How can low storage affect performance?

[funkylogik]

Hey peeps. Lookin for a technical explanation in understandable words of how/why low internal storage seems to affect system performance on some devices.
On my phone (s3) it can be nearly full and performance doesnt miss a beat but on my tablet (2012 Nexus 7), when it gets to like 1gb free, it gets VERY slow/laggy.
So whats happening there? What does it need that free storage for?
Both devices are on android 4.4.2 so both have Trim.
Both have ART enabled if that matters.
Cheers :beer:

 

[breadnatty08]

Shot in the dark but IIRC, isn't the ROM on the Nexus 7 2012 of pretty poor quality? In that it's degraded over time? Maybe that could have something to do with it.

 

[funkylogik]

Yeah I think I remember what you mean mate but aparently the "trim" feature in 4.3 should have fixed that and mine is under 3months old and has been wiped/rommed a few times :beer:

 

[breadnatty08]

Hmm, I know my 8Gb has barely any storage left on it (those massive Nandroids) and I haven't noticed it to slow down much. Granted, I mostly use it for just reading.

 

[funkylogik]

Yeah nandroids and titanium are the killer when you don't have an sd slot eh