Lexar unveils the Muse, claimed to be the world's thinnest portable SSD

[Leo29]

Lexar unveiled the Muse Ultra-Slim Portable SSD at IFA 2026 in Berlin, claiming the title of world's thinnest portable SSD as the company marks its 30th anniversary. The drive uses a precision-machined unibody metal enclosure formed from a single piece of metal, measuring approximately 3.8mm at its thickest point and tapering to just 1mm at the edge, paired with a card-like form factor designed to slip into a pocket without the usual bulk and cable clutter of a typical portable SSD

Rather than a standard USB-C port, the Muse connects through Lexar's proprietary PogoPin magnetic data connection alongside a supplied SnapLink magnetic cable and an included magnetic carry sleeve, aiming for a cleaner and more intuitive plug-in experience for creators. The drive delivers read speeds up to 1,050 MB/s and write speeds up to 1,000 MB/s, and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, Mac and other USB-C devices, including support for recording Apple ProRes 4K video directly from compatible iPhones at up to 120fps

Beyond the Muse, Lexar also used its IFA showcase to highlight its broader AI Storage Core lineup, including next-generation AI-grade Gen5 SSDs and storage sticks aimed at supporting AI workloads across PCs and emerging applications. The Muse will be available in 512GB and 1TB capacities starting in the fourth quarter of 2026. Curious what people think about magnetic proprietary connectors specifically for portable storage, does the sleeker design and easier connection genuinely outweigh the convenience of a universal USB-C port that works with literally any cable

Lexar Claims the World's Thinnest Portable SSD with the Muse at IFA 2026www.techpowerup.com

[Rustic Stuart]

Direct ProRes 4K recording support at 120fps specifically targets working videographers and content creators as the core audience here, this isn't really a general consumer product, it's built for a fairly specific professional workflow

[Cobra]

1,050 MB/s read speed is solid but not class leading for a portable SSD in 2026, the headline here is clearly the physical form factor and design rather than raw peak performance compared to competing drives

[Karen88]

A proprietary magnetic connector for storage specifically is the detail that gives me pause here, lose or damage that one specific cable and you're stuck, unlike a standard USB-C drive where literally any compatible cable works as a replacement

[WWFGareth98]

Fewer physical joints from that single piece unibody construction generally means fewer points where a drive can eventually fail or let in dust and moisture, a nice durability upside hiding behind the pure design pitch

[HiggsField41]

1mm at the edge tapering from 3.8mm at its thickest is genuinely impressive industrial design, that's thinner than most smartphones, worth appreciating the precision engineering required to fit real NAND storage into a profile that slim

[Distant Summer]

Curious how Lexar prices this relative to standard portable SSDs with comparable capacity, a premium magnetic connector and unusually thin design typically commands a real price premium over a more conventional competing drive