In early March, Vivo introduced RAM - now this indicator is considered the flagship. Top-end Apple phones are equipped with 2 GB of RAM, Samsung - 4 GB of RAM. Colleagues from decided to find out how much RAM is actually enough for the average user in 2016.
The experiment is based on personal feelings and (partially) on benchmark tables, all conclusions are subjective. Below are seven options for the amount of RAM available in modern smartphones.
512 megabytes
Bloom time: 2011
Bestmodels: iPhone 4S, Nokia Lumia 520
This volume was considered the top one for Android five years ago. The iPhone 4 and 4S received the same amount of RAM, and the latter has survived to this day - probably the update to iOS 9 was the last for it. As far as Windows Phone is concerned, the 512MB Lumia 520 has also made its mark on history: in January of this year, it held a 12.9% share of all WP devices.
Alas, now 512 MB is officially obsolete. With such a volume, only budget Android smartphones are sold in the price range from three to seven thousand rubles. Naturally, no updates to Android 5.1 (and even more so - 6.0) are not expected. Applications will slow down, and the cache will have to be constantly cleared. The only acceptable option is to purchase a smartphone as a spare, not load it with applications and use it as a touch dialer.
1 gigabyte
heyday time: year 2012
Best models: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, Samsung A-line, Microsoft Lumia 535
On the example of a gigabyte of RAM, we can draw a deep conclusion: Apple knows how to optimize the mobile OS for the amount of RAM, and Google - with difficulty. For Android devices, gigabytes were a sign of a flagship four years ago, but in iOS everything is different - even now the more or less current iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus work flawlessly with a tiny (by Google standards) amount of RAM.
Everything is contradictory at Microsoft. On the one hand, top devices have been getting much more RAM for a long time, on the other hand, mid-range and budget smartphones function perfectly with a gigabyte. Updates to the latest OS versions are also supported.
The current Android also finally made friends with such a volume: there are enough devices on the market with a gigabyte of RAM and pre-installed 5.1 Lollipop.
The main inconvenience is the work of applications in the background. For example, if you watched a movie in the browser on your iPhone 6, then paused it and scrolled through social networks, the next time you open the browser, the page with the movie will reload, and you will be forced to rewind to where you left off. In other mobile operating systems, everything is similar.
1.5 gigabytes
Bloom time: 2013-2014
Best Gadgets: LG G4s, Samsung Galaxy A3 (2016)
A compromise that Asian companies came up with for their mini-flagships. It's embarrassing to charge about $300-400 for a device with a gigabyte, but to install two gigabytes is expensive (and pointless if the main flagship has the same amount).
Accordingly, one and a half gigabytes help: the cache can be cleared a little less often, the operation of the interface itself will be smoother, but you will not notice any revolution in comparison with a gigabyte - heavy content will continue to “fly out” in standby mode.
2 gigabytes
heyday time: 2013-2014
Best Gadgets: iPhone 6s, iPhone SE, LG Nexus 5, Nokia Lumia 930
All Android flagships switched to this volume in 2013, Microsoft - in 2014, Apple - in 2015. Objectively, two gigabytes of RAM is enough for almost all needs - from watching high-quality video to playing games weighing 1.5-2 GB. The best proof of the versatility of 2 GB of RAM is the iPhone 6s Plus, which is in benchmark tests.
Of course, the main role in this victory was played by the A9 chip (80% more powerful than the A8), but two gigabytes does not bother a bit: the menu does not twitch and does not slow down, everything opens smoothly, and “heavy” content is paused without excesses ( followed by renewal). The same story with the Lumia 930, which was developed already at the end of 2013: no freezes, no pauses in work. With Android, things are a little worse (sometimes the smartphone reacts to touch with a tiny delay), but even the Nexus 5, which will be three years old in the fall, is still quite suitable for demanding users.
3 gigabytes
heyday time: 2014-2015
Top Models: Samsung Galaxy S6, LG G4, HTC One M9, Microsoft Lumia 950
In 2014, the smartphone industry was overtaken by a crisis of the genre: vendors got confused about which parameter should be improved, so they rushed to “pump” all the characteristics. Naturally, gigabytes of RAM also fell, which now does not seem superfluous at all - with such a volume, flagships (and not only flagships) are protected from interruptions in the interface for a long time.
