobile devices, especially for the Apple iOS platform, such as iPhones and iPads.

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to announce their lineup of products to be shown at the 2024 NAB Show, from April 14-17 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Lexar products deliver the high-speed performance that professional videographers, filmmakers, and creators demand in their cameras while also accelerating workflows.
Lexar's new Rugged Series includes the ARMOR GOLD SD UHS-II V60 Card. This card offers a max read speed of 280 MB/s and a max write speed of 210 MB/s, features an IP68 rating, and supports seamless 6K video capture. The ARMOR SILVER PRO SD UHS-II V60 Card also clocks in at a max read speed of 280 MB/s and delivers a write speed of 160 MB/s. It is also rated IP68 and supports 6K video as well. In the SSD category, the ARMOR 700 Portable SSD leverages USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 to provide max read/write speeds of 2000 MB/s1 and an IP66 rating lets users know that its design protects against both water and dust and is built to withstand up to 3-meter drops and falls.

Lexar is also excited to announce a new line of products dedicated to improving the professional workflow. The Lexar Professional PRO WORKFLOW is a 6-bay dock designed to maximize efficiency in the studio by allowing professionals to customize a solution with the modules they need. It is compatible with a range of WORKFLOW readers for CFexpress Type B and Type A 4.0 cards, SD and microSD UHS-II cards, and portable SSDs. It adopts Thunderbolt 4 and supports speeds up to 40 Gbps. The Lexar Professional PRO WORKFLOW GO is a portable solution that allows users to back up on location without a laptop. This 2-bay dock is battery-powered and supports speeds up to 10 Gbps.

Transcend introduced the ESD320A portable SSD. This drive comes in a stick-type form-factor that closely resembles USB flash drives, but is slightly larger than them, measuring 68.2 mm x 19.7 mm x 9.5 mm (L x W x H), weighing 26 g. The drive features a slide-out USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-A connector. It takes advantage of the 10 Gbps interface bandwidth to provide transfer speeds of up to 1050 MB/s sequential reads, with up to 900 MB/s sequential writes. Internally, the drive uses a 3D NAND flash memory with SLC caching resembling modern internal SSDs. The drive uses UASP (USB-attached SCSI) to speed up high QD transfers. The Transcend ESD320A comes in three capacity variants—512 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB. Transcend includes the Elite Data Management utility that provides backup, restore, and encryption features. The company didn't reveal pricing, but mentioned that it backs these drives with 5-year warranties.

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to introduce the SL500 Portable SSD, the latest addition to its portable SSD lineup. Featuring a super-slim, solid aluminium unibody construction that fits in the palm of your hand, the Lexar SL500 Portable SSD delivers exceptional 2000 MB/s max read and 1800 MB/s max write speeds for maximized efficiency.

The SL500 Portable SSD is compatible with a wide range of devices. It is a slim and convenient companion for the iPhone 15 series, serving as a backup for photos, videos, and more. It pairs especially well with iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max devices. It supports Apple Pro Res Recording allowing users to shoot directly to the drive in 4K at up to 60 FPS. Paired with Mac OSX 10.6+, Windows 11/10/7/8, or Android 4.4+, it offers substantial extra storage. It can also be used to store massive game files for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, PlayStation 5 with system software version 4.50 or higher (playing or storing PS4 games; storing PS5 games), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X | S (playing or storing Xbox One games; storing Xbox Series X | S games). It also comes with Lexar DataShield, a 256-bit AES encryption software to keep files secure.

Sabrent today launched the Rocket Nano V2 portable SSD series. The drive measures 15 mm x 33 mm x 73 mm in size (HxDxW), weighing just 54 g, with the included silicone sleeve, and 11.9 mm x 29.6 mm x 69.5 mm, weighing 46 g, without the sleeve. It comes in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB capacities, and uses a single USB type-C cable connection for both power and host connectivity.

