Lexar ES5 vs Lexar Go, Which SSD Is Better for Creators?

The Lexar ES5 is the better SSD for a phone-first creator setup. The Lexar Go is the better SSD for most people who just want fast extra storage in the smallest possible package.

That is the short version. The ES5 is larger, faster, and built around a magnetic on-phone workflow. The Go is smaller, lighter, and plugs directly into a USB-C port like a tiny external drive you can keep with you all the time.

The size difference is a big part of this. Lexar lists the ES5 at 3.34 x 2.12 x 0.43 inches (85 x 54 x 11mm). The Go is much smaller at 1.00 x 1.71 x 0.32 inches (25.5 x 43.5 x 8.25mm). If you care most about portability, the Go still feels like the more distinctive product because it is almost absurdly small.

But the ES5 has the stronger performance spec. Lexar rates it for up to 2000MB/s read and 2000MB/s write over USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. The Go is rated for up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write over USB 3.2 Gen 2. For a lot of people, the Go is already fast enough. If you are recording heavier video files and want the stronger ceiling, the ES5 is the more serious creator tool on paper.

The shape tradeoff is where this gets more interesting. The Go has a built-in male USB-C port, which is great with a laptop or tablet because it is quick and cable-free. But that same design can be annoying on phones. If your phone case is thick, you may have to take the case off to make it fit cleanly, which is exactly the kind of small friction that gets old fast. The ES5 avoids that problem by working more like a magnetic phone accessory with a short cable instead of a stub drive hanging directly off the port.

Price is messier. Lexar's own MSRP says the 1TB Go should be $149.99 and the 1TB ES5 should be $199.99, which makes the Go the obvious value play in the lineup. But when I checked Amazon, the 1TB ES5 was about $184.99 while the 1TB Go page was sitting around $279.99, so current storefront pricing can swing in weird ways. If both are near MSRP, the Go is the easier buy for most people. If Amazon still has the ES5 priced lower than the Go, the ES5 becomes much easier to justify.

If you want the fuller case for the smaller drive on its own, our Lexar Professional Go Portable SSD review is the next page to open.

Bottom line: Buy the Lexar ES5 if your main use case is shooting and storing video straight from a phone and you want the cleaner magnetic setup. Buy the Lexar Go if you mostly want the tiniest possible travel SSD and do not mind the built-in USB-C plug tradeoff.