Microsoft has only two devices with 3 GB of RAM - 950 and 950 XL. Most likely, they would have functioned remarkably well with two gigabytes, but in Redmond they played it safe and added a “fashionable” amount of RAM. Apple, apparently, will mutate to three gigabytes this fall, when the iPhone 7 will be released, but there is no confirmation of this information: no one will be surprised if two gigabytes are kept in Cupertino, and the seventh iPhone again becomes the champion of benchmark tests.
4 gigabytes
Bloom time: 2016
Best models: Samsung Galaxy S7, Meizu Pro 5, LG V10
This volume is enough to forget the phrase "smartphone RAM" at least until the end of next year. True, there is a nuance: sometimes other characteristics do not keep up with the RAM - then the owner of the gadget will be very disappointed.
For example, in 2015, ASUS ZenFone 2 was released in a modification with 4 GB of RAM, but that device did not become a hit: users complained about a weak battery, dim screen backlight and a fragile lid (however, a new lid costs around 500 rubles).
By and large, there is no particular difference between three and four gigabytes of RAM, so this criterion should by no means be decisive when choosing a smartphone.
6 gigabytes
Bloom time: 2016
Best models: Vivo Xplay 5 Ultimate Edition, Meizu Pro 6 (Future)
In the past year or two, Chinese companies have grown fond of the tactic of hitting the headlines with world-first products. For example, in June, the world's first smartphone with a 10-core processor was introduced, but no one will probably remember the name of that gadget.
Perhaps the same fate awaits Vivo Xplay 5 Ultimate Edition. This smartphone has a metal body, a 5.43-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1400 pixels, Gorilla Glass 4 glass, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of internal memory, a 16-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel front module and 3600 mAh battery.
The next smartphone with 6 GB of RAM will most likely be Meizu Pro 6. In addition to an impressive amount of RAM, it will receive a Full HD screen and a Samsung Exynos 8890 processor. Why the generous Chinese put as many as six gigabytes of RAM into the case is a huge mystery.
The problem with memory overflow, which can be found out by the message issued by the Android operating system "Memory is full", is quite common. Moreover, there are no universal solutions for it, but there are many tips. In this material, we will try to systematize all or at least most of the available information on this issue.
Types of memory in Android devices
RAM, Random Access Memory or RAM - random access memory or random access memory. The software (including the operating system and installed applications) writes the data they need in the course of work into this memory and can quickly read them. RAM requires constant power - when you turn off or reboot the device, it is completely cleared. The more RAM, the more different processes and services can be running simultaneously. The “Phone memory is full” error can occur if the entire amount of RAM is completely exhausted, and there is not enough free space for the application to be launched.
ROM, Read Only Memory or ROM - read-only memory. The information stored in it cannot be changed and is recorded during the manufacture of the phone, or when the operating system is reinstalled - that is, during the flashing process. ROM is often divided into several sections to perform internal functions.
Interal Storage (Interal Phone Storage) - internal storage of a smartphone (or other device). This section of memory is designed to store user data, installed applications, and so on. This is something like an analogue of a hard drive in a personal computer. Naturally, in the process of writing data to the internal memory of an Android device, there is less free space here. The total amount of storage and the amount of free space can be viewed in the device settings.
External Storage - or, in fact, a microSD / microSDHC memory card. The user can expand this type of memory at will, unless, of course, the device supports memory cards, and there is an appropriate slot for this. It is something like an external hard drive for a personal computer. The total and occupied volumes of this type of memory, as well as free space on the card, can be checked in the settings of the Android gadget. The memory card can store multimedia data such as music, movies, pictures. Starting with Android 2.2, it became possible to transfer installed applications to a memory card, if the application itself supports it, thus saving space on the internal drive. Before replacing a memory card, it is strongly recommended to first unmount it, and not just remove it from the device.
Why does memory run out
Usually, after some time of relatively “quiet” use of the device on Android, users begin a period when they want to programmatically modify this device in every possible way. The endless installation of applications, scripts, and so on begins. And sooner or later, the message “Phone memory is full” appears, especially if the model is not one of the “top-end” ones, and this very memory is not so much. It is logical to assume that the problem is in the RAM - yes, this is partly true. But it is much easier to clean it up, it can be done both through the settings and using various downloadable utilities. So, the message about the lack of memory in the device appears when the internal drive is full. Of course, you can constantly clean this very drive, delete unnecessary applications, and so on, but over time it will be seen that the notorious “Phone memory is full” will appear more and more often. What is it connected with?
