At CES 2026, Lexar outlined a broader shift in how it approaches storage, moving beyond raw capacity and speed toward products designed to support AI-driven workloads and increasingly mobile data processing. Rather than treating artificial intelligence as a marketing label, the company is positioning storage as a foundational component for AI PCs, edge devices, and content creation tools that rely on sustained throughput and low-latency access.
Central to this strategy is the debut of the Lexar AI Storage Core platform, which serves as an umbrella for a new category of products aimed at compute-intensive environments. The first is an AI-Grade SSD intended for AI PCs and systems that run local inference or other demanding workloads over long periods, where consistent performance matters more than peak burst speeds. Lexar also plans an AI-Grade Storage Stick, designed as a modular expansion option for next-generation devices that favor compact, swappable storage over traditional internal drives. Rounding out the trio is an AI-Grade Card built for scenarios such as 8K AI imaging, real-time analytics, and sensor-heavy edge applications, areas where removable media still plays a critical role.
Alongside its AI-focused announcements, Lexar refreshed several products aimed at more conventional users, including creators, gamers, and mobile professionals. One of the more travel-friendly additions is the Air Portable SSD, which is now being rolled out globally after an initial launch in China. Weighing just 0.6 ounces, the drive is clearly designed for portability rather than maximum capacity. It targets photographers, video editors, and designers who need fast external storage that can be carried without adding noticeable weight. Lexar highlights integration with its companion app, which enables automatic backups and simplified file management while on the move.
Removable storage also received attention with the introduction of the 2TB Professional Silver Plus microSDXC card. Lexar claims it is currently the fastest 2TB UHS-I microSD card available, offering read speeds up to 255MB/s and write speeds up to 180MB/s. Those specifications make it suitable for higher-bitrate recording scenarios such as 4K60 video, as well as for drone operators and outdoor creators who need large capacities without stepping up to bulkier media formats.
For users who prefer internal upgrades, Lexar expanded its PCIe Gen 4.0 lineup with the Play X SSD. With read speeds quoted up to 7,400MB/s and write speeds up to 6,500MB/s, it is positioned squarely in the performance segment for gaming PCs and high-end consumer systems, rather than enterprise hardware.
Lexar also used CES 2026 to give greater visibility to the TouchLock Portable SSD, first announced last year. The drive focuses on security, using NFC-based authentication and 128-bit AES encryption to allow access via a smartphone tap. Features such as magnetic attachment and automatic photo backup suggest it is aimed at users who prioritize secure, portable storage over maximum throughput.
Taken together, Lexar’s CES announcements reflect a company attempting to balance emerging AI use cases with established storage needs. Rather than betting everything on one category, Lexar is spreading its focus across AI platforms, portable devices, and high-capacity removable media, acknowledging that storage demands continue to fragment as computing becomes more distributed.
