By: Aaron Lai
July 18, 2025
It is always important to try new things, but my risk tolerance is low. For example, I enjoy baking, but honestly, I have stayed within my comfort zone in what I bake. I might try different cookies, cakes, or breads, but I often use the same base recipe with only variations in flavor. For example, I have a bread recipe that I use for everything. This is because it is versatile and foolproof. However, I have been craving a fluffier bread with a Chinese bakery-like texture, which often involves making something called milk bread. This style of bread's origin is not known, but many attribute it to Japan and their shokupan, although this was created during a period of external Western influences in the country. Regardless of its origins, my craving for milk bread was from its soft and plush texture. Traditionally, this involves creating a roux or a tangzhong, which made me nervous about this additional variable. Instead, I found a milk bread recipe that could be executed without creating this separate item, and I immediately jumped at it. Following the instructions, I was quite successful in making milk bread. Hopefully, I will incorporate it into my mix of recipes and try different things with it. Ideally, people should try and learn new things, but how far they stretch from what they know will vary. Similarly, companies too should also try to stretch out from their comfort zones and make new products. For example, the NQ780 4TB is a new option from Lexar, as this is the first QLC-based SSD we have reviewed from the company in this form factor. It might not be the biggest of changes, as we have seen QLC drives as well as M.2 SSDs from them. Even so, how will this drive compare, and will this drive show new knowledge acquired by Lexar? Let us read on to find out!
Today's review unit of the Lexar NQ780 4TB arrived from Longsys' corporate offices in Fremont, California. This small, corrugated cardboard box arrived in good condition with no holes or issues to speak of. Lexar also packed the box with sufficient packing materials to ensure the NQ780 was not rattling around inside. This box was sent via UPS and their Expedited service, and it arrived at our APH Networks location here in Calgary, Alberta.
Out of the shipping container, the Lexar NQ780 4TB retail box is as you might expect for an M.2 SSD. The black box has the product name and capacity at the top, with a scaled down image in the middle. The Lexar brand is boldly proclaimed at the bottom edge. The box also declares this solid state drive can reach up to 7000MB/s read speeds. Around the box, we have a few more specifications and regulatory information.
Before we continue, I have grabbed the specifications from the manufacturer's website for your viewing pleasure:
Capacity: 4TB | 2TB | 1TB
Form Factor: M.2 2280
Interface: PCIe Gen 4x4
Performance
- 4TB sequential read speed up to 7000MB/s, write speed up to 6000MB/s¹
- 2TB sequential read up to 7000MB/s, write up to 5000MB/s¹
- 1TB sequential read up to 6500MB/s, write up to 2500MB/s¹
Operating Temperature: 0° to 70° C (32°F to 158°F)
Storage Temperature: -40° to 85° C (-40°F to 185°F)
Shock Resistant: 1500G, duration 0.5ms, Half Sine Wave
Vibration Resistant: 10~2000Hz, 1.5mm, 20G, 1 Oct/min, 30min/axis (X,Y,Z)
TBW
- 4TB: 2400TBW
- 2TB: 1200TBW
- 1TB: 600TBW
MTBF: 1,500,000 Hours
Dimensions: 80 x 22 x 2.45mm / 3.15”x0.87”x0.10” (with front label)
Weight: 6g / 0.013lbs
Warranty: Five-year limited warranty
Out of the box, the Lexar NQ780 4TB is in a plastic shell enclosure to protect the SSD from sliding about. Lexar has also included a mounting screw to install the drive. There is also a small pamphlet including quick start and warranty information in multiple languages.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. A Closer Look, Test System
3. Benchmark: AIDA64 Disk Benchmark
4. Benchmark: ATTO Disk Benchmark
5. Benchmark: Crystal Disk Mark 8.0
6. Benchmark: HD Tune Pro 5.70
7. Benchmark: PassMark PerformanceTest 11
8. Benchmark: PCMark 10
9. Benchmark: 3DMark
10. Conclusion
