So, the Samsung Galaxy s5 connects just fine to my computer via the USB 3.0 port BUT when it connects it uses MTP. I can see the phone's files, transfer files, and so on via MTP and the transfer speed is about 20 to 30 MB/s or something like that.
But the cable is 3.0, my computer is 3.0, and there's an option that says 3.0 (I have other USB storage that is 3.0 so I miss the high speed 🙂 However, when I click on the USB 3.0 option on the phone nothing really happens. I can no longer use MTP, of course, but I don't see another option for the device.
Has anybody else come across this? How do I use the USB 3.0 option with the Samsung Galaxy s5 in Ubuntu 14.04?
Best Answer
Answer to original question:
You should continue to use USB 2 with MTP until Linux libraries are updated, or you can use something like Wifi File Transfer (web based) or ES File Manager (supports SFTP for file transfers over SSH) and Samba, etc.
However, please consider that USB 2 is faster than what many external hard drives can provide, is faster than almost all insertable SD cards, and the bus of the Samsung is totally saturated by USB 3 transfer speeds (its a phone, not a PC) and it can't do transfers to the SD Card and the USB 3 at the same time. Basically, you won't get any additional speed. Try it under Windows with USB 3 and then try it again under Ubuntu with USB 2 ... and you tell me if there is an appreciable speed difference.
You can try USB 3 and then tether the phone to enable USB networking. You can then attempt a file transfer via one of the above methods, such as ES File Manager and SFTP (uses your SSH server). However, for the reasons above, you likely won't get speeds much above USB 2. Basically, USB 3 support on a phone is more of a marketing gimmick.