Both USB-C to USB-C, and USB-C to USB-A cables are included in the package. At the interface level, the Sabrent Rocket Nano V2 takes advantage of 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. It offers sequential transfer speeds of up to 1500 MB/s for both reads and writes. Available now, the 1 TB variant is priced at USD $119.99, the 2 TB variant at $199.99, and the 4 TB variant at $449.99.

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is excited to announce the Lexar Professional SL600 Portable SSD. With spectacularly fast USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 performance of up to 2000 MB/s read and write, it's perfect for photographers, videographers, and content creators as well as business professionals looking to back up or transfer massive files on the go or shoot photos and video directly to the drive.

It features a durable, aluminium enclosure that helps protect users' files from bumps and drops while traveling or on location while also providing shock- and vibration-resistance. For further security it also comes with Lexar DataShield, a 256-bit AES encryption software so users can ensure their sensitive files remain private. It includes USB Type-C and USB Type-A cables, so it is compatible with a wide range of devices and a carabiner loop allows users to secure it to their bag.Buy the Lexar SL600 from BestBuy Canada from CA $129.99 onward

Lexar, the leading consumer storage brand announces a collaboration with Silicon Motion, forming a significant partnership that will combine Lexar self-developed storage products with Silicon Motion industry-leading controller chips. This alliance aims to optimize portable storage solutions and enhance product competitiveness. During the first quarter of 2024, Lexar will be launching two Portable Solid-State Drive (PSSD) products.

The portable SSD single-chip controller solution from Silicon Motion, which combines integrated hardware, software, and data security features and is equipped with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface and four NAND channels, is utilized in both new devices. It meets the demands of game consoles and users who require high performance and low power consumption. These two new products are also highly portable and offer ample storage space due to the single-chip controller solution's compact size and increased storage capacity.

Lexar previewed part of their CES lineup late last week—we got a quick briefing that outlined various upcoming portable SSDs, M.2 NVMe SSDs, and professional CFExpress cards. TPU staffers spent some quality time at the storage specialist's booth in Las Vegas—they have reported back that emphasis has been placed on Lexar's portable SSD products. The headliner appears to be the prominently placed ARMOR 700 Portable SSD—this boasts an extra rugged design, thus providing the level of on-the-go protection that is required by modern professionals.

The ARMOR 700 will be available in three capacities: 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB. Maximum read and write speeds of 2000 MB/s are advertised on Lexar's wall-mounted exhibit, with support for 6K RAW video files. The rugged and durable housing has been certified at IP65, with drop-resistant properties. The already released SL660 BLAZE Gaming Portable SSD was showcased at CES, but it was joined by a similar looking (non-RGB equipped) sibling—the new SL600 is a more sober looking option, aimed at professional types. The SL500 Portable SSD sports credentials for a wide range of purposes: mobile devices, laptops, cameras as well as gaming on current generation games consoles. Lexar states that the SL500 is powered by Silicon Motion Technology portable SSD controllers—with speeds up to 2000 MB/s read and 1800 MB/s write. Capacities noted on the exhibit wall are 1 TB, 2 TB and 4 TB—this applies to the SL600 specification as well.

Samsung Electronics, a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today unveiled the T5 EVO, a lightweight portable Solid-State Drive (SSD) that provides up to 8 terabytes (TB) of capacity, which is the largest capacity size currently offered by portable SSDs available on the market. Along with its capacity, the T5 EVO delivers ultra-fast speeds in a compact, durable design as a cutting-edge, versatile SSD solution.

"For consumers who are looking for substitutes for traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), the T5 EVO - offering the largest-available capacity along with speed and durability in a compact design that fits in the palm of your hand - is an innovative, new external storage option," said Hangu Sohn, Vice President of the Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. "The T5 EVO is built to fulfill the needs of a wide range of consumers with diverse lifestyles. Its capacity of up to 8 TB, fast speeds, compact design and data protection from external shocks are well-suited for users who want to store and access data anywhere, anytime."

Patriot Memory, a leading manufacturer of high-performance enthusiast memory modules, SSDs, flash storage and gaming peripherals, has announced the upcoming release of their newest external storage solution: the Transporter External Portable SSD.