- The Android operating system installs apps on internal memory by default;
- not every application is available for transfer to a memory card;
- Vital programs like Google Maps and Google Play “sewn” into your device are updated periodically, taking up additional internal memory cells;
- some manufacturers throw pre-installed games and other software, which is called bloatware, into the smartphone or tablet you bought to the heap.
Free space check
Through the dispatcher
Button - dispatcher call
On Samsung devices, press and hold the Home button for about a second, then go to the storage icon.
The data here is displayed in the Busy/Total format, so you will need to remember a little arithmetic lessons.
Through settings
Everything is simpler here: Settings> Options> Memory . And you don't have to count.
How to clean - overview of options
Operational measures
For a quick, although not very long, solution to the situation, cleaning up temporary files will help. They have the .rm extension and are stored in the folder data local mp. You can delete temporary files with Root access, for example, using Root Explorer.
Also, in the above folder data you can find many files that have the .log extension and contain "error" in the name - these are error log files of various applications that take up quite a lot of space. We delete them and forget about “Phone memory is full” for a while.
Removing dex files
And now let's look at a more thorough way to clean up space on the internal drive. Each program on a smartphone or tablet, or any other Android device, when installed, creates a file with the extension .dex in the directory datadalvik-cache. But sometimes, on some system applications, these files are missing, and the following picture is visible:
Indeed, it is strange that the program takes 0 bytes. As it turns out, the reason lies in the fact that along with these files, the firmware contains files of the same name, but with the .odex extension. These files can be created, and then you don't need to leave .dex files. For example, LuckyPatcher can "dress" applications. So, first we look in the properties of the application, how much space it takes:
In this case, it's 1.68 MB, so the corresponding .dex file in datadalvik-cache takes up the same amount of space, and the created .odex file will weigh the same. We launch the mentioned LuckyPatcher, select the desired application in the list, hold down on it (not just “tap” once, but hold down), we see the context menu:
We select the first or second item, and it does not matter that the application may not need to remove the license check or remove ads at all. After that, the program will create the .odex files we need. Now you can remove the .dex files from datadalvik-cache. And now we see that the application already takes 0 bytes, but it works fine. This method is suitable for system applications.
For custom applications, things are a little different. We select the application we need and go to its folder on the memory card, look at the free memory of this application. In this example, 1.56 MB is reserved for the program folder, while the .dex file is 1.68 MB.
There are several ways to solve this problem: either move the selected application to the system directory and carry out the manipulations described above, or forget about this idea specifically with this application and take on some other program. By the way, if you move the application to user memory, and then create .odex, you can delete .dex, and the program will work fine. But when you move it to a flash drive, the .odex file will be deleted, and the application will refuse to work. In this case, there will be only two options left: reinstall the program again or do a complete cleanup of dalvik-cache. So not every application can work without .dex - the method will only work with applications that have more free memory than .dex.
hard reboot
You can solve the problem radically by using Hard reset - a hard reset of the communicator. The step is not bad, returning the device to its original, factory settings. The speed of work increases, the smartphone instantly responds to all inputs and literally starts to “fly”. But, on the other hand, such an action can cause inconvenience for the user, because it is the deletion of data, files, applications that he will be forced to install again.
An effective but harsh way to solve a problem
Removing unnecessary applications, their updates and cache
To get rid of unused applications, go to Settings > Options > Application Manager.
Find in the menu "Application Manager" is not so difficult
Once in the "Downloaded" tab, call up the menu and sort the files by size. Next, select the applications you abandoned and click "Delete".
You can remove updates only for those applications that you installed yourself - with the built-in ones, such a trick will not work.
Select the application, click on "Uninstall updates", and after that - on "Disable".
If you have root, then you can even get rid of the system software. But be careful - one awkward movement, and the smartphone will fall into a dead sleep.
To clear the application cache, go to: Settings> Options> Memory.
Wait a few seconds until the amount of occupied space is determined, then select the "Cached data" item and tap "OK".
