Samsung
Samsung unveiled its first solid state drives Zones Namespaces (ZNS) which combine high performance, long life, relatively low price (thanks to the use of V-NAND QLC) and improved Quality Of Service (QoS) for data centers .ZNS SSDs work differently than conventional block-based drives and have numerous advantages. ZNS SSDs sequentially write data in large zones and offer better control over write, reducing over-provisioning requirements. For example, some enterprise drives rated for 3 DWPD (drive writes per day) reserve around one third of their capacity for over-provisioning, but only 10% is sufficient for ZNS SSDs.
Also, Because ZNS uses large zones rather than many four-KB blocks, garbage collection is not required as often as traditional SSDs, while also improving real-world read and write performance. Samsung's ZNS PM1731a 2.5 ”SSDs are based on a proprietary dual-port controller and 6th generation V-NAND QLC memory. The drives will be available in 2 and 4 TB capacities. Samsung claims its new ZNS PM1731a drives will last up to four times longer than conventional NVMe SSDs, which will reduce Total Cost Of Ownership (TCO) and simplify server infrastructure.
However, the improved durability and performance come at a cost. The ZNS ecosystem requires a new software infrastructure that is not yet widely available. In an effort to make ZNS more popular, Samsung is participating in a number of open source ZNS projects. The manufacturer also plans to make its ZNS technology available to xNVMe and participate in the Storage Performance Development Kit (SPDK) community to allow NVMe and SPDK users to implement ZNS more easily.
Samsung will start mass production of its ZNS PM1731a SSDs in the second half of the year. Sangyeun Cho, senior vice president of the Memory Software Development Team at Samsung Electronics, said:
Samsung's ZNS SSD reflects our commitment to introducing differentiated storage solutions that can substantially improve reliability and the lifespan of server SSDs. We plan to leverage quad-level cell (QLC) NAND technology in our next generation ZNS drives to enable greater performance and storage capacity in tomorrow's business systems.
Find the Samsung 980 SSD on Amazon from 500 GB at a discounted price!
Best phone deals ahead of Prime Day: Save up to $200 on Samsung Galaxy S21, Google Pixel and more
Amazon Prime Day is coming up soon: The big sale will take place June 21 and 22. Plus, we're going to get competing sales from Walmart and Target around the same time. It's still early, but we've already found a few deals on phones with prices so low they're matching earlier Prime Day or Black Friday prices on Amazon and other sites.
Note that prices and availability were accurate at the time of publication, but are subject to change. Make sure to check back often for the latest deal prices, as we're updating this article on a rolling basis to account for newer, better deals and expired offers.
Angela Lang/CNETGoogle's Pixel 3XL phone is no longer carried by Google, but you can still find the highly rated device at other retailers for a good price, including B&H. The Pixel 3XL has a top-of-the-line camera that includes an enhanced low-light feature and wide selfie shots. It's also water resistant and has wireless charging.
Read our Google Pixel 3XL review.
Sarah Tew/CNETCNET's review called the Galaxy S21 the 'no-brainer 'you're due for an upgrade' phone' thanks to its sleek design, 5G support and lower price -- made even better with $100 off at Amazon right now.
Read our Galaxy S21 review.
Angela Lang/CNETThe Galaxy S20 Ultra is among Samsung's most advanced (and expensive) flagship phones, released in 2020. Its greatest feature may be its camera, with a 108-megapixel sensor, 100x zoom lens and 40-megapixel selfie camera. The phone also has a huge 5,000-mAh battery for extended battery life.
Read our Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G review.
SamsungThe Galaxy A12 is the least expensive phone Samsung sells, and it's the one to consider if you simply want a phone for all of life's essentials and don't need to waste money on extravagant cameras or supercomputer levels of processing power. It doesn't have 5G, but it does have four rear cameras, a 6.5-inch display and a large 5,000-mAh battery.
Sarah Tew/CNETThe Moto G Play is one of Motorola's budget smartphone options that looks more expensive than it actually is. It has a fingerprint reader incorporated into the Motorola logo on the back of the phone, as well as a headphone jack and 32GB of storage. Right now it's on sale for $160 at Amazon.
Sarah Tew/CNETThe 2021 Moto G Power features a wallet-friendly price, a gigantic 5,000-mAh battery and 32GB of storage, along with a 6.6-inch display and triple-rear camera array. Motorola promises that the phone will last up to three days of regular use on a single charge, and in our testing, it's held up so far. It's on sale for $190 at Amazon.
Read our Moto G Power review.
Sarah Tew/CNETThe Moto G Stylus includes a large 4,000-mAh battery, 128GB of storage, a 6.6-inch display and a quad camera array. Plus, the stylus adds a level of precision that makes navigating the phone more efficient. It's on sale for $280 at Amazon.
Sarah Tew/CNETThe Motorola One 5G Ace is a solid 5G phone that won't break the bank, especially for an extra $20 off right now. It has a 6.7-inch LCD screen, a massive 5,000-mAh battery and 128GB of storage. It also offers protection against spills and water.
Read our Motorola One 5G Ace review.
Angela Lang/CNETIn 2019, CNET's review called the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 'the most premium Android phone for your money.' Two years later, the phone still holds up, with its large 6.8-inch screen, all-day battery life and excellent camera tools. At Amazon, you'll find the phone for $389 as part of Amazon's Renewed program -- that means it's used but works and looks like new. It's also backed by the 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee, so you can get your money back if you aren't satisfied.
Read our Galaxy Note 10 Plus review.
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