This is a big one for multi-tasking. The panel allowed the host to retrieve data out of logical order. Previously, the storage had to wait for specific data blocks; now, it sends whatever is available first. Result: lower "tail latency" for random reads.
I have written this to be informative about the latest version (currently , with eyes on 4.1/5.0), as "UFS Panel" usually implies the committee that sets these standards. Inside the UFS Panel: What the Latest Version Means for Storage Speed If you care about smartphone boot times, DSLR burst photography, or automotive data logging, you care about the work of the UFS Panel .
Forget SATA SSDs. Forget UFS 3.1. Version 4.0 introduces a . Because the architecture uses two lanes, we are looking at a theoretical maximum throughput of 4,600 MB/s .
Previous versions struggled to keep both lanes saturated without massive power draw. The latest spec introduces improved M-PHY (physical layer) circuitry that reduces latency when switching between lanes.