These Lesser-Known Memory Cards Are Blazing Fast, and Only Set to Get Faster

If you want to look at the pace at which technology evolves, storage devices are one of the best examples. Floppy drives, CDs, flash drives, SD, and microSD cards are all storage solutions that have improved significantly over the years. However, the next iteration is here and as you can probably guess, it’s even faster.

What Is UFS and Why Is It Faster?

UFS (Universal Flash Storage) is a high-performance interface built exclusively for smartphones and other systems requiring low power but delivering high-speed data transfers. It isn’t a new technology, either, with the first UFS cards appearing as early as 2016.

It functions very similarly to eMMC and SSD, except that it’s faster than eMMC and can, at times, be at par with SSD data transfer speeds. One of the major reasons why UFS is fast is that it’s a full duplex interface, meaning data can be read and written at the same time, which saves latency and allows for faster data transfer.

UFS 4.0 is the latest iteration of the standard. It can provide up to 4,200 MB/s read speed and 2,800 MB/s write speed—almost doubling UFS 3.1’s capabilities. It’s also as much as 46 percent more efficient than UFS 3.1.

microSD vs. UFS Cards

If you’re using a memory card, chances are it’s either SD or microSD. Since UFS cards are faster and more power efficient, you’ll get faster data transfer rates on your device and better battery life.

For example, if you’re using a UFS card in a camera, the faster data transfer speed means you’ll be able to take more photos when holding down the shutter button and taking burst photos. In the case of video recording, a UFS card will allow you to shoot at a higher resolution and frame rate without running out compared to an SD or microSD card.

As far as battery life is concerned, the difference won’t be as big as the one you’d see in data transfer speeds, but you can make your batteries last a tad bit longer. That said, it’s hard to give a specific number, considering there are many devices in which a microSD or UFS card can go.

Another thing to keep in mind is that while all microSD cards might look the same, they can vary wildly in performance. This can lead to mistakes when buying microSD cards, meaning you might leave performance on the table. UFS doesn’t face any such problems at the moment.

Drawbacks You Need to Be Aware Of

If switching to a UFS card sounds like a great idea, there are some limitations you need to be aware of. Two to be precise:

• Cost: UFS cards can be significantly more expensive than their SD or microSD counterparts.
• Compatibility: UFS cards require a specialized slot, one that has yet to be adopted by many devices.

Because of these two reasons, SD/microSD cards are still more popular. Almost every device with expandable or removable storage will support an SD or microSD card slot. And since they’re relatively cheaper, you can find a good, high-speed card for a fraction of what a similar capacity UFS card will cost.

The cost and compatibility run in a vicious cycle keeping UFS from being mainstream, especially in smartphones. Most modern smartphones already use UFS for their internal storage, and don’t include expandable storage anyways.

As for the phones which do have options for expanding their storage, using an unpopular card slot for a more expensive UFS card is just going to drive up costs. With pricing being more competitive than ever, manufacturers resort to cheaper, more popular storage solutions — which is also a reason why you might not want to use SD cards with your Android phone.

Should You Dump microSD for UFS?

If your device supports a UFS card, you should use one. UFS offers much better speeds and power efficiency, especially over eMMC, SD, or microSD. However, microSD still enjoys the benefits of mass adoption and a cheaper price tag, keeping UFS from becoming mainstream despite its advantages.