Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD Review: Fast, Durable Storage for Mobile Creators

Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD snaps to MagSafe, hits 2000MB/s, supports iPhone ProRes 4K120, and is built tough with IP65 and 3m drop.

The Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD is a compact, high-speed external drive designed for creators and everyday users. Unlike standard portable SSDs, it features a magnetic design, allowing you to attach it directly to MagSafe-compatible iPhones or other devices using the included metal ring. That makes it especially appealing for mobile filmmakers, content creators, and anyone who wants a clutter-free, on-the-go setup for file transfers, backups, or direct-to-drive video capture.

Performance on the ES5 is rated at up to 2,000MB/s for both reads and writes over USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, which is as fast as this interface allows. Actual speeds depend on the host system, so unless your computer supports Gen 2×2, you will see lower transfer rates capped by the older port. The ES5 works with iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and newer models to record directly in Apple ProRes up to 4K120. Additionally, Samsung’s latest Pro Video devices support up to 8K30. That puts it in the category of drives designed for high-bandwidth recording, not just file shuffling.

For laptops and desktops, it is simply a quick, compact SSD, but its real niche is as supplemental storage for smartphones. Most phones today ship with plenty of capacity for casual use, so the ES5 is unlikely to appeal to the average user. Instead, it targets creators (e.g., YouTubers, influencers, and filmmakers) who regularly shoot high-bitrate 4K and 8K video and need reliable storage that can keep up with demanding workflows.

Lexar has bundled in software support with its mobile app. The Lexar app offers auto photo/video backup from iOS and Android devices, extending storage and helping offload content without relying on cloud services. For security, it comes with AES 256-bit encryption (via Lexar DataShield), useful for those carrying sensitive files.

The ES5 is priced at approximately $120 (1TB) and $200 (2TB) on Amazon (affiliate) and comes with a 5-year warranty. A 4TB model is set for release sometime early next year. We will be reviewing the 2TB model.

Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD Specifications

Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD Design and build

The Lexar ES5 features a white liquid silicone shell, providing a soft, grippy texture while maintaining a slim and lightweight body at 49 grams. It feels less like a chunky external drive and more like an accessory you can comfortably carry with your everyday kit. Lexar includes a cable organizer that doubles as a lanyard, as well as a thin, flexible cord that is easier to use on the go than the stiff cables typically shipped with most portable SSDs.

The defining feature, though, is its magnetic mounting system. The ES5 can snap onto the back of a laptop screen or a MagSafe-compatible phone, keeping it secure and out of the way while in use. The magnet felt strong, as I could move my laptop around without the drive shifting, and it only came off when I applied real force. That gives me confidence that it will stay in place during recording sessions.

For durability, the ES5 is IP65-rated for dust and water resistance, drop-tested to a height of three meters, and features thermal control to maintain stable speeds during prolonged transfers. It feels like a drive made to travel with you, easy to slot into a mobile workflow while still tough enough to handle everyday knocks and field use.

Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD Performance

First, we examine the Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD’s performance in terms of transfer speeds using the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test and IOMeter benchmarks in both single-queue and four-queue configurations.

The ES5 is a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 drive, so while it won’t reach the raw throughput of USB4 devices, it competes directly with the fastest Gen 2×2 portable SSDs on the market. For context, we included comparables across both USB4 and USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 categories.

• SanDisk Extreme PRO USB4
• Lexar SL500
• TEAMGROUP PD20
• Crucial X10 Pro
• Samsung T9

Here’s the high-performance test rig we used for benchmarking the ES5 and other drives:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
• Motherboard: Asus ROG Crosshair X870E Hero
• RAM: G.SKILL Trident Z5 Royal Series DDR5-6000 (2x16GB)
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090
• OS: Windows 11 Pro, Ubuntu 22.04 Server

Blackmagic Disk Speed Test

On the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, the Lexar ES5 delivered 1,797.2MB/s write and 1,823.8MB/s read. This places it in the expected range for a Gen 2×2 SSD, and well above the plateau seen on USB 3.2 Gen 2 drives. Compared to USB4 models, absolute speeds are lower, but its solid performance with broad usability remains the ES5’s strengths.

