ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Tremendous-fast SSD that is speedy sufficient to deal with Apple ProRes video recording
- The drive is small, skinny, and lightweight sufficient to connect to an iPhone with out including an excessive amount of bulk or weight
- Programs that do not help USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 will see considerably slower speeds.
The iPhone is a incredible device for each budding {and professional} videographers, and it could possibly simply seize gorgeous photographs. Nonetheless, the draw back of utilizing your smartphone for recording video is that you just shortly notice video recordsdata are large, and also you quickly end up battling storage points.
The excellent news is that if in case you have one of many newer iPhones with USB-C ports, you’ll be able to simply add extra storage utilizing an exterior drive. However then you definitely begin working into one other downside — an exterior drive dangling out of your iPhone dampens the inside Christopher Nolan in the most effective of us. Clamps and mounts can be found, however that is simply one other factor to hold (or overlook).
Thankfully, the reminiscence and storage consultants at Lexar have provide you with an answer, and it is slightly sensible. They’ve mixed their spectacular SL500 SSD with a magnetic silicone case that connects to the MagSafe ring on the iPhone and added a super-flexible USB-C cable to attach the 2 — ensuing within the good cinematography setup!
On the core of this equipment is Lexar’s SL500. I’ve lined this drive earlier than, and it is a beast. It presents USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 efficiency of as much as 2,000 MB/s learn and 1,800 MB/s write.
That is the SL500 out of the silicone case.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
This drive is quick sufficient for the iPhone 15 Professional and iPhone 15 Professional Max to shoot as much as 4K 60 FPS on to the drive. The SL500 helps Apple ProRes recording, an enormous file format by which one minute of video shot in ProRes 4K takes up 6 GB of space for storing — however the element it captures is gorgeous.
The silicone case has a built-in magnetic ring suitable with the iPhone’s MagSafe attachment.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
I’ve examined the drive on a number of completely different methods, and my benchmark outcomes have been inside 10% of the speeds listed on the spec sheet, which is greater than acceptable.
The SL500 is skinny and lightweight, roughly the scale of a bank card, measuring solely 4.8 mm thick and weighing simply 43 g. Its slim, strong aluminum unibody development matches comfortably within the palm of your hand, slips unobtrusively right into a pocket, and matches onto the again of an iPhone.
The silicone case provides safety to the SL500 with out including a lot bulk or weight.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
To make it match, a silicone sleeve with its personal magnetic ring permits the drive to clamp onto the MagSafe ring. The connection is strong, and since the drive itself is gentle, the equipment would not add a lot weight or bulk to the iPhone.
Additionally: The thinnest exterior SSD I’ve ever examined can be actually quick, however there is a catch
Lexar has additionally provided a really versatile USB-C-to-USB-C cable for connecting the drive to the iPhone, a lanyard to stop dropping the drive, and even a sticky magnetic ring so you’ll be able to affix the drive to one thing else — resembling a spot in your desk, the lid of your laptop computer, and even an Android gadget.
The entire equipment could be very smooth.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The drive is available in 2 TB and 4 TB variations, so you’ll be able to select the capability that most closely fits your wants.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
The Lexar SL500 SSD was already an outstanding SSD and ideal for iPhone videographers. Nonetheless, the magnetic silicone sleeve and equipment remodel it into a really neat and streamlined piece of equipment that leverages the comfort of MagSafe. The equipment retails for $206 for the 2TB drive, and $329 for the 4TB model.
Additionally: One of the best exterior exhausting drives you should purchase
If you have already got an SL500 drive and want a mount to connect to your iPhone, I like to recommend the SmallRig 2-in-1 SSD Mount.