Do gamers need SSDs? Inside their PCs, certainly, that’s one of the easiest recommendations for a speedier computer. What about portable storage? Corsair thinks they do, and it’s showing off a new line of USB4-powered portable SSDs at CES.
The new EX400U series is much more simple and streamlined than previous Corsair designs, looking kind of like a tiny tin of mints, or maybe less charitably a shrunken-down Mac Mini. That design language might be a bit intentional…because these drives are MagSafe compatible. They’ll stick to the back of your iPhone. The case is a hair over 64mm wide (just a bit wider than a Magsafe charger) and 12mm thick.
Corsair
The only obvious external features are the singular USB-C port (USB 4 and also compatible with Thunderbolt 4) and logo on top. The press release says that these drives can transfer data at up to 4000MB/s read and 3600MB/s write — which should handily beat pretty much any older external drive, and compete with other USB4 drives if you have the available hardware.
The EX400U will cost $140 for 1TB, $200 for 2TB, and a whopping $360 for 4TB. They’re scheduled to launch on January 23rd.
Corsair Xeneon Edge
You’ll always need storage, but as a multi-monitor addict, I confess my eye was caught by the Xeneon Edge. It’s a compact 14.5-inch touchscreen, extremely horizontal with a 2560×720 resolution, designed for widgets and interactive controls. We saw a similar more conservative take on this with the iCue Nexus Companion screen, but this one is, well, a lot bigger.
Corsair
The newer version of the screen is closer to a full-on monitor, operating over USB-C DP-Alt mode or HDMI. So there’s no reason you couldn’t stick videos or other standard information from a PC (or any other source) on the display. It’s also a lot more flexible, with an option to mount it horizontally, vertically, or even in place of a 360mm radiator in a PC case.
Which case has a clear view of the backside of a triple-fan mount, without shrouds or filters? Shut up, it’s cool! Think of all the RGB you can show off while your PC melts because it doesn’t have enough cooling!
The Xeneon Edge is scheduled to go on sale sometime in the second quarter of the year (before July, if you don’t speak corporate lingo). There’s no price available yet, but the iCue Nexus Companion originally sold for $100, and it was only 5 inches diagonally. So I think you can make a decent guess.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.