B&H is offering the Lexar 2TB SL500 portable solid‑state drive for 190 US dollars with a 210 USD coupon applied in cart. This deal is available for one day only. The regular price is 400 USD. The drive has read speeds up to 2,000 megabytes per second and write speeds up to 1,800 MB/s. It uses a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface, which provides peak performance on supported devices. The metal unibody design is dust‑resistant and water‑resistant and can survive drops from up to 6.6 feet (2 meters). The drive works with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and gaming consoles. It includes a USB‑C cable, a magnetic sleeve and an extra ring for attaching to laptops or iPhones. This review covers the key specifications, real‑world performance, durability features, device compatibility and why this deal is worth grabbing.
Key Specifications Of The Lexar SL500 2TB SSD
The table below summarises the core specifications based on product listings and expert reviews.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2 TB |
| Read Speed | Up to 2,000 MB/s |
| Write Speed | Up to 1,800 MB/s |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20 Gbps) |
| Backward Compatibility | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), USB 3.0, USB 2.0 |
| Encryption | Lexar DataShield 256‑bit AES |
| Durability | Metal unibody, dust‑resistant, water‑resistant, drop‑resistant up to 2 meters |
| Thickness | 0.3 inches (7.6 mm) |
| Size | Roughly credit‑card sized |
| Included Accessories | USB‑C cable, magnetic sleeve, extra ring |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Price (deal) | 190 USD |
| Price (regular) | 400 USD |
The drive uses a USB‑C connector. The USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface delivers up to 20 Gbps bandwidth, which is double the speed of standard USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps). However, not all devices support Gen 2×2. On Mac, iOS and other systems without full Gen 2×2 support, the drive still delivers solid speeds up to 10 Gbps.
Speed And Performance
The Lexar SL500 is a fast portable SSD. With read speeds up to 2,000 MB/s and write speeds up to 1,800 MB/s, it is suitable for:
- Transferring large video files (4K and 8K footage)
- Editing photos and videos directly from the drive
- Running games on a console or laptop
- Backing up entire system drives
For iPhones that support USB‑C video recording, the SL500 is fast enough to record 4K60 video directly to the drive. This is a practical feature for content creators who fill their phone‘s internal storage quickly. The drive’s compact size (0.3 inches thick, roughly credit‑card sized) makes it easy to carry in a pocket or small bag.
Durability And Physical Design
The SL500 has a metal unibody construction. It is designed to resist dust and water, though the exact IP rating is not specified. The drive can survive drops from up to 6.6 feet (2 meters). This makes it a good choice for travel, outdoor shoots and worksites where a drive might be knocked off a table.
Lexar‘s DataShield 256‑bit AES encryption protects your files if the drive is lost or stolen. The encryption is hardware‑based, meaning it does not slow down performance.
The drive comes with a magnetic sleeve and an extra ring. You can attach the sleeve to the back of a laptop or an iPhone (using a MagSafe‑compatible ring) and then snap the SSD into place. This eliminates the need to have the drive dangling from a cable during use.
Lexar SL500 2TB Vs Competitors
| Aspect | Lexar SL500 2TB | SanDisk Extreme 2TB | Samsung T7 Shield 2TB | Crucial X9 Pro 2TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read Speed | 2,000 MB/s | 1,050 MB/s | 1,050 MB/s | 1,050 MB/s |
| Write Speed | 1,800 MB/s | 1,000 MB/s | 1,000 MB/s | 1,000 MB/s |
| Interface | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Drop Resistance | 6.6 ft (2 m) | 6.6 ft (2 m) | 9.8 ft (3 m) | 7.5 ft |
| Water/Dust Resistance | Yes (unspecified) | IP55 | IP65 | IP55 |
| Magnetic Sleeve | Yes | No | No | No |
| Encryption | 256‑bit AES | 256‑bit AES | 256‑bit AES | 256‑bit AES |
| Price (deal / regular) | 190 / 400 USD | 140 / 200 USD (approx) | 150 / 220 USD (approx) | 160 / 230 USD (approx) |
The Lexar SL500 is significantly faster than the SanDisk Extreme, Samsung T7 Shield and Crucial X9 Pro, all of which are limited to 1,050 MB/s read speeds. The magnetic sleeve is a unique feature not found on competing drives. The 190 USD deal price is competitive with slower 2TB portable SSDs.
Compatibility And Use Cases
The SL500 works with a wide range of devices:
- Windows PC and laptop (requires USB‑C or USB‑A with adapter)
- Mac (USB‑C)
- iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16 series and newer (USB‑C)
- iPad Pro and iPad Air (USB‑C)
- Android phones and tablets (USB‑C)
- PlayStation 5 (for PS4 game storage and backup)
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox Series X and Series S
- Xbox One
On iPhone, the drive can record ProRes 4K60 video directly to the SSD. This prevents the phone‘s internal storage from filling up during long shoots. The magnetic sleeve and ring make it easy to attach the drive to the back of the phone, keeping the setup tidy.
On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the SL500 can store and play PS4 and Xbox One games. It cannot play PS5 or Series X games directly (those require the internal SSD or an approved expansion card), but it is useful for cold storage and transferring games.
Pros And Cons Of The Lexar SL500 2TB SSD
Pros
- Very fast read (2,000 MB/s) and write (1,800 MB/s) speeds.
- USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 interface delivers double the bandwidth of standard USB 3.2.
- Metal unibody design is dust‑resistant, water‑resistant and drop‑resistant.
- Magnetic sleeve and ring allow attachment to laptops and iPhones.
- 256‑bit AES hardware encryption protects data.
- Works with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, PlayStation and Xbox.
- Compact, credit‑card sized, 0.3‑inch thick.
- Can record 4K60 video directly from an iPhone.
- 2 TB capacity is sufficient for large photo, video and game libraries.
- Deal price (190 USD) is excellent for a 2,000 MB/s drive.
Cons
- The deal is for one day only (must buy today).
- Not all devices support USB 3.2 Gen 2×2; on older devices, speeds drop to 10 Gbps.
- The exact IP rating for water and dust resistance is not specified.
- No hardware write‑protect switch (some users prefer this for security).
- The drive is not user‑serviceable; the internal SSD cannot be removed.
- The cable is included, but it is short (typical for portable SSDs).
- Some users may prefer a drive with a built‑in fingerprint sensor for added security.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I get the 210 USD discount on the Lexar SL500?
Add the drive to your cart at B&H. The discount is applied automatically in the cart. No coupon code is needed.
How long is this deal available?
The deal is available today only (May 13, 2026). After today, the price is expected to return to 400 USD or a higher sale price.
Can I use the Lexar SL500 with an iPhone?
Yes. iPhones with USB‑C (iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16 series and newer) can connect to the drive. You can transfer files, back up photos and record ProRes 4K60 video directly to the SSD. The included magnetic sleeve and ring help attach the drive to the back of the phone.
