Exclusive: Lexar debuts mysterious AI grade stick form factor that promises hot swap, blazing speeds and no, I've got absolutely no clue how much it costs and whether device vendors will actually use it

Date:
Sat, 10 Jan 2026 19:20:00 +0000

Description:
Lexar debuts a hot-swappable AI-Grade Storage Stick at CES 2026, promising blazing speeds, flexibility, and uncertain adoption by manufacturers.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Lexar AI-Grade Storage Stick introduces a hot-swappable AI-Grade stick for high-performance AI laptops Modular design promises instant storage expansion without shutting down systems Practical adoption remains uncertain due to unknown pricing and vendor support

Lexar has debuted a modular AI-Grade Storage Stick designed to expand next-generation storage capacity instantly on compatible business laptops and mobile workstations .

Revealed at CES 2026 , The storage stick supports hot swapping, allowing
users to expand storage capacity instantly without powering down devices.

While this approach is technically appealing, pricing and adoption by device vendors remain entirely unclear, leaving questions about its practical relevance in real-world scenarios Designed for AI Workloads

The AI-Grade Stick is engineered for high-performance computational tasks, promising blazing speeds suitable for AI-driven applications.

Its compact, modular design emphasizes portability and immediate accessibility, suggesting potential value for professionals who require flexible storage solutions on the go.

When plugged in, this device integrates directly with the host system rather than behaving like a passive external device.

Lexar says it is not an alternative for internal SSDs, but offers a new expansion tier for systems where built-in capacity is increasingly limited

What differentiates it from conventional SSDs is its focus on AI workloads.
It is built to deliver consistent and sustained performance during long-running tasks.

First, AI-Grade Storage Stick is not a single finished product or SKU, but a new storage form factor built on Lexars AI Storage Core, a spokesperson of
the company told Techradar Pro.

Because of that, final performance, capacity, and pricing will vary by implementation and target device and will be shared closer to launch.

Without benchmark data, the practical performance under sustained workloads remains unknown.

Security features are a notable aspect of Lexars 2026 devices, and the stick is expected to benefit indirectly from the companys focus on encrypted storage.

Lexars TouchLock portable SSD reveals that NFC dual-encryption and smartphone-based unlocking are feasible in a compact format suggesting similar possibilities for the stick.

Alongside the stick, Lexar also launched its AI-Grade SSD, designed to handle heavy AI workloads with sustained throughput and low latency.

While the SSD supports larger capacities and traditional form factors, the modular stick aims to provide flexibility and swappability.

That said, the sticks real-world relevance is difficult to assess because no manufacturer announcements indicate support for the device.

Compatibility, cost, and reliability will be critical factors in determining whether it becomes widely used or stays a niche experiment.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES , and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home
gadgets, and the latest in AI. You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and well do our best to answer it.

And dont forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/lexar-debuts-mysterious-ai-grade-stick-form-fact or-that-promises-hot-swap-blazing-speeds-and-yes-ive-got-absolutely-no-clue-ho w-much-it-costs-and-whether-device-vendors-will-actually-use-it


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