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
Lexar debuts a hot-swappable AI-Grade Storage Stick at CES 2026, promising blazing speeds, flexibility, and uncertain adoption by manufacturers.
(Image credit: eTeknix)
- 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
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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 Lexar’s 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 Lexar’s 2026 devices, and the stick is expected to benefit indirectly from the company’s focus on encrypted storage.