How Much RAM Do You Need in a Smartphone?

Key Considerations for Buying a Smartphone:

• Price: It's a crucial factor and depends on the subscription plans from carriers.
• Features Beyond Price: Important features include camera quality, display type, chip performance, internal storage, and RAM.

Importance of RAM in Smartphones:

• RAM capacity varies greatly in Android smartphones and is often tied to device cost.
• RAM is essential for multitasking and maintaining app performance.

Examples of RAM in Recent Smartphones:

• Low-End Devices:
  • Redmi A3X: 3 GB RAM launched in May 2024.
  • Moto G Series: 4 GB RAM updated in January 2025.
• High-End Devices:
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Up to 16 GB RAM.
  • OnePlus 13: Up to 24 GB RAM with certain configurations (launched November 2024).

Understanding RAM Usage:

• Android and Linux Kernel: Android is based on Linux, utilizing virtual memory.
• RAM Types:
  • Used RAM: Memory occupied by running processes and cached data.
  • Free RAM: Unused memory, not allocated to any tasks.
  • Available RAM: Free RAM plus reclaimable used RAM (e.g., cached data that can be cleared).
• App Loading: Apps can be ejected from RAM to free space for new applications, adhering to a lifecycle that tolerates such operations.

RAM Requirements for Different Apps:

• Social Media Apps: Approximately 0.5 GB needed.
• Photo Editing and Multimedia: Google Photos and Adobe Photoshop can require up to 1 GB.
• Web Browsing (Chrome): Consumes substantial RAM, each tab increasing usage.
• Gaming: Minecraft requires over 1 GB, Genshin Impact uses around 2 GB.
• AI Apps: Local AI, like Gemma Nano on Pixel 9 Pro, consume significant RAM.

Recommendations for Choosing RAM:

• Budget Considerations: Avoid overspending based solely on RAM specifications.
• Optimal RAM Sizes:
  • 4 GB could lead to frequent app restarts.
  • 8 GB is the minimum recommended in 2025.
  • 12 GB is the optimal balance for performance.
  • 16 GB suits power users and devices utilizing local AI.

Conclusion:

• When devices feature local AI, additional RAM is critical due to the demands of large language models.
• Readers are asked to share their experiences and preferences regarding RAM in their current and desired future smartphones.

Engagement:

• Feedback is encouraged on the viewer's current RAM usage and desired specifications in future smart devices.
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