Introduction to RAM
RAM (Random Access Memory) is one of the first words you would hear when you go to buy a smartphone. Although it tops the list of specifications of any smartphone, few people actually know what RAM is. Let us understand what it is, and why you need it.
RAM is basically a fast type of memory that stores information and apps when you’re not using them, but might do so in the near future. It’s the RAM that allows you to multitask on your phone, which is the ability to use a number of apps at the same time and switch between them. You have the RAM to thank for being able to return to an app you’ve previously used and pick up where you left off, without any delay. Without it, the open apps on your phone would fully close when you switch to another one.
That means you’ll have to fully re-open the app and begin from the start. Let’s say you’re scrolling through Instagram and you get a text message on WhatsApp. You open WhatsApp, respond to the text, and switch back to Instagram. Thanks to RAM, your Instagram will pop right back up where you left off. RAM is essentially what makes a phone a smartphone.
Relation between RAM and Speed
RAM is a lot faster than the internal storage on your smartphone, but your phone has less of it. With a good RAM, you get the impression that your phone is working smooth and fast since you have access to your used apps and data in an instant. Naturally, one would assume that more RAM is better. But it’s not that simple. More RAM does mean that your phone can store more of the OS data and apps you often use for fast access. There are other factors at play that decide how fast your phone works.
The Apple iPhone 12 features a 4 GB RAM as compared to the 8-12 GB range of RAM in other flagship smartphones, but it’s still an incredibly fast phone. It matches the multitasking speed of its rival smartphones featuring higher RAMs with ease. How is that possible, you ask? The answer lies in how the phone uses its RAM.
Apple optimizes the iOS operating system, components, and the way it handles app data to perform perfectly well with 4GB of RAM. Smartphones manufactured by Google, such as the Pixel models are also optimized in a way that they are able to use their RAM efficiently. Other factors also contribute to RAM performance, such as the battery, processor, modem, and software updates from the manufacturer
The amount of RAM you need depends on your usage. If your usage is limited to a few essential apps, a 4 GB RAM mobile phone would be good enough. Simply put, you should look for a baseline of minimum 4 GB RAM for your phone. On the other hand, if you do a lot of multitasking and keep a few apps running in the background, you need a phone with a good amount of RAM like 6 GB or 8 GB.
As stated earlier, it also depends on which phone you’re buying. An iPhone or a Pixel phone would suffice with lower RAM than the other smartphones. Moreover, the last factor in deciding the RAM you need is the amount of money that you’re willing to spend on your new phone. If you do a Google search for “under 15000 best mobile phone”, the results will largely consist of smartphones with 4 GB RAM.
In conclusion, anything over 4 GB of RAM should be good enough for all kinds of users. So go ahead and buy your favourite phone with the Bajaj Finserv EMI Network Card, from the 1 lakh+ partner stores across the country. You can pay your bills later in the form of easy, monthly EMIs.