Using the CCleaner utility
CCleaner is perhaps the best of the utilities
Not to say that this method is super-efficient, given that some utilities themselves take up a lot of space, and even show ads. Therefore, if you decide to resort to it, then choose a proven CCleaner.
After the utility has done its job, you can safely delete it - until the next need.
Video: How to free up memory on Android
“Phone memory is full” is by far one of the most annoying and annoying inscriptions for Android device owners. We hope that thanks to our advice, she will not bother you for a long time.
Smartphones have become for many of us a guide in the modern world, overflowing with information. It is not enough for our gadget to gain access to this information - it needs to be “caught”: stored for a short or long time to show us, immediately or later. Let's break this down piece by piece.
RAM
This type of memory affects how complex applications you can run on your smartphone, as well as how many simultaneously running programs your gadget can “pull”. All the data that applications use right now, as well as the data that your smartphone's operating system needs at that moment, is in RAM. For example, they will contain the contents of the page you open in the browser or social network feeds, everything that you see on the screen in your favorite game, or a letter from your work mail that you read. Actually, the code of the executable programs themselves is also loaded into RAM. As soon as some information in RAM ceases to be relevant, it is deleted from there. On a switched off smartphone, the RAM is empty; without power supply, nothing is stored there.
The amount of RAM in your gadget greatly affects its performance. If it does not have enough RAM, then very "heavy" pages on the Internet may not load, the response to your commands will be slow, and some programs will not start at all. Modern smartphones can have from 1 GB to 6 GB of RAM, and the more it is, the more expensive the device, all other things being equal. The nuance is that it is impossible to say how much RAM is enough for you. It all depends on what programs you use, how many of them you need to keep constantly running. You will understand that you do not have enough "RAM", according to the symptoms described above. Unfortunately, it is impossible to increase the amount of RAM in a smartphone: it remains either to moderate appetites or buy another model.
Inner memory
RAM, of course, is also inside your smartphone, but that's about something else. Internal memory is the place where your programs, photos, music, notes are saved. The fundamental difference between RAM and internal memory is that information is stored on the latter without power supply, and by turning off the gadget, you do not risk losing all your wealth. Simplified, everything happens like this: when you need to use something that you have saved, you give a command, and it is copied into RAM, and you can see the picture, hear the song, start using the program. At the same time, much that is in RAM can be saved to internal memory to be used later if necessary - say, text from a page on the Internet or a picture. If you download a program from the app store, then it is also placed in the internal memory, in transit through the operational one.
The amount of internal memory of a smartphone has almost no effect on its performance. However, it is clear that the more such memory you have, the more data you can store on your smartphone. Here you need to take into account the nuance: on a smartphone, in the characteristics of which you see, say, 16 GB of internal memory, you can use its significantly smaller amount at your discretion - 9-11 GB, depending on the model. If the memory on a smartphone, according to its characteristics, is even less, then the share of usable space for your needs in the specified amount of memory will also decrease. The fact is that part of the internal memory is already occupied by the operating system and applications that cannot be deleted.
On modern gadgets, it can be from 4 GB to 256 GB - and the more, the more expensive the device. When choosing a smartphone, keep in mind that you can’t change the reality again: you won’t be able to buy additional internal memory. Although this moment can sometimes be bypassed - which we will discuss further.
Expandable memory
Most Android smartphones (but not all) allow you to solve the problem of lack of internal memory by installing a microSD card in the gadget, an accessory the size of a pinky nail that can store from 4 GB to 256 GB of information. This type of memory is called expandable. The allowable card size depends on the capabilities of your smartphone. The most affordable smartphones, which typically come with 4GB of internal storage, will only allow you to add up to 32GB with a microSD card.
Not everything is equally convenient to store on a memory card, and not everything is possible, and therefore the tactics of buying a smartphone with a minimum of internal memory with an eye to “building it up” with a card does not always justify itself. The memory card is slower than the internal one, and if you store frequently used applications there, this will affect the performance of the gadget. Some programs do not "know how" to live on microSD, and some smartphones do not know how to "prescribe" programs on cards. As a result, a microSD card is an excellent tool for storing photos, videos, documents, but is not always suitable for storing programs.
