Is there any difference between a phone’s RAM and a PC’s RAM?

RAM in computers vs phones

First, let’s understand what is RAM and why it is used in devices?

1. RAM is the hardware component of the device, from which three things are directly linked which are operating system, applications programs, and data(currently in use) are kept so they can be quickly accessed from the processor.
2. RAM is faster than other kinds of storage such as a hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), or optical drive.
3. Random Access Memory is volatile. That means data is retained in RAM as long as the computer is on, but it is lost when the computer is turned off.

Today’s smartphone is coming in high RAM variants than PCs. High-end smartphones like OnePlus 8 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, and ASUS ROG Phone 3 are available in 12GB RAM options; meanwhile, a laptop like the AUS TUF Gaming F15 comes with 8GB memory.

Here’s why smartphones need more RAM than an average PC.

1. The type of RAM in smartphones and a PC is different.
2. Smartphones use a Low Power Double Data Rate or LPDDR RAM, this memory is designed to operate at low power. A desktop PC or a gaming laptop uses Double Data Rate or DDR RAM. Currently, DDR4 RAM is most widely used in all laptops, and DDR5 is expected to be coming to the market in 2021.
3. DDR RAM is easily upgradable as they are not permanently soldered on the board whereas LPDDR RAM is not upgradable as they are soldered permanently on the board.

In short mobile RAM (RAM in smartphones, tablets, laptops) is different from PC RAM in the following factors.

• Smaller size.
• Lower energy consumption.
• Lower performance.
• Smartphone RAM and some laptop models that it is onboard RAM. It cannot be upgraded.

So why do smartphones require higher RAMs?

1. System apps could consume 2–3GBs of RAM in any smartphone.
2. On the other hand, high-end graphics games like Asphalt 9, or Pubg consume approximately 1GB of RAM in the device.
3. The second reason is software optimization. A ton of mobile phones nowadays run a modified version of the Android operating system, which consumes a percentage of the system memory.
4. But it's not true that 4GB or 6GB RAM couldn’t be a better choice, because Apple’s smartphones proved that through clever optimization, you can run a high number of applications on a smartphone with 4GB of RAM.