For modern smartphones, 8–12GB of RAM is the sweet spot

For modern smartphones, 8–12GB of RAM is the sweet spot

 

Based on the results of last week's poll, many people still believe that 8GB of RAM is sufficient for a modern smartphone as 2023 draws to a close. Most of the time, the Android skin and inefficient programs are to blame if 8GB feels limited.

 

 

The other sizable voting group favours 12GB of RAM; some consider it to be the minimum, while others view it as future-proofing since system requirements often increase over time. It's wise to take some precautions for the future because, as a recent poll revealed, half of our readers plan to keep their new phones for at least four years.

 

 

Even still, several responses stated that smartphones with 12GB or more are mostly used by gamers, as AAA games these days are among the most resource-intensive, especially with the release of increasingly intricate character models and maps. Unlike a traditional desktop, which frequently has dedicated VRAM, the GPU also takes up space on the system.

 

 

Although there is some interest in 16GB—more proof will come in the future—RAM levels over 12GB and below 8GB are not very popular. Actually, a higher number of respondents selected "don't care" than "more than 16GB."

 

 

However, it's also vital to emphasize the lower end. Most consumers will object to a phone with only 4GB or even 6GB of RAM unless it's a cheap model. Less than 8GB is uncomfortable, but again, it depends on the software (both manufacturer and user-installed).

 

 

This leads us to our second query: low-cost phones with constrained system RAM are typically accompanied by audacious boasts of having enormous virtual RAM capabilities. Although it appears great in advertisements, it doesn't seem to offer anything to users.

 

 

Merely 5% indicate that they have experienced the advantages of virtual RAM. A third of voters, or a large majority, are unsure; while they have it enabled, they are unable to say with certainty whether it is beneficial. Most people just leave virtual RAM turned off.

 

 

In summary, real RAM cannot be replaced, and 8GB is a reasonable amount to request.