What is virtual RAM

Sometimes you would see the RAM displayed in phone specs as “4Gb + 4 Gb RAM”. In phones this refers to a specific type of RAM configuration called virtual RAM. It doesn’t literally mean there are 8GB of physical RAM.

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Physical RAM vs virtual RAM

Here’s a breakdown of physical RAM vs virtual RAM:

Physical RAM

This is the actual RAM installed in the phone, typically 4GB in this case. It acts as the phone’s short-term memory, allowing it to run apps and processes smoothly.

Virtual RAM

This is a technique where the phone borrows a small portion of storage space (usually from the internal storage) and uses it as temporary RAM. It’s much slower than physical RAM, but it can help alleviate situations where the physical RAM is running low.

How it works

When your phone needs more RAM than physically available, it might activate virtual RAM. A small chunk of storage space is carved out and used to store data that isn’t actively being used. This frees up space in the physical RAM for essential tasks, potentially improving performance.

Things to keep in mind

Virtual RAM isn’t a replacement for physical RAM. It’s significantly slower and can lead to sluggishness if relied upon heavily.
Phones with more physical RAM (like 6GB or 8GB) are generally less likely to need virtual RAM and will perform better overall.

Overall, “4Gb + 4 Gb RAM” indicates a phone with 4GB of physical RAM that can also utilize virtual RAM for a total of 8GB of usable memory (though not all 8GB will be as fast as the physical RAM).

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Benefits of Virtual RAM

The benefits of Virtual RAM:

Virtual RAM in phones offers some potential benefits, especially for devices with lower physical RAM (typically budget or older phones). Here’s a breakdown of the advantages

Multitasking boost

Virtual RAM can help keep more apps suspended in the background without needing to completely reload them. This can be handy if you frequently switch between several apps.

Improved performance (in some cases)

If you’re running close to the physical RAM limit and virtual RAM kicks in, it can help prevent slowdowns and lag caused by the system offloading data.

More affordable option

For manufacturers, incorporating virtual RAM allows them to offer a phone with seemingly higher RAM capabilities (through the combined physical and virtual RAM) at a potentially lower cost compared to phones with just the same amount of physical RAM.

A budget phone that uses Virtual RAM

The ZTE Blade A54, advertised with 4GB + 4GB RAM, uses virtual RAM in the following way.

ZTE Blade A54 | 128GB 8GB (4+4GB) RAM 6.6″ HD+ Display with Side Fingerprint Unlocked Cell Phone (Dual SIM)

US$114

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✔ 6.6” HD+ Large Screen ✔ 5000mAh mAh battery ✔ (4GB + 4GB) Dynamic RAM ✔ Face recognition & side fingerprint Unlock feature ✔ 13MP AI Dual Camera ✔ Triple cards slot

Physical RAM as primary memory

The phone comes with 4GB of physical RAM, which serves as its main working memory. This RAM is much faster than storage and is used to store frequently accessed apps, data, and system functions for smooth operation.

Virtual RAM allocation

When the 4GB of physical RAM becomes full due to running apps or background processes, the phone might activate virtual RAM. A portion of the internal storage space (usually a few gigabytes) is sectioned off and used as temporary RAM.

Data offloading and retrieval

When the physical RAM fills up, the phone might move less frequently used data to the virtual RAM. This frees up space in the physical RAM for essential tasks currently running. The phone can then retrieve this data from the virtual RAM when needed.

A real world scenario would most likely play out like this, you’re using multiple apps like social media, a music streaming service, and a web browser. These apps take up space in the physical RAM. If you open another demanding app, the physical RAM might reach its limit. To prevent slowdowns, the phone might activate virtual RAM and move some data from less-used apps (like the music in the background) to the virtual RAM. This frees up space in the physical RAM for the new app, allowing it to run smoothly.

Limitations and considerations:

Slower performance: Accessing data from virtual RAM is significantly slower compared to physical RAM. This can lead to occasional stutters or lag, especially when the phone heavily relies on virtual RAM.
Storage impact: The constant read/write cycles involved in virtual RAM usage can put some strain on the phone’s storage.

Overall, the virtual RAM in the ZTE Blade A54 can be helpful for basic multitasking and managing occasional RAM overload situations. However, for power users who run demanding apps or games, a phone with more physical RAM (like 6GB or 8GB) would likely offer smoother and more consistent performance.

