Lexar has announced a new partnership with Asus at the Computex 2026 event. The two companies are working together to build faster storage and memory parts as smart offline programs demand more speed.
For small computers, Lexar is showing off a new Gen 4 solid-state drive (SSD) inside the Asus NUC 15 Pro mini PC. This setup shows how new drives can support smaller office computers that run local models without relying on the cloud.
The two brands are also planning to create a new format called an AI-grade Storage Stick for easy computer expansion. In addition, the partnership covers handheld gaming systems. Lexar is demonstrating its Play X PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD inside the Asus ROG Ally handheld console, showing that the drive can fit easily into tight spaces.
The Play X SSD supports both M.2 2230 and 2280 sizes and reaches fast speeds of 7,400 megabytes per second (MB/s) for reading data. It is currently on sale in Europe and Middle East markets. For standard desktops, Lexar is also releasing special Ares RGB DDR5 memory that is certified to work with Asus ROG motherboards.
Also read: Asus NUC 16 Pro Core Ultra Mini PC
To make these drives smarter, Lexar is using a new chip called the SPU, which stands for Storage Processing Unit. This chip is built on a 5-nanometer design and does not require extra memory chips, which helps keep production steady. A built-in smart scheduling system also helps manage data when computers run local calculations.
This smart system manages memory more effectively and reduces the required DRAM capacity by about 40 percent. As storage plays a more active role in local AI performance, these new components help systems load models much faster. This new drive joins other compact gaming options like the Asus ROG NUC 16 which also targets small spaces.
Lexar also showed off a new Gen 5 SSD concept that can reach very high speeds up to 11 gigabytes per second (GB/s). For creators and high-end workstations, the company is preparing the NM1090 Pro SSD. This large drive will offer up to 8 TB of storage space and speeds up to 14,400 MB/s.
The company plans to sell a large 128 GB kit of Ares RGB DDR5 desktop memory to support multitasking on new PCs. Visitors can see all of these new storage and memory products at the Lexar booth in Hall 2 of the Nangang Exhibition Center during Computex.
Source: Lexar