Featuring sequential read speeds of up to 1000 MB/s and write speeds of up to 1000 MB/s, high-speed USB 3.2 support and compatibility with prior USB versions, the Transporter Portable SSD offers supreme performance for easy file, photo, video and any kind of download or transfer. Along with its plug-and-play design, sleek compact exterior and dual Type-C to Type A+C connection, the Transporter Portable SSD offers the perfect combination of versatility, performance and quality for any PC or Mac user.

Samsung Electronics, a global leader in advanced memory technology, today announced the release of its latest lineup of the T-series, the Portable Solid State Drive (SSD) T9. With its stylish and portable design, the T9 is built to keep data safe while on-the-go, empowering users with fast transfer speeds and ample storage, and providing the reliability and convenience they need.

"With advances in high-resolution photos and the rising popularity of 4K videos, professional content creators now face the necessity of transferring large amounts of data on a frequent basis," said Hangu Sohn, Vice President of Memory Brand Product Biz Team at Samsung Electronics. "The T9 offers a solution for professionals to alleviate the challenges that come with managing their data, and Samsung will continue to provide optimized memory solutions that enable professionals to fully concentrate on achieving their creative potential."

Samsung seems to be preparing follow ups to its current selection of Portable T7 SSDs—the series debuted back in early 2020, so a couple of successors are more than due. Last week TechRadar started to pick up on various retail listings popping up in Australia, France and the Netherlands. This information was posted online prematurely and by mistake—the involved organizations have since removed entries from their web stores. Samsung's Dutch division has been slow to respond, and its portal for a "MU-PG2T0B" model is still active (at the time of writing). France's Grosbill and P12.fr had listings for two T9 variants (1 TB and 2 TB configurations) sporting the aforementioned product code. Similar details appeared over in Australia, courtesy of the Microboss site. One of the French e-tailer spec sheets mentioned that Samsung's T9 SSD read and write speeds maxed out at 2 GB/s.

TechRadar believes that Samsung will be blowing out current T7 models during November's Black Friday sales week, in anticipation of clearing the way for all things T9. The publication managed to catch some (likely) placeholder prices from its sources, prior to removal: "There's also every chance it could be cheaper at launch than the T7, with PC12.fr retailing the T9 SSD for €236.52 including VAT (roughly $250) and Gosbill Pro retailing the device for just €199 (roughly $215) - though it's unclear if this is inclusive of taxes." There is also speculation regarding the integration of Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, since the older T7 generation relies on the preceding standard.

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, is unveiling a variety of new products that are estimated to be launched in Q4 2023. Designed for photography professionals and PC enthusiasts to accelerate their workflow, the expanded portfolio includes a new microSD card, internal SSDs, DRAM, and portable SSDs.

The new Professional GOLD micro SDXC UHS-II card, available in 128 GB and 256 GB, leverages the high-speed performance and a Video Speed Class 60 (V60) rating, allowing users to quickly capture, play back, and transfer high-definition multimedia files, including 4K video, with a read transfer speed up to 280 MB/s. This card is also great for use with gaming devices, sports camcorders, tablets, or smartphones, and drones.

Over the past few months there have been reports of issues with SanDisk portable SSDs and Western Digital released a firmware update in May that was meant to prevent the drives from "unexpectedly disconnect from a computer". However, it appears that this firmware update didn't solve the problem and Western Digital is now being taken to court over drives not just having disconnect issues, but also randomly failing. The court case is expected to become a class action suit, as the plaintiff claims that the issue of failing drives affect tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people in the USA.

The models included in the complaint includes the SanDisk Extreme Pro, Extreme Portable, Extreme Pro Portable and WD My Passport SSD. A further firmware update was released in July, which is said to have made the issues even worse, with data being lost on drives or being inaccessible to drive owners. In some cases the drives go into read only mode, but sometimes this means that the drives become inaccessible to the OS, which in turn also means dataloss to the user. Time will tell how this plays out, but it's not looking great for Western Digital, but it wouldn't be the first time a storage device maker has been taken to court over failing products.