How much RAM for midrange Android 7 / 8 phone? (Feb 2018)

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#1963710 25-Feb-2018 08:04

I also have the G5s, 32/3, I have an SD card but no real need. I have found 90% of the time it is fine. The software is not overbearing and tasks all perform adequately. Good value for money.

My other phone is Sony's X Compact, which with the same configuration seems to be a little better optimised, even pre Oreo. However, I paid a bit more for this, and it is older than the G5s.

But 3GB ram shouldn't disappoint, at the moment.

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#1963712 25-Feb-2018 08:12

One of my requirements was dual Sim, specifically dual 3g. The second Sim slot is also the SD slot, so for the moment I don't have the SD card option.

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#1963726 25-Feb-2018 09:29

The 32 storage / 3GB ram isn't available on Amazon, so I it'd be $100 extra or more to buy in NZ. It's probably not worth paying that much more for us.

I think 32GB storage is more important than RAM for someone who's a low user, running one app at a time. My phone is 3GB RAM but there's almost always > 1GB free. If the 3GB was really essential I'd get that and have to get a 16GB memory card and use adoptable storage.

But for now I think 32GB / 2GB is the best trade-off. If it only lasts a few years that's ok at this price.

Sound reasonable? Thoughts?

openmedia

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#1963760 25-Feb-2018 10:00

I've got the Motorola G5 XT1676 model which is Dual SIM, 3GB Ram + 16GB storage and I use it with a 64GB MicroSD Card

I keep all my media on the SD card and use the internal storage for apps etc.

Recently got some Android 7.0 security fixes and is due to get Oreo some time "soon"

Overall a great phone, except you can't run 3G on both SIMs. One SIM is always 2G. There are rumours of a software fix, but I've seen nothing official.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

timmmay

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#1963762 25-Feb-2018 10:11

openmedia:

I've got the Motorola G5 XT1676 model which is Dual SIM, 3GB Ram + 16GB storage and I use it with a 64GB MicroSD Card

I keep all my media on the SD card and use the internal storage for apps etc.

Recently got some Android 7.0 security fixes and is due to get Oreo some time "soon"

Overall a great phone, except you can't run 3G on both SIMs. One SIM is always 2G. There are rumours of a software fix, but I've seen nothing official.

Interesting, thanks. Is the 16GB internal storage enough for apps and general use? Can you have your photos go straight to the external SD card?

Of your 3GB RAM how much does it generally use? Would you get away with 2GB?

timmmay

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#1963786 25-Feb-2018 11:42

After reading plenty of reviews, and seeing what mattered most to my wife, I ordered the 32GB storage / 2GB RAM model from Amazon.com. Reviews all say 2GB is fine, and Android 8 which it should get very soon / immediately is meant to be reduce RAM usage.

Thanks for all the thoughts and input, it was appreciated :)

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Batman

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#1963845 25-Feb-2018 13:15

It really depends on how many apps you want to leave open and instantly carry on where you left off, like instantly and cannot wait 5 seconds and have a fresh load.

For the average person like me, 2gb is fine.

d3Xt3r

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#1965630 28-Feb-2018 10:56

The thing is, it depends on how long you intend to keep your phone and when do you plan to upgrade it. 2GB may be fine for you right now, but what if a killer app comes out tomorrow that needs more RAM? Or your existing apps (like Snapchat) suddenly decided they need an interface revamp and now it's memory usage has spiked up?

2GB may be fine now but it doesn't give much breathing room for future needs. But if you plan to keep your phone only for an year and buy something better next year, then 2GB may be a safe bet.

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#1965646 28-Feb-2018 11:18

average user like me don't use any killer apps :)

I just call and txt mainly, and simple things like online banking etc don't use much RAM, and don't need to load back to the exact screen where I left it

but yes if you want to play killer games and do killer video editing on a 6" screen yes you will need lots of RAM, depending on how killer that app is!

d3Xt3r

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#1965792 28-Feb-2018 12:39

Batman:

average user like me don't use any killer apps :)

I just call and txt mainly, and simple things like online banking etc don't use much RAM, and don't need to load back to the exact screen where I left it

but yes if you want to play killer games and do killer video editing on a 6" screen yes you will need lots of RAM, depending on how killer that app is!

If you don't use any social media apps like Facebook and Snapchat - you're not the average user. ;)

timmmay

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#1965806 28-Feb-2018 12:57

d3Xt3r:

The thing is, it depends on how long you intend to keep your phone and when do you plan to upgrade it. 2GB may be fine for you right now, but what if a killer app comes out tomorrow that needs more RAM? Or your existing apps (like Snapchat) suddenly decided they need an interface revamp and now it's memory usage has spiked up?

2GB may be fine now but it doesn't give much breathing room for future needs. But if you plan to keep your phone only for an year and buy something better next year, then 2GB may be a safe bet.

Given my wife is ok with 1GB I think 2GB will be a nice gain for her :) Android 8 should make things better too, and the Moto G5 has that update according to the Moto website. Android takes about 700MB of RAM, give or take, which leaves 1.3GB free for apps and services.

If an app is slow my wife would just stop using it. She uses one app at a time typically.

Appreciate the thoughts though. I wouldn't buy a 2GB RAM phone myself, I'd probably want 3GB or more myself. My current phone is 3GB and it's fine.

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#1965827 28-Feb-2018 13:13

I personally think 3GB suffices right now. Give it 2 years 4GB will be minimum.

But that doesnt mean phones wont run, it just means people will have to learn to close apps like you do on desktop haha.

Most of Motos $500ish phones are 3GB, not sure if thats a sign given you would think they have their finger on the pulse.

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#1965865 28-Feb-2018 13:39

You never have to close apps on Android, background apps close if the system needs the resources. G5 cost US$180 / NZ$220 or so from Amazon.

gzt

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#1966053 28-Feb-2018 18:50

If that were true I would never close apps.. ; ).

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#1966054 28-Feb-2018 18:54

Never close apps.

And hang on ... if Facebook needs >2gb of RAM they need to fire their app developer!

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