RAM costs more for phones, too - so how much do you actually need?
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Phones have more RAM than ever, while prices skyrocket.
- Flagship phones have more RAM that most people need.
- Most people only need 8GB or 12GB.
If you've ever pored over specs for new phones while shopping around, you've probably seen the high amounts of RAM among the list of highly-touted features. Phones are getting more and more amounts of random access memory (RAM), but how much does your phone really need?
There are two metrics advertised in GBs: RAM and storage. Storage refers to how much space you have to hold apps, photos, videos, documents. RAM, on the other hand, refers to short-term memory and represents how much the phone can do at once. In short, its performance.
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But there's only so much your phone can do, anyway. While more RAM is better in theory, a phone with a lot of comes with a price -- literally. Thanks largely to AI data centers scooping up nearly all the available RAM (it's estimated data centers will demand 70% of available memory chips in 2026), prices are more expensive than ever and continue to rise.
Phone manufacturers are, in turn, passing these increases on to customers. Google has already announced that the Pixel 11 series will cost more specifically because of this issue, and we'll likely see higher-priced iPhones this fall.
Given rising prices, you might be wondering how much RAM your phone really needs. Here's a look at how much you need depending on what you do with your phone. And yes, you can have too much.
How much is too much?
6GB of RAM or under
It's getting harder to find phones with just 6GB of RAM, but some budget-friendly, entry-level models start here. If you're considering a phone with just 6GB, know that it can handle basic tasks like messaging, navigation, and web browsing, but you'll be closing background apps often.
Who needs 6GB of RAM: If you want a very basic phone that can call and text but doesn't need many apps, 6GB should be fine. You might notice apps reloading if you're constantly switching.
8GB of RAM
This is the most common memory standard today. A phone with 8GB of RAM will run most apps smoothly, let you stream without stutter, switch between apps without trouble, run a few programs at the same time, and even dabble with an AI like Gemini.
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A tradeoff is that as more phones include AI like Apple Intelligence or Google Gemini, your usable RAM isn't as much as you think, so you might see your phone close apps to prioritize tasks. As AI becomes more resource-hungry, this may start to be a bigger issue.
Who needs 8 GB of RAM: If you stick to simple multitasking between apps but don't edit photos and only lightly use AI features, 8GB will be enough.
12GB of RAM
Most flagship premium phones today like the latest Google Pixel, the Apple iPhone, or the Samsung Galaxy land with 12GB of RAM. While this is enough to handle heavy on-board processing that AI features require, to keep multiple apps always open, to edit photos and video, and to run smoothly the majority of the time, it's more RAM than many people actually need. Of course, you'll be paying a premium for this much RAM, so you have to decide if it's worth the cost.
Who needs 12 GB of RAM: If you like to take advantage of everything your phone can do and use your phone in place of light work you'd usually do on a laptop or desktop, you want 12GB.
16GB of RAM
Here, you'll find top-of-the-line models like the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and S25 Ultra, and the Motorola Razr Ultra. 16GB of RAM makes for a very powerful device, but it's more than most people need. With this much RAM, you can edit raw 4K or 8K video, play games, run local AI models, and handle multitasking with ease.
Who needs 16GB of RAM:You only need this much RAM if you're a true power user who keeps a dozen apps running at once, you want a desktop-style experience, or you want future-proofing for expansive AI models down the line.
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RAM is getting more and more expensive, but that doesn't mean phone manufacturers will be reducing how much goes into new flagship devices, as evidenced with the latest Galaxy Z Fold devices. Instead, it'll just mean more expensive prices across the board. In that sense, it's worth considering if you'll actually need to pay for it.