Pixel 10’s big storage upgrade depends on what phone you buy

Under the hood of the Pixel 10 series, Google has finally upgraded its storage to UFS 4.0, but you have to buy the right model to actually get it.

As we detailed yesterday, the Pixel 10 series finally introduces support for much faster UFS 4.0 storage, with “Zoned UFS” on the Pixel 10 Pro devices. But there are some caveats to that. For one, “Zoned UFS” is only present on devices with 512GB of storage or higher, meaning you won’t get it in some regions, and only on more expensive tiers too.

But what is “Zoned UFS” in the first place?

Google has yet to offer an explanation, but there are some details out there. In 2024, SK Hynix introduced Zoned UFS (referred to as “ZUFS”) as a means of improving the lifespan of the storage module. By placing data in different “zones,” it improves the overall speed and lifespan. SK Hynix claims up to 45% improvements to “the time required to run an application” – i.e. app opening speeds – and a 40% increase in the read/write degradation over time.

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SK Hynix explains:

The ZUFS is a differentiated technology that classifies and stores data generated from smartphones in different zones in accordance with characteristics. Unlike a conventional UFS, the latest product groups and stores data with similar purposes and frequencies in separate zones, boosting the speed of a smartphone’s operating system and management efficiency of the storage devices.

Again, Google hasn’t responded to our request for comment on Zoned UFS, but this is a pretty reasonable explanation. That said, we don’t know what storage brand the Pixel 10 series is using. Historically, it’s mostly been Samsung, and leaks showed that at least the 128GB tier would still be using Samsung.

But that 128GB tier is also an important point to consider.

Generally speaking, Android devices with UFS 4.0 storage only come in 256GB or higher, and the Pixel 10 series is apparently no exception. You’ll get UFS 4.0 in higher tiers, but the 128GB Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro will be limited to UFS 3.1, as Google mentioned to Android Authority alongside saying that Zoned UFS brings “faster responses and quicker app launches.”

So, if you want the best storage performance on a Pixel 10, you’ll need to opt for a device with Zoned UFS on top of UFS 4.0. This would include the 512GB or 1TB versions of the Pixel 10 Pro, Pro XL, or Pixel 10 Pro Fold. The 256GB versions of all four devices have UFS 4.0, while the base 128GB models are limited to UFS 3.1.

Confusing? A little bit, which is probably why brands such as Samsung have just ditched 128GB altogether. But, either way, we’re still glad to see this overdue upgrade on Google’s part.

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