Lexar reached out to me asking if I was willing to test its new TouchLock Portable SSD. The company announced it at CES 2026, and it went on sale shortly after.
Before we get underway, Lexar provided a free sample without any editorial input or review pre-approval. Below are its specifications:
| Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD | |
|---|---|
| Capacity: | 512GB / 1TB / 2TB |
| Interface: | USB 3.2 Gen 1 |
| Speed: | Up to 450MB/s read, up to 420MB/s write |
| Dimensions: | 85.6 x 53 x 7mm |
| Weight: | 40g |
| Operation Temp: | 0°C to 50°C (32°F to 122°F) |
| Storage Temp: | -40°C to 85°C (-40°F to 185°F) |
| Durability: | 2-meter drop-resistant |
| Color: | Silver Grey |
| Material: | Metal (73% zinc alloy) |
| Warranty: | 3-year limited warranty |
| MSRP: | $84.99/£59.99 and $139.99/£99.99 |
Introduction
Yes, the TouchLock is available in three sizes, 512, 1TB, and 2TB (is said to be on the way), I have the 1TB version as denoted in bold up above. It also only comes in the one silver colorway. In addition, it is also only USB 3.2 Gen 1 which has a theoretical max speed of 625MB/s, the TouchLock is rated a bit lower at max 450MB/s, that"s likely to do with the hardware encryption which is the trade-off for the lower speeds.
I should also mention that Lexar claims it is drop resistant up to 2M under controlled laboratory conditions, but in the same sentence, Lexar warns that "damage caused from drops is not covered under warranty." Finally, the speed shown above was based on Lexar"s own internal speed testing.
Encryption is enforced
It is a little different from typical portable SSDs on the market. While many include software encryption controlled through an app, the TouchLock utilizes NFC and multi-level 128-bit AES hardware encryption. You still need an app to pair the TouchLock to an NFC-capable device, like a phone, but that"s the extent of it. This also means it is not possible to use it without the encryption, because accessing it relies on unlocking it with NFC, which also unlocks the hardware encryption.
There"s no factory reset option
This also means that if you lose the Recovery Key, password, and the NFC device you paired it to then the drive cannot be unlocked or factory reset. I reached out to Lexar for this confirmation and received the following statement:
Our TouchLock is an encrypted PSSD with a high security level. It requires dual verification of NFC and a key to decrypt and use the PSSD. Therefore, if you unfortunately lose the paired device, forget your password, and lose the recovery key, your TouchLock cannot be reset in any way. Please be sure to keep your password and recovery key safe to avoid risks.
Upon disconnecting the TouchLock, it automatically locks.
What"s in the box
- Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD
- USB-C to C cable with a USB-C to USB-A adapter
- Metal ring for magnetic attachment
- User manual
The rather compact box has everything you need to get started, it also includes a short USB cable, with one end comprising of a USB-C to USB-A adapter for additional compatibility.
Design
Lexar does not state anywhere on the product page or specifications what materials were used to make it, but at just 40 grams it becomes obvious that it"s a plastic housing, in fact I was able to hear a little creaking upon pressing down on it forcefully; I guess this also why the magnetic ring must be stuck on rather than being able to attach itself.
The branding on the top of the TouchLock looks quite premium, and yes, from the pictures, you could mistake it for being metal, but it isn"t.
There"s only one opening on the sides, and that is for the Type-C connector port. On the right side of the TouchLock, you can find the drive capacity and other information, such as an FCC id and serial number.
At the bottom of the TouchLock is where you will find all the regulatory safety marks and the product name. There"s also a circle to guide where you can stick the included magnetic circle that will allow you to magnetically attach it to a smartphone.
I noticed some reviewers suggested that it was no bigger than a credit card, so it could be stored in your wallet. As the above pic shows, yes, the TouchLock"s entire footprint fits on a credit card, but it is quite a bit thicker! It certainly wouldn"t take up much room in your pants pocket, but I think in most cases it isn"t going to comfortably fit in a wallet; maybe in a fanny pack, bag, or purse, it will be just fine.
Usage
The TouchLock is supported through the Lexar app on both Android and iOS; you will need one or the other in order to pair and use it. Lexar has a video of the entire setup process, but I also captured it in the gallery below, because the video does not include the Recovery Key steps.
Lexar does warn that you must back up your recovery key, because it is not possible to view it after the completion of setup. It can be saved as an image on the device, sent to another device, or shared via an app.
Speed
Next, I did a few tests with drive speed and manual copy/delete tests.
| AS SSD | CrystalDiskMark |
|---|---|
As you can see, it didn"t quite manage the write rating of 450MB/s, but it was over (AS SSD) and closer (CrystalDiskMark) to the 420MB/s read rating at 432.83MB/s, and 416.05MB/s respectively.
Next, I copied 77.8GB of my Documents folder, along with Epic Games data from my personal Cloud drive, consisting of small and large files over my 10GbE network, to the Lexar TouchLock. The whole process took just under nine and a half minutes, peaking at a speed of around 300 MB/s.
Finally, permanently deleting that same data took around 18 seconds.
Conclusion
What I liked:
- Really compact.
- Seamless unlocking.
- Hardware encryption.
- MagSafe compatible (iPhone required).
What I didn"t like:
- Not possible to use "insecurely" without encryption.
- Not possible to use without pairing over NFC to iOS or Android.
- It becomes a paperweight if you lose the Recovery key, password, and the NFC paired device.
Would I recommend?
If you need no-nonsense hardware encryption on a relatively compact portable SSD, then yes. If you are just looking for a data storage device and you aren"t worried about the encryption, then there are definitely better options out there where you are not paying for that hardware encryption and speed trade-offs.
Where to buy
Although Lexar claims on the product page that it comes in 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB, it is not possible to order any of those capacities on the official site, so we are left just the 512GB, and 1TB variants on Amazon.
- Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD (512GB) for $93.99 at Amazon US
- Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD (1TB) for $142.99 at Amazon US
It"s the same story in Germany and the UK, with the 2TB variant not available for sale at the time of writing. Lexar did not disclose when the 2TB variant will be made available, but I have reached out to my contact for details and will update when I hear back.
- Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD (512GB) for £59.99 at Amazon UK
- Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD (1TB) for £109.99 at Amazon UK
- Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD (512GB) for €69.99 at Amazon DE
- Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD (1TB) for €124.99 at Amazon DE
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