Why do Android Phones Need So Much RAM?
Ryan Simmons / 10 years ago
A question that has haunted Apple and Android fans for years has now been answered. Why do iPhones get by on 1GB of RAM while most Android handsets need an extra 1 or 2GB?
Well Glyn Williams on Quora thinks he has the answer. Apparently Android apps rely on Java which utilises a process called “garbage collection”. This is essentially the recycling of memory used up by apps that have been closed. These processes require 4 to 8 times the amount of memory being used, which in turn slows things down considerably when there isn’t enough RAM available to meet the request.
This also usurps the power consumption of the device, suggesting why iPhones can last so long on standby (about 10 days). Glyn’s post on the question-and-answer site has more than 3000 upvotes, including ones from ex-Google employee Kevin X Chang and Jeff Harris who is apparently a Project Manager on Google Glass.
Source: Phone Arena
