IFA 2026: Meet Lexar Muse, the World’s Thinnest Portable SSD

Introduced at IFA 2026, the Lexar Muse Ultra-Slim Portable SSD is the world’s thinnest portable SSD. Its card-like metal body puts external storage into a remarkably slim form, designed for everyday carry and mobile creation.

For creators who shoot with a phone and work wherever inspiration takes them, Lexar Muse combines that refined shape with a magnetic carry sleeve, intuitive data connection, and fast transfers. The result is portable storage designed around both the way it looks and the way you use it.

That combination drew recognition at IFA 2026, where Lexar Muse was selected among the best products by Gizmodo, Tom’s Hardware, MakeUseOf, XDA, How-To Geek, and Yanko Design. Gizmodo awarded it Best Mobile Accessory, while MakeUseOf and XDA included it among their Best in Show winners. The launch also attracted coverage from international technology publications, including TechRadar and Frandroid.

From Box-Shaped to Card-Thin

Many traditional portable SSDs use a compact, box-shaped enclosure that sits comfortably beside a laptop. Bring that same shape into a handheld phone setup, and its depth becomes more noticeable. A thicker drive can add a raised block behind the phone, even when a magnetic mount keeps it attached.

Lexar Muse takes a flatter approach. Its 80 × 48 mm metal body measures just 3.8 mm at its thickest point, with edges tapering to 1 mm. This card-like profile is easy to slip into a pocket and fits neatly inside its dedicated magnetic sleeve for phone use.

The distinction matters when storage becomes part of something you hold throughout a shoot. A slim body helps keep the phone and drive arranged as a compact unit, with less bulk to accommodate around your handheld setup. Tom’s Hardware highlighted this same design consideration: thickness matters when a drive is intended to mount behind a phone for recording video.

Crafted from the Inside Out

Lexar Muse’s slimness starts with a coordinated approach to its internal structure and exterior. A custom ultra-thin PCB provides a compact foundation, while high-density NAND stacking and an integrated component layout make efficient use of the space inside. These elements work together to bring storage into a remarkably shallow enclosure.

The exterior is precision-machined from a single piece of metal. This unibody construction minimizes seams and joins, creating a clean surface and continuous outline. Gradually tapered edges refine the profile further, giving the drive its distinctive shape from the side as well as from above.

Its understated finish makes the drive a natural companion to iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Whether attached to a phone or placed beside a laptop, the simple metal form keeps the overall setup visually clean.

A Cleaner Way to Connect

For a portable SSD used with a phone, mounting and connecting the drive are both parts of getting ready to shoot. Lexar Muse brings those actions into a simple sequence: slide in, snap on, and connect.

First, slide Lexar Muse into the magnetic carry sleeve. Next, attach the sleeve to the back of a compatible MagSafe iPhone or case. Finally, connect the supplied SnapLink Magnetic Cable between Lexar Muse’s PogoPin magnetic data interface and the phone’s USB-C port.¹

At the SSD end, SnapLink meets a recessed contact area on the drive’s surface rather than plugging into a conventional USB-C socket. Spring-loaded pins establish the data connection, while N52-grade neodymium magnets guide alignment and help hold it securely in place. The sleeve also uses N52 magnets to secure the drive to the phone.

The sleeve holds the drive against the phone while the cable carries data. Together, they keep the components organized as you change position, frame a shot, or move to the next location. Lexar Muse can also be used outside the sleeve when connected to another compatible USB-C device.

From Capture to Edit

With Lexar Muse connected, compatible iPhone models can record Apple ProRes 4K video at up to 120 fps directly to the drive.¹ During a day of filming, this gives footage its own storage space and preserves phone capacity for other uses.

When shooting is finished, connect Lexar Muse to a compatible iPad or Mac to access and transfer the original files. With read speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and write speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s, the drive helps move large clips into the next stage of your project.² The same drive can hold your footage as you move from shooting on location to reviewing clips on a tablet and organizing a project on a computer.

For photos and videos already stored on your phone, the Lexar App supports automatic backup to Lexar Muse. This complements direct recording by giving everyday captures a second copy. Compatibility with iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other USB-C devices extends that usefulness across creative work and routine file storage.

Yanko Design captured the appeal for mobile creators, describing Lexar Muse as hardware that “finally treats a phone’s camera like the serious tool it’s already become.”

More Room for Inspiration

Lexar Muse Ultra-Slim Portable SSD will be available in 512GB and 1TB capacities from Q4 2026.³ Explore the Lexar Muse Ultra-Slim Portable SSD for a closer look at its card-thin design, magnetic connection, and mobile creative possibilities.

¹ iPhone use requires a USB-C-equipped model from the iPhone 15 series or later. MagSafe attachment and direct external ProRes recording support vary by iPhone model and case. Supported resolutions and frame rates depend on the device and recording settings.

² Maximum speeds vary with the host device, interface, usage conditions, and other factors.

³ Regional availability may vary.