Current-generation smartphones are equipped with a slightly improved variation of the UFS 4.0 standard, which is UFS 4.1, but eventually these devices transition to the significantly improved UFS 5.0 technology, which JEDEC states is nearing completion. Not only will the newer flash memory enable increased performance on mobile computing products such as smartphones and tablets, but the new standard will also reduce power consumption.
The new UFS 5.0 standard will enable higher signal integrity and ease system integration
JEDEC says that UFS 5.0 will be compatible with UFS 4.0 and UFS 4.1 hardware, suggesting that smartphones equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Dimensity 9500 could potentially feature the newer standard, though it is unclear if these devices will deliver the same bandwidth. On JEDEC’s press release, UFS 5.0 will power wearables while expanding into automotive applications, edge computing, and consoles.
“UFS offers high-performance, embedded storage with low power consumption, making it ideal for use in applications where power efficiency is essential. This includes computing and mobile systems like smartphones and wearables, as well as an expanding role in automotive applications, edge computing and gaming consoles. Its high-speed serial interface and optimized protocol enable significant throughput for power-efficient system performance.”
As for performance, JEDEC states that UFS 5.0 can reach a maximum theoretical bandwidth of 10,800MB/s, which is pretty much the PCIe NVMe Gen 5’s threshold. The maximum bandwidth per lane is 6,400MB/s. The newer standard’s efficiency metrics were not shared, but it is significantly faster than UFS 4.1 and UFS 4.0, which tops out at 5,800MB/s in maximum bandwidth, with 2,900MB/s being the highest limit for maximum bandwidth per lane.
Other advantages of UFS 5.0 include Inline Hashing for increased security, along with easing system integration by providing noise isolation between the PHY and the memory subsystem. Another benefit is increasing signal integrity through integrated link equalization.
When will UFS 5.0 debut in smartphones
A previous rumor claimed that Samsung is actively developing UFS 5.0 storage, but it is not expected to arrive before 2027. Also, during this time, we should expect more advancements in UFS 4.0. In short, we doubt that any 2026 flagship will arrive with next-generation flash memory, so we have to pin our hopes on devices launching in 2027. We expect Samsung, Micron, and SK hynix to have their first products ready for sampling in Q4 2026, and as always, we will provide readers with updates.
News Source: JEDEC
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