ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Lexar SL500 is available from Amazon, with prices ranging from $99 for the 1TB version to $310 for the 4TB version.
• This drive is slim, light, and fast, and is speedy enough to keep up with recording ProRes video on the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max.
• Systems that don’t support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 will see significantly slower speeds.

If you record video — either on your phone, action camera, or drone — you need as much space as you can get. The problem is, external hard drives can be bulky, and as such they get left behind — I know, I do this too often!

I’ve been looking for a high-performance drive that can take the rough and tumble of being thrown in a pocket or bag.

A lot of drives haven’t made the grade, but then the Lexar SL500 came into my life.

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Lexar SL500 tech specs

• Capacity: 512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB
• Interface: USB 3.2 Gen2x2
• Performance: Up to 2,000MB/s read, up to 1,800MB/s write
• Dimension: 85mm x 54mm x 7.8mm (the thinnest part is only 4.8mm)
• Weight: 43g
• System supported: macOSX 10.6+, Windows 7+, Android 4.4+, Harmony OS, iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max running iOS 17+, gaming consoles, cameras, and more
• Encryption: 256-bit AES software encryption
• Warranty: 5-year limited warranty

The SL500 breaks the mold by being a thin and light SSD, roughly the size of a credit card and only 4.8mm thick. Its slim, solid aluminum unibody construction fits comfortably in the palm of your hand or slips unobtrusively into a pocket. 

The design not only protects the drive from bumps and scrapes but also does a fantastic job of dissipating heat. The SL500 is also fast, capable of reaching up to 2,000MB/s read and 1,800MB/s write speeds, making it easy to move large files. Performance on Macs and other systems that don’t support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 may be significantly lower. 

I’ve tested the performance of the drive and my benchmark results came within 10% of the speeds listed on the spec sheet, which is acceptable. 

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For iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max users who want to use their handset for cinematic video, the SL500 supports Apple ProRes recording. The ProRes format is massive — one minute of video shot in ProRes 4K consumes 6GB of storage space — but the detail it captures is stunning, and the iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max can record directly to the SL500.

The drive comes with a USB-C-to-USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-A adapter, allowing it to connect to both new and older systems.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Looking for a thin and light drive, one that will let you record ProRes video on your iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, or just something portable that will easily slip into a pocket or bag? The Lexar SL500 is definitely worth a look. Just bear in mind that if your system doesn’t support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, you’ll experience a huge performance hit.