Terminology » Components » UFS 2.0 vs 2.1 vs 3.0 vs 3.1: Speed and IOPs Comparison

UFS 2.0 vs 2.1 vs 3.0 vs 3.1: Speed and IOPs Comparison

ufs
flash storage
mobile storage
storage comparison
memory technology

This article compares UFS (Universal Flash Storage) versions 2.0, 2.1, 3.0, and 3.1, highlighting the differences in speed and IOP/sec.

What is UFS Storage?

UFS (Universal Flash Storage) is the successor to the eMMC standard, commonly used as memory in high-end mobile phones from brands like Samsung and OnePlus. UFS offers performance benefits similar to SATA in PCs, alongside the low power consumption of eMMC. It’s positioned as a replacement for both eMMCs and SD cards.

UFS Storage

UFS acts as the smartphone’s SSD, providing a better user experience and faster responsiveness. It consists of NAND flash memory and a controller. UFS features a serial interface with full duplex data transfer. Compared to eMMC’s 8-bit parallel interface, UFS offers a higher number of input/output operations per second and higher bandwidth. UFS versions 1.0 and 1.1 were introduced in 2011 and 2012, respectively, both supporting 300 Mbps bandwidth per lane. UFS cards are available in sizes such as 32, 64, 128, 256, and 512 GB.

The following sections detail the differences between UFS 2.0, UFS 2.1, UFS 3.0, and UFS 3.1 versions, focusing on speed and Input/Output Operations Per Second (IOP/s).

UFS 2.0

Here are the features of UFS 2.0:

  • Introduction year: 2013
  • Memory options: 128 GB, 256 GB
  • Sequential Read: 350 Mbps (128 GB), 850 Mbps (256 GB)
  • Sequential Write: 150 Mbps (128 GB), 260 Mbps (256 GB)
  • Random Read: 19,000 IOP/sec (128 GB), 45,000 IOP/sec (256 GB)
  • Random Write: 14,000 IOP/sec (128 GB), 40,000 IOP/sec (256 GB)

UFS 2.1

Here are the features of UFS 2.1:

  • Introduction year: 2017
  • Memory options: 512 GB, 1 TB, Automotive versions
  • Sequential Read: 860 Mbps (512GB)
  • Sequential Write: 255 Mbps (512GB)
  • Random Read: 42,000 IOP/sec (512GB)
  • Random Write: 40,000 IOP/sec (512GB)

UFS 3.0

Here are the features of UFS 3.0:

  • Introduction year: 2019
  • Memory options: 256 GB, 512 GB
  • Sequential Read: 2100 Mbps (512GB)
  • Sequential Write: 410 Mbps (512GB)
  • Random Read: 63,000 IOP/sec (512GB)
  • Random Write: 68,000 IOP/sec (512GB)

UFS 3.1

Here are the features of UFS 3.1:

  • Introduction year: 2020
  • Memory options: 256 GB, 512 GB
  • Sequential Read: 2100 Mbps (512GB)
  • Sequential Write: 1200 Mbps (3x enhancement) (512GB)
  • Random Read: 100,000 IOP/sec (1.6x enhancement) (512GB)
  • Random Write: 70,000 IOP/sec (1.3x enhancement) (512GB)

Also, you might find it helpful to explore the advantages and benefits of the UFS storage interface compared to e-MMC.

Phase Change Memory (PRAM): Advantages and Disadvantages

Phase Change Memory (PRAM): Advantages and Disadvantages

Explore the pros and cons of Phase Change Memory (PRAM), including its operating principles, advantages like fast switching and scalability, and disadvantages like temperature sensitivity.

phase change memory
non volatile memory
memory technology