How much memory for Android phone?

[Android Question]

Is 512Mb of memory generally enough for web browsing and using social apps like chat on a Android 4.x phone? Is there a significant difference in memory usage between the difference in Android versions 4.1 - 4.4?

 

[DMedina559]

the 512mb is for ram, so thats how much memory apps have to run on, and android is pretty good at managing its ram, to free more ram hold the home button and swipe away all the apps

 

[barrack]

Yes I know what ram is. So is 512Mb of dynamic ram enough for web browsing and skyping without having to face any lag compared to having more ram on the same phone?

 

[Rxpert83]

I'd recommend something with more if you've got the budget.

2+GB of RAM is the standard for the current flagships, and I don't think I'd want anything less than 1GB.

My nexus 5 has a very lightweight version of android without any bloatware and the phone is currently using 600MB RAM without any background apps open.

 

[barrack]

I'm not interested in a flagship model, only something for very basic backup use. So I'm interested in real world practical experience on phones with 512Mb ram running a recent 4.x OS.

Android does preload apps. So the 600Mb might probably also contain apps which you aren't using even for a stripped down Android OS without any vendor customisations, or did you tweak the OS yourself to disable preloading?

I just found some hardware req docs from Android and it looks like 4.4 requires more memory but still quite modest 340Mb for kernel+userspace and 1Gb for non volatile storage.