ZTE Blade A54 specifications

NETWORK	Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE

LAUNCH	Announced	2023, September
LAUNCH	Status	Available. Released 2023, November

BODY	Dimensions	164 x 75.8 x 8.5 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 in)
	Weight	185 g (6.53 oz)
	SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

DISPLAY	Type	IPS LCD, 90Hz
	Size	6.6 inches, 104.6 cm² (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)
	Resolution	720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~267 ppi density)

PLATFORM	OS	Android 13
	Chipset	Unisoc SC9863A (28 nm)
	CPU	Octa-core (4×1.6 GHz Cortex-A55 & 4×1.2 GHz Cortex-A55)
	GPU	IMG8322

MEMORY	Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
MEMORY	Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM

MAIN CAMERA	Single	13 MP, (wide), AF 0.08 MP (auxiliary lens)
	Features	LED flash, HDR
	Video	1080p@30fps

SELFIE CAMERA	Single	2 MP (interpolated to 5 MP)
SELFIE CAMERA	Video	Yes

SOUND	Loudspeaker	Yes
SOUND	3.5mm jack	Yes

COMMS	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
	Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE
	Positioning	GPS
	NFC	Yes (market/region dependent)
	Radio	Yes
	USB	USB Type-C 2.0

FEATURES	Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer
FEATURES

BATTERY	Type	5000 mAh, non-removable
BATTERY

MISC	Colors	Gray, Blue, Lilac
MISC	Price	About €90 / US$96.69 / TT$656.61

In essence, virtual RAM can be a helpful feature for budget phones to improve multitasking and occasional performance hiccups. However, it’s not a perfect substitute for having more physical RAM. If you’re a power user or someone who demands top performance, opting for a phone with higher physical RAM is generally recommended.

Samsung

Samsung has been working on its version of virtual RAM for some time now. They call it the OneUI 4, known as RAM Plus. This was first released for the Galaxy A52 smartphones last year and now has been introduced in almost all Samsung smartphones that came out recently. Follow these steps:

Galaxy A53 5G

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Step 1: Go to ‘Settings’ on your Samsung smartphone
Step 2: Now scroll down to the ‘Battery and device care’ and click on it.
Step 3: Next, select the ‘Memory’ option.
Step 4: You will see the ‘RAM Plus’ option, click on it.
Step 5: Now select the desired storage to be converted into virtual RAM with options varying from 2GB, 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB.
Step 6: It will now ask you to restart your device.
Step 7: Restart the device.

Vivo/iQOO

Vivo refers to this feature as Extended, to access it follow the instructions below. A maximum of 8 GB extended RAM allows you to run 27 apps at the same time, ensuring that you switch between apps smoothly at all times.

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Step 1: Open the ‘Settings’.
step 2: Find the ‘RAM and storage space’ option and select it.
Step 3: Click on the ‘RAM’ option.
Step 4: You will now see an option to extend and enable the RAM.

Oppo/OnePlus

Certain Oppo smartphones that run on ColorOS 11 and above have the option to convert a little space from their internal storage into virtual RAM. Follow these steps:

OnePlus 12

16 GB RAM + 512 GB Storage US$899.99

12 GB RAM + 256 GB Storage US$799.99

OnePlus 12R

8 GB RAM + 128 GB Storage US$499.99

In a OnePlus-first, the R series goes all-out with a flagship Snapdragon under the hood. Paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, the ultimate performance power up awaits.

Step 1: Go to ‘Settings’.
Step 2: Scroll down to the ‘About phone’ section
Step 3: Click on the “RAM” option
Step 4: Now, turn on the RAM expansion feature.
Step 5: You can choose the amount of storage that you wish to give for the additional RAM by sliding the meter between 2GB, 3GB, and 5GB
Step 6: Now, restart your device.

Xiaomi, Poco

You can avail of this feature on Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12.5 and above. Follow these steps:

Xiaomi 13

US $ 749.99

Global Unlocked: This Xiaomi smartphone is globally unlocked and ready to use with your preferred GSM carrier. 5G Compatible: Supports 5G, 4G, 3G, and 2G network bands for fast connectivity. Large Storage: Comes with 256GB internal storage and 8GB or 12GB RAM for smooth performance. Sleek Display: Features a 6.36-inch AMOLED screen with a high 97.7% screen-to-body ratio. Powerful Processor: Equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 4nm chipset for fast performance. Dual SIM: Supports dual SIM cards for convenience. Long Battery Life: Comes with a 4500mAh battery for extended usage.

Step 1: Go to ‘Settings’.
Step 2: Find the ‘Additional Settings’ option and click on it.
Step 3: You will now see a ‘Memory extension’ option.
Step 4: Turn this option on and you are done.

Realme

Realme calls its Virtual RAM, Dynamic RAM Expansion (DRE). It was first introduced on many smartphones running on Realme UI 2.0 on top of Android 11. Follow these steps:

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US$ 451.00

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Step 1: Open the Settings app
Step 2: Find the ‘About phone’ section and select it
Step 3: Next, scroll down to the RAM info section and tap on it.
Step 4: Then toggle ON the switch.
Step 5: You can expand your RAM up to 3GB by sliding on the desired option.
Step 6: Restart your device and you are done.