RAM costs more for phones, too - so how much do you actually need?

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If you've ever pored over specs for new phones while shopping around, you've probably seen the high amounts of RAM among the list of highly-touted features. Phones are getting more and more amounts of random access memory (RAM), but how much does your phone really need?

There are two metrics advertised in GBs: RAM and storage. Storage refers to how much space you have to hold apps, photos, videos, documents. RAM, on the other hand, refers to short-term memory and represents how much the phone can do at once. In short, its performance.

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But there's only so much your phone can do, anyway. While more RAM is better in theory, a phone with a lot of comes with a price -- literally. Thanks largely to AI data centers scooping up nearly all the available RAM (it's estimated data centers will demand 70% of available memory chips in 2026), prices are more expensive than ever and continue to rise.

Phone manufacturers are, in turn, passing these increases on to customers. Google has already announced that the Pixel 11 series will cost more specifically because of this issue, and we'll likely see higher-priced iPhones this fall.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

Given rising prices, you might be wondering how much RAM your phone really needs. Here's a look at how much you need depending on what you do with your phone. And yes, you can have too much.

It's getting harder to find phones with just 6GB of RAM, but some budget-friendly, entry-level models start here. If you're considering a phone with just 6GB, know that it can handle basic tasks like messaging, navigation, and web browsing, but you'll be closing background apps often.

Who needs 6GB of RAM: If you want a very basic phone that can call and text but doesn't need many apps, 6GB should be fine. You might notice apps reloading if you're constantly switching.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus with 8GB of RAM

This is the most common memory standard today. A phone with 8GB of RAM will run most apps smoothly, let you stream without stutter, switch between apps without trouble, run a few programs at the same time, and even dabble with an AI like Gemini.