Lexar SL600 Portable SSD 4TB Review: High-Capacity USB-C Storage

Introduction

Lexar’s SL600 sits between their budget SL500 and the professional-oriented SL700/800 lines. With USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) interface support, it delivers up to 1,600 MB/s read speeds — significantly faster than the 10Gbps competition — at a price that undercuts SanDisk and WD equivalents.

Priced at ¥1,799–¥2,099 (~$250–$292) for the 4TB model on JD.com, it competes with Samsung’s T9 4TB (¥3,199) and SanDisk’s Extreme Pro 4TB (¥3,499). The price advantage is substantial — roughly ¥1,000-1,400 less than the top-tier competition.

Specifications

Item	Spec
Capacity	4TB (also 1TB, 2TB)
Interface	USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) via USB-C
Sequential Read	Up to 1,600 MB/s
Sequential Write	Up to 1,500 MB/s
NAND	3D TLC NAND
Dimensions	95 × 50 × 10mm
Weight	~68g
Material	CNC aluminum alloy enclosure
Drop Protection	2m drop resistant
Encryption	Software-based AES 256-bit
Warranty	5-year limited
Price	¥1,799–¥2,099 (~$250–$292)

Design and Build Quality

The SL600 uses a unibody CNC aluminum chassis with a brushed finish. The design is clean and professional — it looks like a precision instrument. The aluminum body is excellent for heat dissipation, keeping the NVMe SSD cool during sustained transfers.

A blue LED strip on the edge provides status indication. The USB-C port is on the short end, and the included cable is a high-quality braided USB-C to USB-C cable that supports 20Gbps speeds. A USB-A adapter is also included for legacy compatibility.

At 95 × 50 × 10mm and 68g, it’s slightly larger than Kingston’s XS1000 but significantly smaller than SanDisk’s Extreme Pro. The aluminum body feels premium and durable. The compact size fits easily in any bag pocket.

Performance

With a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) port, CrystalDiskMark results:

• Sequential read: ~1,600 MB/s
• Sequential write: ~1,480 MB/s
• Random 4K read (QD32): ~15,000 IOPS
• Random 4K write (QD32): ~28,000 IOPS

The 1,600 MB/s read speed is a significant step up from 10Gbps SSDs (which top out at ~1,050 MB/s). In real-world tests, transferring a 50GB 4K video project took approximately 35 seconds — roughly 30% faster than the Samsung T7 or SanDisk Extreme.

However, as with the SanDisk Extreme Pro, the 20Gbps interface is limited to Windows PCs with compatible ports. Apple Silicon Macs are limited to 10Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2), capping the drive at ~1,050 MB/s.

The aluminum thermal design is effective. In 30-minute sustained write tests, the drive maintained peak speeds without throttling, reaching ~55°C surface temperature — warm but well within operating range.

What Chinese Users Say

“Excellent value 4TB portable SSD. The 1,600 MB/s speed is real on my Windows PC with a 20Gbps USB-C port. Transfers are noticeably faster than my old Samsung T7. The aluminum body feels premium.” — Gu Sheng (顾晟), JD Verified Buyer ★★★★★

“I use this as my primary external drive for video editing. The sustained write speed is consistent — no throttling even during hour-long transfers. At ¥1,999 for 4TB, it’s the best value in the high-capacity category.” — Tang Lin (唐琳), Tmall Verified Buyer ★★★★★

“On my MacBook Pro M3 Max, I only get about 1,000 MB/s because Apple doesn’t support USB 3.2 2×2. The drive itself is well-built but the Mac limitation is frustrating. Still, 1,000 MB/s for 4TB at this price is excellent.” — Jia Feng (贾峰), JD Verified Buyer ★★★★

“I compared this with the Samsung T9. The SL600 is cheaper, slightly lighter, and has comparable real-world performance. The T9 has hardware encryption which the Lexar lacks. For me, the Lexar was the better choice.” — Shen Yang (沈洋), Tmall Verified Buyer ★★★★★

Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Fast 1,600/1,500 MB/s speeds (requires 20Gbps port)
2. Excellent 4TB capacity at competitive pricing
3. Premium CNC aluminum build
4. Effective thermal management
5. 5-year warranty
6. Thin and portable (10mm)
7. Good value vs Samsung T9 and SanDisk Extreme Pro

Cons

1. 20Gbps speed limited to Windows PCs with compatible ports
2. Not Mac optimized (caps at 10Gbps on Apple Silicon)
3. No hardware encryption
4. No IP-rated water/dust protection
5. Short included cable

FAQ

Q1: Will I get 1,600 MB/s on my Mac? No. Apple Silicon Macs support USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps), limiting the drive to ~1,050 MB/s. Intel Macs with Thunderbolt ports also run at 10Gbps. For full 1,600 MB/s, you need a Windows PC with a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) port.

Q2: Is the SL600 compatible with PS5 and Xbox Series X? Yes, it works as an external USB drive. For PS5, it supports PS4 game playback and PS5 game storage (transfer to internal for play). For Xbox, it works for backward-compatible titles and media storage.

Q3: How does the SL600 compare to the Lexar SL500? The SL600 is faster (1,600 vs 1,050 MB/s read) and uses USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 vs Gen 2. The SL500 is cheaper and smaller. For 20Gbps performance, choose the SL600; for 10Gbps budget storage, the SL500 is sufficient.

Q4: Does the drive stay cool during use? The aluminum body dissipates heat effectively. Under sustained load, surface temperature reaches approximately 55°C — warm but safe. The drive does not throttle under normal usage conditions.

Q5: What’s the included cable quality? The included USB-C to USB-C cable is a thick, braided cable rated for 20Gbps. It’s approximately 25cm long. Lexar also includes a USB-C to USB-A adapter for legacy ports.

Verdict and Rating

The Lexar SL600 4TB Portable SSD offers an impressive combination of speed, capacity, and value. While the 20Gbps speed advantage is limited to compatible Windows systems, even at 10Gbps it competes favorably with the Samsung T9 and SanDisk Extreme Pro at a significantly lower price. For Windows users with 20Gbps ports, it’s arguably the best value high-capacity portable SSD available in China.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.3/5)

• Speed Performance: 4.6/5
• Capacity Value: 4.8/5
• Build Quality: 4.5/5
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: 3.8/5
• Warranty & Support: 4.5/5