Lexar offers easy backups with the Echo MX and ZX

Lexar has announced that it is ready to ship its Echo MX and Echo ZX portable backup drives, a pair of flash memory storage units with a difference.

Designed with a focus on backing up precious files, the Lexar Echo MX series includes some of the highest capacities available in a stick-style flash memory device - between 8GB and 128GB depending on the model chosen. With rated transfer speeds of up to 30MB/s read and 17MB/s write, the drives aren't as fast as an external SSD but are impressive nevertheless.

The most interesting feature of the Echo MX series, however, is a capacity gauge on the outside. Powered by E-Ink technology, the gauge offers an at-a-glance readout of how full the device is getting - and, as it doesn't need power to operate, it's always available no matter how long it's been since the drive was used.

The Echo MX line is joined by the Echo ZX. While the ZX doesn't feature the E-Ink display or large capacities of the MX series, it has one thing on its side: size. Amazingly compact, the Echo ZX is designed to be left connected to a laptop without causing problems when the device is put away.

Available in sizes fro 8GB to 32GB, the Echo ZX line promises read speeds of up to 28MB/s and write speeds of 15MB/s. Both lines include Lexar's Echo backup software, designed to make the saving of various documents quick and easy - and also secure, thanks to in-built 128-bit AES-based encryption.