Lexar is a global brand specializing in digital memory and storage products, including solid-state drives (SSDs), DRAM memory, SD and microSD cards, USB flash drives, card readers, and portable storage devices. Originally founded in California, USA, in 1996, the company became well known for developing high-performance flash memory solutions for photographers, videographers, PC enthusiasts, gamers, and professional content creators. Today, the Lexar brand is owned by Shenzhen Longsys Electronics Co., Ltd. (Longsys), one of the world’s major flash memory solution providers. [1]

Foundation (1996)

Lexar was founded in California in 1996 with a focus on developing flash memory technologies during the rapid expansion of digital photography. The company quickly became recognized for producing high-speed memory cards and USB flash drives that served professional photographers and consumers alike. [2]

Innovation Era (2000–2010)

During the early 2000s, Lexar introduced several products that helped define professional digital storage.

Major milestones included:

• One of the first high-speed CompactFlash cards

• Early USB flash drives under the JumpDrive brand

• Professional Workflow card reader ecosystem

• High-capacity SD and CompactFlash cards for DSLR cameras

• Advanced UDMA CompactFlash technology

Lexar became one of the most trusted brands among photographers using Canon, Nikon, and Sony cameras. [1]

Acquisition by Micron

Lexar was acquired by Micron Technology, one of the world’s largest memory manufacturers. Under Micron, the company expanded its consumer and professional storage portfolio while continuing to innovate in flash memory technology. [1]

Acquisition by Longsys (2017)

In 2017, Shenzhen Longsys Electronics acquired the Lexar brand and established new operations to continue worldwide sales and support. Since then, Lexar has significantly expanded its product lineup into:

• PCIe NVMe SSDs

• DDR4 and DDR5 memory

• Gaming storage

• Portable SSDs

• CFexpress cards

• Enterprise and embedded storage

Despite the ownership change, the Lexar brand has remained active globally. [2]

Memory Cards

Lexar manufactures:

• SDHC

• SDXC

• microSD

• CompactFlash

• CFast

• CFexpress Type A

• CFexpress Type B

These products are widely used in:

• DSLR cameras

• Mirrorless cameras

• Action cameras

• Drones

• Smartphones

• Gaming consoles

Solid-State Drives (SSD)

Lexar offers SSDs in multiple form factors:

• SATA SSD

• M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen3

• PCIe Gen4

• PCIe Gen5

• External Portable SSD

Popular SSD series include:

• NM620

• NM710

• NM790

• NM1090

• SL500 Portable SSD

DRAM Memory

Lexar produces desktop and laptop memory including:

• DDR4

• DDR5

• Gaming RGB Memory

• SO-DIMM laptop memory

USB Flash Drives

Lexar’s USB lineup includes:

• JumpDrive series

• USB-A

• USB-C

• Dual-interface drives

• High-speed USB 3.2 flash drives

Card Readers

Lexar offers readers supporting:

• SD

• microSD

• CFexpress

• CompactFlash

• Multi-card professional workflows

Lexar has introduced numerous technologies over its history, including:

• High-speed UHS-II SD cards

• PCIe Gen5 SSDs

• Professional Workflow modular readers

• CFexpress memory solutions

• High-endurance gaming storage

• Advanced thermal designs for SSD cooling

The company also operates Lexar Quality Labs, where products are tested across more than 1,100 devices for compatibility and reliability. [2]

• 1996 — Founded in California.

• 2012 — Introduced the industry’s first 256 GB CompactFlash card and SDXC UHS-I card.

• 2013 — Released the first Professional Workflow system.

• 2014 — Introduced some of the world’s fastest SD UHS-II cards.

• 2017 — Acquired by Longsys.

• 2020 — Expanded into DDR4 memory and CFexpress cards.

• 2021 — Launched dedicated gaming storage products.

• 2022–2023 — Ranked among the top global channel SSD module brands by TrendForce.

• 2025 — Introduced a 1 TB microSD Express card and expanded premium storage offerings. [2]

Lexar products are sold through a worldwide network spanning:

• North America

• Europe

• Asia

• Oceania

• South America

• Africa

According to the company, its distribution reaches more than 70 countries through over 100,000 sales channels. [2]

Lexar products are designed for:

• Professional photographers

• Videographers

• Content creators

• PC gamers

• Students

• Business users

• Mobile device users

• IT professionals

Lexar has long been recognized for reliable flash memory products, particularly memory cards used in digital cameras. Since becoming part of Longsys, the brand has broadened its portfolio into consumer SSDs, DRAM, and gaming hardware while maintaining a focus on performance and value. Independent reviews generally place many of its higher-end SSDs and memory cards among competitive options in their price segments, though performance and endurance vary by product line. [3]

• NM Series — Internal NVMe SSDs

• NS Series — SATA SSDs

• ARES Series — Gaming DRAM

• THOR Series — Performance memory

• SL Series — Portable SSDs

• ARMOR Series — Rugged memory cards

• JumpDrive — USB flash drives

• Professional — High-end creator storage

Lexar states that its products have received recognition from organizations and events such as:

• iF Design Award

• Red Dot Design Award

• CES Innovation Awards

• DGP Awards

The company also participates in industry organizations including the CompactFlash Association and the SD Association. [2]

Lexar emphasizes three core values:

• Professionalism

• Innovation

• Service

Its stated mission is to deliver high-performance, reliable storage solutions for consumers, creators, and professionals while adapting to evolving technologies such as AI-enabled computing. [2]

1. Lexar

2. Live For The Memory | Lexar Global

3. 30 years of Lexar: What a look inside its R&D labs and factory reveals about its plans for an AI-ready future