Medusa Pro II vs Z3X Easy Jtag Plus: What Is Best for Work with MMC and UFS Interfaces
In this overview, we’re going to compare the phone servicing industry’s two top solutions in terms of performance and potential: Medusa Pro II and Z3X Easy Jtag Plus. We’ll identify the strengths of each model and help you pick your way through different versions.
- Why We Need Medusa Pro II and Z3X Easy Jtag Plus
- Connection Types and Interfaces
- Versions and Availability
- Performance and Features
- Expanded Features
Why We Need Medusa Pro II and Z3X Easy Jtag Plus
Both programmers are designed to operate with eMMC, UFS, and NAND memory chips.
Key Features
- Read / Write / Format / Repair memory;
- Repair bootloader;
- Back up memory;
- Edit specific memory partitions using the most widespread and latest interfaces.
It’s hard to imagine a phone repair business without programmers because they are used whenever phone memory repairs are involved:
- in cases of the hardware failure of memory chips, only requiring a replacement;
- in cases of software malfunctions, when a phone enters a reboot loop or doesn't restart despite fully updated hardware. This usually happens after a botched firmware update or an attempt to repair such phone without proper qualifications.
Connection Types and Interfaces
Both programmers support memory connections based on the in-system programming (ISP) technology through both MMC and UFS interfaces. You can gain access to the memory without desoldering it from the board but by soldering necessary wires directly to the board where the memory is installed. In both programmers, this is implemented through additional boards with appropriately labeled connection contacts.
In Medusa Pro II, we have a PinConnector, which also serves as an adapter for EMMC sockets from the first version of Medusa PRO.
Thus, if you choose to upgrade your Medusa PRO to Medusa Pro II, you won’t have to purchase new EMMC sockets for Medusa Pro II.
Z3X Easy Jtag Plus uses 1-bit and 4-bit ISP adapters for that purpose
An important perk of Medusa Pro II in terms of the ISP technology is its extensive database of system recovery files (SRF) for ISP EMMC. You can download these files directly from the main program window. They come with photos of a soldering pinout, step-by-step instructions, and recovery files. Thus, inexperienced users can restore their earlier phones trouble-free, and experienced ones will save time.
The relevant database can be updated by users independently.
The advantage of Z3X Easy Jtag Plus is better performance on ISP UFS. However, the Medusa team already plans to roll out new features in future updates.
Unfortunately, connections would fail or be limited in speed on many ISP gadgets, and you’ll still have to desolder the flash memory. In such cases, sockets for direct connection to the memory will prove a true asset.
The Medusa and Z3X teams chose different approaches:
- The Medusa team opted for own sockets with a matchlessly easy Easy-Click connection to ensure full programmer compatibility, maximum quality, and ease of use.
- Z3X developers chose the scenario of maximum compatibility with other existing products and offered an E-Socket connector for Moorc-manufactured sockets and a U-Socket connector for UFI Box-manufactured EMMC adapters as part of the basic product package, thus making the new Z3X Easy Jtag Plus compatible with any sockets purchased by users earlier.
Now, this doesn't mean that Moorc sockets will only work with Z3X Easy Jtag Plus and will be incompatible with Medusa Pro II. They'd still work with Medusa Pro II but Medusa Pro II cannot guarantee the quality or full compatibility of any non-proprietary products.
Overall, in terms of supported memory type, all sockets fall into the two major types: UFS and EMMC. Each contains different BGA types, which are easy to distinguish based on a specific contact pattern.
Don't be misled by identical BGA types in different groups, such as UFS153 and EMMC153. Although these types of flash memory have the same contact patterns, they are different and require different sockets. While socket sets in both teams are almost identical, Medusa Pro II developers are already getting ready with the eMMC BGA254 socket, which their competition has long included.
In addition to connection interfaces, you should pay attention to the visual interface. The Z3X team has implemented the visualization of connected pins through an EMMC connection (this feature was already available in the UFI Box).
Versions and Availability
Both teams are hardly newbies to the market and accommodated the customers who use earlier versions of their products by releasing update packages that are cheaper than full versions: the first version of Z3X Easy Jtag programmer can be upgraded to Z3X Easy Jtag Plus, and the first version of Medusa/Medusa PRO or Octoplus PRO (with Medusa PRO feature set) – to Medusa Pro II.
