Product Showcase
The 2TB Portable SSD is enclosed in a compact, sophisticated cardboard box. The Lexar emblem is prominently displayed at the top, with an image of the SSD in the center. Portable SSDs are designed with an integrated drive and controller, often bridging communication with devices via PCIe 3.0 and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interfaces, facilitating speeds up to 20 Gbps. The inclusion of the Silicon Motion SM2320 processor, known for its compact, efficient design capable of supporting up to 4TB of storage, enhances the product's appeal. The single-chip architecture optimizes space and cost, despite some limitations.
Lexar's latest SSD blurs the line between sleek, compact drives and durable, rugged ones. It features a sandblasted aluminium body without a specific drop rating and lacks a weather resistance rating, yet includes a carabiner handle for easy attachment and transport.
The SSD is equipped with a USB Type-C connector, supporting USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 standards for peak transfer speeds of 20 Gbps, and is backward-compatible with previous USB versions. However, the full potential of these speeds is only achievable with compatible ports, which are primarily found on high-end desktop motherboards. We've put together a short USB4 refresher, explaining the fundamentals of the standard, including its important features like protocol tunnelling, Alt Mode, and power delivery, and how they compare to previous versions.
| USB Version | Transfer Rate | Connector Type |
| USB4 | Minimum Of 20Gbps 40Gbps Optional | USB-C |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, Aka USB 20Gbps | 20Gbps | USB-C |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 ,Aka USB 10Gbps | 10Gbps | USB-C, USB-A, USB-B, Micro USB-B |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1, Aka USB 5Gbps | 5Gbps | USB-C, USB-A, USB-B, Micro USB-B |
| USB 2.0 | 0.48Gbps | USB-C, USB-A, USB-B, Micro USB-B, Micro USB-A, Mini USB-B, Mini USB-A |
| USB 1.1 | 0.012Gbps | USB-A, USB-B |
| Thunderbolt 4 | 40Gbps | USB-C |
| Thunderbolt 3 | 40Gbps | USB-C |
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, known for its 20 Gbps capability via dual 10 Gbps lanes, aims to clarify USB naming conventions, despite potential consumer confusion. The Lexar SL600 SSD utilizes this interface for potential read and write speeds up to 2,000MB/s, although compatibility limitations with many PCs and Macs may restrict users from experiencing these maximum speeds. Nonetheless, the drive remains significantly faster than traditional external HDDs, even without Gen 3.2 2x2 support.