Not only cards
Some smartphones and tablets allow you to connect USB flash drives or even external hard drives via a USB port. The characteristics of such gadgets indicate support for the USB-OTG function (on the go, on the go). This is also a type of expandable memory for a smartphone. It is clear that these devices cannot be used permanently connected to the gadget, and therefore they are suitable, in the basics, for archiving data or extracting something from a previously created archive.
remote extension
We conclude the review with the youngest way to store data - cloud. This storage option has gained particular importance with the development of the mobile Internet and the expansion of 3G and 4G cellular networks, because now even a large amount of information can be transferred in a short time from a smartphone. There are several free cloud services - from Yandex, Mail.ru, Google, etc. Each of them will give you a few gigabytes for free and any additional volume - for money. Life hack: use several services at once, and you will have more free space for your data.
Storing data in the "cloud" is a great solution for those whose smartphones do not support the connection of memory cards or external devices. In addition, the cloud service is an excellent means of exchanging information between your various devices: smartphones, tablets and computers.
The minus of the "cloud" is its dependence on the mobile Internet. If you are in a zone of unstable cellular reception, and there is no access to Wi-Fi either, you will be cut off from the “cloud”, and it from you.
Shall we draw conclusions? When your memory is bad, it's definitely not good for you. An experienced smartphone user will buy it by looking intently at the technical specifications of the contender gadgets. Not the least important points in the characteristics for our experienced user will be information about the RAM and internal memory. An average smartphone in terms of its capabilities and price today is equipped with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, but this does not mean at all that less is little, and more is a lot: everything depends on the tasks that the smartphone will solve. Any gadget with minimal characteristics is suitable for all basic tasks: mail, social networks, browser, simple games, photography.
In addition, our advanced buyer will pay attention to microSD card support and capacity limits. If it is necessary to connect external hard drives or USB flash drives to the smartphone, the buyer will check this point with the seller. Finally, those who want to use all the conveniences of cloud services will take care of a suitable tariff plan that includes the necessary Internet traffic package.
When using mobile phones on the Android operating system, almost everyone is interested in the correct use of the device's memory. Moreover, the internal memory of the smartphone plays an important role, which can be an obstacle to installing software, downloading files from the Internet, receiving data via bluetooth, as the message “internal memory is full” appears. In addition, the correct use of the provided volume allows you to correctly operate with the available speed of the mobile device.
What is the internal memory of a mobile phone?
The internal memory is responsible for storage of information and its successful issuance. A certain part is filled in at the stage of mobile phone release, after which it is not subject to unauthorized changes in classic operating conditions. It is assumed that the main task of internal memory is to store universal programs and operating system data. It is this segment of the provided volume that is called ROM (Read Only Memory, which can be translated as “read-only memory”) or read-only memory (ROM).
Recently, developers have been trying to offer programmable ROMs that can respond to the specific operating conditions of equipment. In the future, an erasable programmable ROM should be implemented that can not only be programmed based on the specifics of the operation, but also erase information using a 15-minute exposure to strong ultraviolet light. 
It is possible that subsequently there will be an electronically reprogrammable ROM, information from which can be erased on the basis of pulses without exposure to an ultraviolet camera. In any case, the active development of mobile technology is expected, so users can count on the emergence of new opportunities.
Features of the internal memory of a mobile phone
Currently, smartphones belong to different price segments, so you need to take this aspect into account when choosing a model with RAM (ROM). If the memory is low, the device system should take care of clearing the RAM, since only in this case it is possible to free up space for solving new tasks. In addition, programs can not always save the desired state when unloading from RAM, so sometimes you have to see the initial position. Despite this, you need to know how much internal memory is offered for a mobile phone.
- 512 megabytes is the lot of the most budget and old mobile phones. This indicator is absolutely not enough for a modern smartphone, taking into account the needs of current applications. For this reason, you need to start from 1 gigabyte.
- 1 gigabyte allows you to successfully work simultaneously with 3 - 5 programs.
- 2 gigabytes of RAM is the best indicator for mid-range mobile phones. This will be enough for demanding games that run on low or medium settings. In addition, you can count on the simultaneous operation of a dozen applications.
- Flagship models can be pleased with the presence of 3 gigabytes of memory, which allow you to work simultaneously with a large number of applications. In addition, the launch of the applications used can occur instantly. If you have a reserve of internal memory, you can give yourself free rein in decorating the operating system, using launchers with animation. If you wish, you can play modern games, because the vastness of resources allows you to perform any task. The gaming smartphone must have at least 3 gigabytes.
