When it comes to data storage, we usually only pay attention to the capacity factor. But performance matters too, so much so that Samsung just announced the UFS 4.0. This is the name of the brand new flash memory technology. The novelty promises to be twice as fast in data transfer than the previous standard, UFS 3.1.
Samsung UFS 4.0 chip (image: advertisement/Samsung)
Perhaps you have never heard of UFS (Universal Flash Storage). The important thing is to know that this technology is easily found on mobile phones and tablets, especially those from Samsung. The first version was announced in 2011 and since then the technology has improved.
Ok, UFS 4.0 promises to be faster, but how much? According to Samsung, the new standard can achieve a bandwidth of 23.2 Gbps (gigabits per second) per channel. UFS 3.1, announced in 2020, reaches up to 11.6 Gbps at the same measurement.
The data read and write rates supported by UFS 4.0 also stand out: up to 4,200 MB/s (megabytes per second) in sequential data read; up to 2800 MB/s in sequential recording.
Have more. Compared to the UFS 3.1 standard, the new version is up to 46% more energy efficient, which means the technology is faster, but without requiring more energy.
How is all this possible? Unsurprisingly, Samsung didn’t give all the details. But the company revealed that much of the credit lies in adopting a new controller and using its 7th generation V-NAND chips. Modules of this type differ from “normal” NAND chips in that they have multiple layers of storage cells.
UFS 4.0 chips can have dimensions up to 11 x 13 x 1 mm (i.e. they are tiny).
According to Samsung, UFS 4.0 complies with the latest specifications from JEDEC, the organization responsible for standards in the semiconductor industry. This means that the technology can be adopted in many types of devices, including augmented reality or virtual reality equipment.
But, most likely, the technology will be more present in mobile phones. As the UFS 4.0 is ready and will be produced from this year, there is a good chance that modules of the type will be found in early 2023. Maybe it will start with the Galaxy S23 line.
An equally or more interesting part is the fact that the UFS 4.0 chips support up to 1TB of capacity. That’s not to say the entire Galaxy S23 line (or others, like the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold) will store everything.
Keep in mind, though, that the Galaxy S22 Ultra has a 1TB version. Who knows if UFS 4.0 will pave the way for this capacity to become more mainstream?
Between us, the speed aspect is what interests me the most. Why? A good data write or read rate can optimize performance for heavy games or 4K footage, for example.
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