Future Galaxy Flagships to Benefit from UFS 5.0 Storage Optimized for AI

JEDEC Solid State Technology Association recently announced that the next version of Universal Flash Storage (UFS) standard has reached the final stage of development. Dubbed UFS 5.0, this storage technology is optimized for AI with enhanced speed, security, and signal integrity. Once ready, Samsung will use this standard in its Galaxy flagships to improve the performance of cutting-edge AI features.

UFS 5.0 will deliver faster data access and improved performance

For the uninitiated, UFS is a storage technology for most high-end smartphones and other devices. The technology combines high performance with low power consumption, making it ideal for devices that require fast data access without draining the battery. Previous versions, such as UFS 4.x, have already proven to deliver excellent speed, but UFS 5.0 will take performance to the next level.

UFS 5.0 will offer increased sequential performance with speeds up to 10.8 GB/s to support demanding AI applications. The standard will also include integrated link equalization for more reliable signal integrity. To make system integration easier, a distinct power supply rail will deliver noise isolation between PHY and memory subsystem. Furthermore, it will feature inline hashing to offer enhanced security.

JEDEC UFS uses advanced standards from the MIPI Alliance to form its Interconnect Layer. The association continues this collaboration using the upcoming MIPI M-PHY version 6.0 specification and the UniPro version 3.0 specification. The former introduces a new High-Speed Gear 6 (HS-G6) that doubles the data rate of the previous version. This will allow UFS to reach a much higher bandwidth of 46.6 Gb/s per lane.

“JEDEC members are continually shaping the standards that will drive the next generation of mobile devices and advanced applications, and the committee’s dedication to ongoing improvements to the UFS series is paving the way for future innovation,” said Mian Quddus, Chairman of the JEDEC Board of Directors.

Meanwhile, there’s chatter that Samsung may use the UFS 4.1 in the Galaxy S26 series. The company has been using UFS 4.0 since the Galaxy S23 series, so if it adopts the latest standard, we can expect faster data access and improved performance in the upcoming flagship lineup.