A portable SSD with NFC unlock felt excessive, until I used it with my iPhone 17 Pro Max


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Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD

ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • A super-thin and super-light portable SSD
  • Innovative NFC unlocking eliminates passcodes and biometrics
  • Not the fastest SSD, but fast enough to handle 4K ProRes 60 fps video

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I think the days of carrying data around in an unencrypted state have pretty much come to an end. It’s just too risky, especially if that data is in any way important or subject to regulatory oversight.

But encrypting and decrypting drives can also be a pain, and must be as quick and simple as possible. I don’t think that process can get any easier than tapping an SSD with your smartphone — and this is exactly how the Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD works. 

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Out of the box, the TouchLock Portable SSD feels small and light. Made of lightweight aluminum, measuring a petite 3.37 x 2.09 x 0.28 inches, and weighing in at only 1.4 ounces, this drive feels space-age. There’s an NFC touchpad on the back, a MagSafe magnet ring on the front for attaching to a smartphone, and a single USB-C port on the bottom. 

That MagSafe ring gives you a big clue as to the typical use case for this storage drive — a drive that attaches to your iPhone.  

The outer shell has been designed to survive a 6.5-foot drop, which is great for the rough-and-tumble of day-to-day life.

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On the inside is a 128-bit AES hardware-encrypted SSD that protects everything written to it, so your data is never left in an unencrypted state. The drive has been built with reliability in mind rather than speed, and to achieve this, Lexar developed a custom low-power controller that generated less heat but improved reliability. 

Unlocking the drive using NFC is quick and easy.

Unlocking the drive using NFC is quick and easy.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Despite not being built for speed, this drive can still reach write speeds of up to 450Mbps and read speeds of 420Mbps. This speed is fast enough for the device to handle 4K ProRes 60 frames-per-second video recorded directly by an iPhone (if you want a faster drive for the iPhone, but without the encryption, you’re looking at something like the Lexar ES3, but that doesn’t have built-in encryption). 

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This is the first drive in a long time that I had to read the manual to figure out how to use it. I first plugged the drive into my iPhone. Nothing happened. Then my Mac — and, once again, nothing happened. Then I read the manual and found out that I needed to download the appropriate Lexar app (iOS and Android), and use the NFC feature on my smartphone to unlock and set up the smartphone as the handset that unlocks the drive. 

The drive is super thin and light, and is dwarfed by the iPhone.

The drive is super thin and light, and is dwarfed by the iPhone.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Once that was done, the drive was easy to use. You connect it to a device — smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer — tap the smartphone onto the NFC pad, and it’s unlocked in a few seconds. From that point onwards, the drive acts like any other. 

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Along with the drive, you get a short USB-C-to-USB-C cable, a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter, and a self-adhesive magnetic ring to attach the drive to things other than iPhones. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD comes in a 500GB and 1TB model, for $94 and $143, respectively. I like the unlock mechanism because it’s quick and easy, but there is an initial passcode that you have to remember just in case you lose your phone or wipe the app or something like that. I also like how small and light the drive is — it’s barely noticeable when attached to an iPhone.

Performance was also more than acceptable, and Lexar has done a wonderful job of keeping heat to a minimum. I’ve tested a lot of SSDs that attach to your iPhone and get super hot, adding to the already ample amount of heat generated by the handset itself. 





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Michelin is a French multinational company that many consumers consider to be one of the most satisfying major tire brands. This firm makes several tire models that offer comfort, performance, all-terrain prowess, and everything in between — including cutting-edge products like the $42,000-per-set Michelin Pilot Sport PAX that it developed specifically for the Bugatti Veyron. Aside from its own tires, Michelin also owns other tire brands that you might be familiar with, including BFGoodrich, Achilles, and Corsa.

While tires are what Michelin is known for, the company has put its name to more than the rubber that wraps around your car’s rims. In fact, the company sells several other products that aren’t tires. So, we’re listing a few Michelin-branded items that you can buy online and in retail stores. While they might not all be made of rubber or even related to vehicles, these tools and accessories can come in handy when keeping your car — and even yourself — in good shape.

Michelin tire inflator

Since Michelin is primarily known for its tires, it makes sense for the company to sell a Michelin-branded tire inflator as well. That way, if you get a flat on one of the Michelin tires on your car or want to regularly top up your car’s tire pressure to maintain optimum performance, you can use a Michelin-branded pump to fill up your tires. The company actually sells several types of inflators on its Amazon page, but it only offers a single motorized unit — the Michelin Micro Tyre Inflator, which is available on Amazon for $98.99.