Medusa Pro II no longer supports the outdated Jtag, which is still supported by Medusa PRO. This programmer also supports EMMC, UFS, NAND (ONFI NAND with an 8-bit data bus or, optionally, a 16-bit data bus). The Medusa developers also addressed the future integration of support for advanced PCI-E memory on existing hardware.
Z3X Easy Jtag Plus supports the well-established but largely outdated Jtag, new EMMC, UFS, NAND (ONFI NAND with an 8-bit data bus), and SPI (not to be confused with the ISP mentioned earlier). Given that memory with an SPI is increasingly widespread, you can buy a dedicated SPI programmer with superior features for as little as a few dollars.
Medusa Pro II
Medusa Pro II is also available in two versions:
When purchasing the Medusa Pro II Upgrade Set to upgrade the earlier Medusa/Medusa PRO/Octoplus PRO, you get a new programmer and an additional activation for the old smart card.
With the new user version, you also get a programmer with a smart card and a new Medusa Pro II activation.
You may purchase EMMC or UFS sockets as an option:
EMMC socket
supporting BGA 221, BGA 162/186, BGA 153/169, BGA 529
UFS sockets:
You can also buy an additional NAND adapter:
Z3X Easy Jtag Plus
Two programmer options are available for existing users of the old Z3X Easy Jtag: Full Upgrade Set with sockets and Lite Upgrade Set without sockets.
| Full Upgrade Set | Lite Upgrade Set | ||
| EMMC socket | BGA153/169 | + | - |
| BGA162/186 | + | - | |
| BGA221 | + | - | |
| BGA529 | + | - | |
| Adapter kit | JTAG | + | + |
| ISP 1-bit | + | + | |
| ISP 4-bit | + | + | |
| U-SOCKET | + | + | |
| E-SOCKET | + | + | |
These programmers come without a smart card but with an additional jtag_upd activation, which is installed on the card of the earlier programmer. The old programmer can no longer run on new software.
New users would face the similar situation with sockets. However, the programmer will already come with a smart card and a new jtag_upd activation.
UFS sockets can be purchased additionally, either:
as a set
or any specific adapter
Performance and Features
Performance-wise, Medusa Pro II is well ahead of Z3X Easy Jtag Plus thanks to USB 3.0 support, which gives Medusa Pro II the edge over Z3X Easy Jtag Plus in terms of data transfer speeds between the programmer and the PC, reaching up to 5 Gbps.
Medusa Pro II works with UFS flash memory in:
- pulse-width modulation (PWM) 1-4
- HS1 modulation:
- write speed: 60 60 MB/s
- readout speed: 100 MB/s per differential line
The features of both programmers are largely similar.
Both Medusa PRO II and Z3X Easy Jtag Plus:
- don’t require annual upgrades or credits;
- support EMMC and UFS;
- are updated on an ongoing basis;
- may have their feature sets expanded through additional activations.
Key Differences:
- Medusa Pro II has the largest firmware database (chip controller firmware) for Samsung eMMC.
- Z3X Easy JTAG Plus can read broken eMMCs
Beside the connection interfaces, you should take note of the visual interface. The Z3X team has implemented the feature of visualization of connected pins on an EMMC connection (as featured in the earlier UFI Box).
Working with software. You’ll have to choose depending on your preferences and work style. Choosing Z3X Easy Jtag Plus, you'll need several different programs with fairly detailed functions.
This may seem a bit too much to take in, especially for a newbie.
Medusa Pro II software is more user-friendly and accessible. Said another way, it is a one-stop shop. The user can switch between tabs rather than restart different programs, which makes both the initial hands-on experience and further operation of the programmer much easier.
Expanded Features
As mentioned earlier, the feature set of each programmer may be expanded through additional activations. Such additional features mostly cover decoding, writing firmware, repairing IMEI, or removing FRP and may be purchased as an Octoplus Box or Z3X Box. However, all such features are available with both Medusa Pro II and Z3X Easy Jtag.
For Medusa Pro II you may purchase:
For Z3X Easy Jtag Plus you may purchase as an option:
Conclusions
This overview didn’t cover UFI Box, MIPI Box, RIFF2, or EMMC PRO programmers for reasons of their narrow focus, the irrelevance of implemented solutions, or lack of interest among users.
We did our best to review core programmers Medusa Pro II and Z3X Easy Jtag Plus as unbiasedly, concisely, and clearly as possible so that you get more answers and you can make an informed purchasing choice.