IOMeter 1 Queue

The Lexar ES5’s single-queue results landed where we would expect for a Gen 2×2 portable SSD. Sequential performance came in at 1,739.98MB/s write and 1,822.30MB/s read, which is close to its rated ceiling and slightly ahead of older Gen 2×2 drives like the Samsung T9 and Crucial X10 Pro. Random 2MB transfers were also solid, particularly on writes, where the ES5 managed 1,659.51MB/s.

Small-block responsiveness showed 13,638 IOPS in 4K writes, while 6,307 IOPS in 4K reads put it comfortably above most Gen 2×2 peers. Overall, the ES5 doesn’t compete with USB4-class drives, such as the SanDisk Extreme PRO. Still, within its category, it exhibits well-balanced and consistent performance that suits both everyday workloads and more demanding mobile workflows.

Here’s a full rundown of the results:

IOMeter 4 Queue

The Lexar ES5 performed well under multithreaded workloads. Sequential performance reached 1,927.68MB/s write and 2,023.53MB/s read, which is near the upper limits of Gen 2×2 drives and slightly ahead of peers like the Crucial X10 Pro and Samsung T9. In random 2MB transfers, the ES5 again performed consistently, with 1,821.56MB/s write and 1,463.04MB/s read, demonstrating a balanced profile.

Small-block operation performance was also excellent, with its 56,885 IOPS in 4K writes and 22,318 IOPS in 4K reads being among the highest in the group, outpacing most other Gen 2×2 drives and delivering strong responsiveness under heavier loads. Again, while it cannot match the raw sequential bandwidth of USB4 drives like the SanDisk Extreme PRO, the ES5 proved to be a competitive performer within its class.

PCMark 10 Storage (Data Drive)

PCMark 10 is a good indicator of how a drive feels in day-to-day use. It measures responsiveness in tasks like file transfers, application launches, and accessing media.

The Lexar ES5 scored 1,293, with a bandwidth of 201.18MB/s and an average access time of 126µs. Those numbers place it behind the SanDisk Extreme PRO USB4 and LaCie Rugged SSD4, which is expected since the ES5 is a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 device rather than a USB4 device. We show the USB4 drives here to illustrate the gap in interface performance, not as direct competition. Within its Gen 2×2 class, the ES5 performs as expected, offering solid responsiveness for everyday workloads and consistently handling large media transfers.

3DMark Storage Benchmark

3DMark’s Storage Benchmark focuses on gaming-related scenarios, such as loading levels, saving progress, and installing and moving games.

The Lexar ES5 scored 1,177, with an average bandwidth of 190.43MB/s and an access latency of 144µs. Its strongest showing came in the “Move Game” test, where it reached 1000.12MB/s, a result that highlights its ability to handle large sequential transfers efficiently. Other tasks, such as saving (80.96MB/s) and recording games (70.06MB/s), were more modest, which is typical for drives in this class.

The SanDisk and LaCie USB4 drives scored higher overall, but these results primarily reflect the faster interface rather than a direct product comparison. While not explicitly designed for gaming use cases, the ES5’s performance demonstrates that it remains a dependable option for media-intensive use cases where large files are frequently transferred.

Conclusion

The Lexar ES5 Magnetic Portable SSD is clearly built with mobile creators in mind. Its slim, silicone-wrapped body and magnetic mounting system make it easy to carry and simple to attach to a laptop screen or phone during use. With the addition of IP65 protection and drop resistance, it feels ready for real-world work, where gear is expected to withstand a few knocks.

Performance results indicate that the ES5 makes the most of its USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface. Sequential transfers are fast enough for direct video recording and quick offloads from a phone or camera, while small-block results are steady enough to maintain smooth everyday use. It is not the drive for someone who needs top synthetic performance, but for its intended audience, it delivers reliable speed where it matters.

At around $120 for 1TB and $200 for 2TB, with a 5-year warranty included, the ES5 is a nice balance of price, durability, and real utility. So, if you are a creator who regularly fills your phone or camera with high-bitrate video and need a drive you can trust to keep up, the ES5 is an easy recommendation. For more casual users, it remains a compact and dependable portable SSD, but it’s best suited for those who rely on their phone or tablet for serious content work.

ES5 at Amazon (affiliate)

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