- 4 gigabytes is an option for thrifty and wealthy buyers. There is no real need for such an amount of internal memory, but only the smartphone user can decide which option is right for him in reality. The software can be launched in the shortest possible time, because the operating system will store almost all applications in the RAM. In addition, a smartphone with 4 gigabytes will not become obsolete in terms of this indicator for a couple of years.
Despite the ability to choose a phone with a significant amount of RAM, you need to remember that Android can easily take 100% under any circumstances, because no one has canceled the control.
This memory is required to successfully store system as well as user data. What volume can be provided?
- The most budget models are offered with 8 gigabytes.
- Typical indicators are 16, 32, and also 64 gigabytes.
- Some flagships can please 128 gigabytes.
An improved parameter immediately leads to an increase in the cost of a mobile phone. It should be noted that programs and temporary files do not take much time, so if you wish, you can get by with even 8 gigabytes with the addition of a memory card. However, if you choose modern mobile games with 3D graphics, it is advisable to give preference to flagships.
Content will require a lot of space if there is a need for high quality photos, decent quality music and video clips. For example, a 20-minute HD report would require 500 megabytes, which equals 0.5 gigabytes.
A reasonable minimum is 16 gigabytes, but 64 gigabytes becomes ideal. The most important thing is to take into account the style of using a mobile phone and the regularity of content filling, because it is these parameters that determine the optimal amount of internal memory.
The most important thing is to take into account the style of using a mobile phone and the regularity of content filling, because it is these parameters that determine the optimal amount of internal memory.
What is the difference?
The internal memory of any modern smartphone was originally designed for operating files and applications preinstalled by the manufacturer, while the phone's memory can be used for downloadable personal programs, content (photos, videos, music). Such a symbiosis guarantees a high level of functionality of the mobile device, the memory of which contributes to the successful solution of existing user tasks.
What is random access memory (RAM), why is it needed and what does it affect?
Smartphone RAM is a parameter that determines the level of performance of the gadget and its ability to multitask. The more RAM installed in the device, the easier it is to work with several resource-intensive applications at the same time.
Why is RAM needed?
Random Access Memory or Random Access Memory (RAM) is the link between the processor and the operating system because it stores temporary information needed for running applications to run.
The need to constantly add RAM to new models is dictated not only by marketing. The number of programs and processes that users work with every day is growing every day. A smartphone needs a lot of RAM for fast launch and stable operation of programs and games.
Manufacturer-branded shells, such as Flyme or MIUI, usually require more resources than pure Android - this is due to built-in applications, additional features and visual interface improvements. For this reason, manufacturers are forced to install more RAM every year.
If the operating system and applications are sufficiently optimized, then it is not necessary to chase the number of gigabytes. A well-known and illustrative example: smartphones and tablets running on iOS often have less RAM than competitors on Android. This does not prevent them from showing high results both in everyday use and in performance tests.
Types of RAM
In addition to the capacity of the RAM, it also differs in speed. The higher the number that characterizes the RAM, the faster it will work. There is even a statement that, in terms of capabilities, 4 GB (LPDDR3) roughly corresponds to 3 GB (LPDDR4). Perhaps the difference is not so big, but it is definitely there. It is logical that it is recommended to choose a phone with an LPDDR4 module.
How much RAM should a smartphone have?
When choosing a phone, it is important to consider that in most cases, the operating system with the shell will “bite off” about 1-1.5 GB of RAM. Each of the running processes consumes a certain amount of resources, for example:
- VK: about 300 MB.
- WhatApp: about 20-30 MB.
- YouTube: about 100-200 MB.
In modern realities, 3-4 GB of RAM in a smartphone should be enough to comfortably use the device, applications and games. Gadgets with 1-2 GB of RAM today can no longer boast of smoothness and speed, but they are quite suitable for running a small number of programs, simple games and calls.
For those who are looking for a modern and powerful smartphone for any task, manufacturers offer devices with 6 or 8 GB of RAM. Now it may seem that this amount of RAM is probably not needed by a phone, but in the era of machine learning, artificial intelligence and augmented reality, extra RAM will not hurt.
