All smartphones come with a certain amount of Memory and this is one of the key point a user should consider when he buy a new phone. There are two types of Memory: 1. RAM (immediate) and the 2. ROM (internal). RAM usually has a smaller capacity and helps the processor to have all the information it needs quickly in order to run. ROM whereas, is more like long term memory.
DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) –
Samsung's LPDDR4X and latest LPDDR5
Samsung Galaxy A51 RAM usage
Samsung Galaxy A6 RAM usage
What is Ram?
To know what RAM is, we need to know about what it stand for: Random Access Memory. It is called so because it can be read and written at any point without needing to wait in a queue of processes. RAM is much faster than standard internal memory, so if a user uses apps frequently, the data for those apps will be stored in the RAM. This means that if he open up the app next time, the app will load up much faster.
RAM memory features:
- RAM is very fast but volatile, meaning that all information is lost when electronic power is cut off. That makes it useful for temporary storage of data that requires fast access.
- Device with more RAM can run more complex software and multiple applications at the same time.
- RAM is expansive i.e.. RAM chips cost more than hard disks and flash chips. They run better and take more power to run.
Types of RAM:
There are two main types of RAM:
¤ DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)
¤ SRAM (Static Random Access Memory)
DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) –
The term dynamic indicates that the memory must be constantly refreshed or it will lose its contents. DRAM is typically used for the main memory in computing devices. If a PC or smartphone is advertised as having 4-GB RAM or 16-GB RAM, those numbers refer to the DRAM, or main memory, in the device.
More specifically, most of the DRAM used
in modern systems is synchronous DRAM, or SDRAM. Manufacturers also sometimes use the acronym DDR (or DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, etc.) to describe the type of SDRAM used by a PC or server. DDR stands for double data rate, and it refers to how much data the memory can transfer in one clock cycle.
In general, the more RAM a device has, the faster it will perform.
SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) –
More specifically, most of the DRAM used
in modern systems is synchronous DRAM, or SDRAM. Manufacturers also sometimes use the acronym DDR (or DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, etc.) to describe the type of SDRAM used by a PC or server. DDR stands for double data rate, and it refers to how much data the memory can transfer in one clock cycle.
In general, the more RAM a device has, the faster it will perform.
SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) –
While DRAM is typically used for main memory, today SRAM is more often used for system cache. SRAM is said to be static because it doesn't need to be refreshed, unlike dynamic RAM, which needs to be refreshed thousands of times per second. As a result, SRAM is faster than DRAM. However, both types of RAM are volatile, meaning that they lose their contents when the power is turned off.
In smartphones, a special type of RAM called LPDDR is used, which consumes little energy, heats up very little, is very small and ofcourse rather expensive. Currently, the most common RAMs are:
¤ LPDDR2 ¤ LPDDR3 ¤ LPDDR4
¤ LPDDR5
How RAM works?
When a user turned on his phone, and open an app for the first time, his phone pulls the operating system (OS) and app's data from our phone's slower main storage and stores the bulk of that OS and app data in his phone's faster RAM so he can use different elements and features of OS and app quickly.
When he is finished with the app he is using, his phone keeps the app and whatever he was doing on it in his phone's RAM keeps it, even if he switch to another app.
When he return to an app he used a while ago, it will open right where he left off, as if he never ever left the app, because it's been stored in his phone's RAM. Essentially, apps he used is kept running in the background while he use other apps.
What if a phone doesn't have RAM?
If it does so, apps would fully closed whenever a user switch apps. That means apps would need to fully reopen, as if he opened them for the first time after turning on his phone, which cause a delay before he can use the app.
How much RAM does a smartphone user need these days?
Each Android Smartphone comes with a fixed amount of RAM. It is a part of phone's motherboard and it is not upgradable. These days smartphones are packed with more and more memory eg.. Samsung Galaxy Note 10 has 8 GB RAM whereas latest S20 Ultra has 12 GB of RAM..
The optimal RAM needed for Android is 4GB..
If a user uses multiple apps everyday, his RAM usage won't hit more than 2.5-3.5 GB, this means that a smartphone with 4 GB RAM will give him all the room in the world for quickly opening his favourite apps.
As an example here are two screenshots from two separate smartphones that I own. The first is Samsung Galaxy A51 which has 6 GB of RAM.
Next is Samsung Galaxy A6, which has 4 GB of RAM...
As we can see from both images, the RAM usage is roughly same, the Galaxy A51 doesn't benefit from the additional RAM whatever.
How to see RAM usage in a Samsung's Smartphone?
If a user wants to see RAM usage in his smartphone, he must follow the steps below👇
• Open Settings app in your Galaxy device.
• Scroll to the bottom and tap on 'About Phone'.
• Tap on software information and tap on build no. (Usually 7 times)
• A pop-up will appear 'You are now a developer'.
• Tap back and then tap on 'Developer Options'.
• Next tap on 'Memory' to see RAM usage.
#GalaxyTechfluencer
Thanks..🙂
-Regards
- Arpit Kr.
