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Getting a new phone: how much RAM is enough?

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So I've had my Droid 1 for just under 2 years, and I'm REALLY ready to move up to a better device. My poor Droid is choking trying to perform simple tasks. I'm sure a good part of it is just from the sheer number of background processes and sync services that run all the time. I use a Task-Killer to kill apps that don't exit properly (ie. Pandora), and that helps for like 5 minutes, until Facebook and Picasa try to sync. More than anything I just want my phone to run smooth.

I'm on Verizon, so I could just move to the Droid 3. I'm used to the form factor, and it's got nice dual 1ghz procs and the slider keypad that I love, but only 512 Megs of RAM.

I could go to the Bionic and I'd get the dual CPU and a Gig of RAM. But then I lose the slider keyboard, which I'd like to keep.

I was hoping for someone to let me know their thoughts: is the 1 GB of RAM worth going for? The Droid 1 had 512 MB of RAM, and mine's running like ass right now. If I get the Droid 3, can I reliably let a handful of apps run in the background without killing the phone?

More than anything, I just want shit to run well. No skipping when scrolling pages, no taking 30 seconds to open the phone app unless I kill every last thing that's running in the bg.
 
I think 512 would be enough. Computer components degrade over time. The D3 also likely has better hardware all around, making it more capable of managing apps.

If not, then you could always root and clear out the system components you don't care for. After I debloated my Evo 3D, it had a ridiculous amount of RAM available.
 
My phone (MyTouch 4G) has a 1 GHz processor and 768 MB of RAM, and I've had no performance problems. Apps launch speedily. No lag returning to the home screen. Streaming video is good.

Of course, I use rooted roms and have since the second day I had the phone...
 
I have a gig of RAM with my Inspire. A lot of background processes take up the RAM, so you want the 1 gig. CPU power wont help if it is hindered by the RAM size. Also, don't forget that the dual-core that apparently is so great, very few apps actually use it and a 1 ghz processor for a dual core is a little underpowered. Some phones have 1.5 ghz which is much better.
 
I would have to say, if programs were written more efficiently, so that getting from point A to point Z in fewer steps, you would have a faster phone. I've got a 12MHz older phone and it seems quite speedy compared to some of the older android phones running 10x or 100x faster.

It's all in how the OS is put together. You put thought into that, and things fly faster.
 
My last Android was a MetroPCS Galaxy Indulge with 512MB of RAM, and with LauncherPro installed, which took about 200MB, leaving about 300MB for apps. I found I could generally run about 1-3 apps at a time (Dolphin HD, Opera Mobile, etc.) without the system closing others in the background.

My current Galaxy S II with 1GB of RAM leaves me 800MB with LP installed, and so far it has never closed apps in the background.

If you are one that likes to multitask and leave Web pages open to come back to later, I highly recommend 1GB
 
The OG Droid actually only has 256 MB of RAM, not 512. I've heard a lot of great things about the Droid 3, and if you really need a keyboard I think you'd be happy with it.


On a side note, this is my 1000th post. w00t w00t.
 
Happy 1000!
I have the D3 and have yet to have an issue with the 512 RAM. Everything is very snappy, no lag (except slow 3G in some areas, not the phone's fault). Night and day difference between the D1 and D3.
Sure, I would have loved to have seen it with 1 gig but I'm sure the D4 will have that. lol
 
JoesCat said:
I would have to say, if programs were written more efficiently, so that getting from point A to point Z in fewer steps, you would have a faster phone. I've got a 12MHz older phone and it seems quite speedy compared to some of the older android phones running 10x or 100x faster.

It's all in how the OS is put together. You put thought into that, and things fly faster.
Click to expand...

12 Mhz is a little bit exaggerated, considering the touch screen input uses around 15 mhz or so. You must be thinking of 120.
 
512 and above is fine, provided you don't add too much bloat. Most new phones won't have below that anyway. The 1GB phones are nice in that you can open applications all day and switch between them never having to re-load, but its not really necessary, only really big things like games get pushed out (or push other things out) of memory in my experience on 512.
 
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