This little device is only slightly wider than an iPhone 17 and weighs about 400 grams, or 14 ounces. This means it’s easy to store in your car and to move to whichever tire needs topping up. More importantly, it takes power from a 12-volt socket, allowing you to run it using your car’s battery. It also has a USB port for charging your phone (or any other USB device) in case of an emergency.

Some users say that the device is slow, taking about 12 minutes to bring a tire from 10 to 32 PSI, but that’s not unexpected given its small size. Still, it should be good enough for regular weekly maintenance if you know your car’s proper tire pressure, or in case of an emergency. Its biggest downside is that you need a power source to run it, but having a dead battery and a flat tire simultaneously is likely a rare occurrence in many modern cars.

Michelin mini fridge

Taking a road trip during the summer can get you thirsty, and there’s no better way to quench that thirst than by drinking a cool can of soda (or your beverage of choice). If you want to ensure that you’ll always have a cold drink ready while you’re driving on the freeway, Michelin’s mini fridge will help you with that. This nifty little refrigerator is available on Amazon for just $99.99 and can be connected to either 110V AC or 12V DC power, ensuring that it will work on both your desk and in your car.

The mini fridge measures 6.9 x 9.45 x 10 inches (17.5 x 24 x 25.4 cm), meaning it can easily fit on a garage shelf or office desk. It should also be small enough to put on the floor of your car. Despite that relatively small size, it’s large enough to fit six 350-ml cans or four 500-ml bottles, and it will keep these items at a chilly 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. It also has an LED light on the door, so it can double as a night light if necessary.

Aside from keeping your drinks (and other food items) below room temperature, it also has a few other creature comforts. These include a removable shelf and door basket for flexibility and easy cleaning, as well as a retractable carry handle and a self-locking door to make transportation easier.

Michelin car floor mats

Heavy-duty car floor mats are often made from rubber for durability and water resistance, and since Michelin is in the business of rubber, it makes sense for the company to offer exactly that. So, if you want to protect your vehicle’s floor from dirt, dust, and mud, the company can help you with its Michelin all-weather car floor mats. This four-piece package is available on Amazon for $49.99 and comes in either black or tan.

The surface of these floor mats is specially designed to trap debris, snow, and water, preventing them from ruining the carpet on your vehicle. The mats have a cleat backing that grips your car’s floor and prevents them from slipping. The front row mats also come with what Michelin calls a Gripclip Retention System, allowing them to clip into your vehicle’s safety clips and adding even more reassurance that they won’t accidentally slip while you’re driving and pose a hazard to your safety.

These mats are universal and will work in most vehicles. However, they’re also easy to customize: If you find them a bit too large for the footwell of your tiny hatchback, you can use a pair of scissors to trim the edges for a perfect fit.

Michelin Stealth Ultra wiper blades

While Michelin’s Stealth Ultra wiper blades aren’t generally considered among the best windshield wipers, they appear to be a pretty good choice given their four-star rating on Amazon. These wipers cost $49.99 and are available in various size combinations for all sorts of cars. This ensures that no matter what vehicle you’re driving, you can probably find a set that will fit your needs.

These Michelin wipers are curved to conform to the shape of your windscreen for a clean, streak-free wipe. The company’s Amazon listing claims that these are designed to “withstand rain, wind, snow, mud, dust, or any other debris that might hamper your windshield’s visibility.” While you might think that windshield wipers are pretty simple items, and that you can just purchase any generic wipers off the internet, you must remember that they’re essential so that you have the best visibility possible during inclement weather. So, for your safety, consider investing in a set from a reputable brand like Michelin.

Michelin work boots

Michelin is known for making rubber tires to put on your car’s “feet,” but did you know it also makes shoes for the driver’s feet? The company makes sports & outdoor footwear, as well as shoes for work and safety. For this example, we have the Michelin HydroEdge Steel Toe waterproof work boot, listed for $210 on Amazon and at Georgia Boot. This shoe is available in U.S. sizes from 7.5 up to 14, ensuring that no matter what size you wear, you can get a Michelin work boot for yourself.

As the name suggests, this pair of shoes has steel toes to protect your feet from accidental impacts and is fully waterproof to help keep your feet dry, even in supposedly severe conditions. It also meets ASTM F2413 standards for electrical protection, meaning it has fully insulating soles to protect you from electrical hazards at work. Michelin also added what it calls an Advanced Rear Suspension system to its heel, ensuring proper shock absorption when you walk.





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