Developers of smartphones are pushing the limits of what’s possible in the rapidly changing field of mobile technology, particularly in terms of performance. There is a record demand for more RAM due to apps becoming more and more resource-hungry.
Let me present to you ‘virtual memory’, a feature that has been silently growing into recent Android phones. However, what does it actually do and how big of an impact does it have on the typical user?
Virtual Memory: What You Need to Know
Simply put, virtual memory is nothing new; desktop operating systems have used it for years. But its introduction into the mobile space indicates a change in how manufacturers are approaching the limitations of the hardware found in modern smartphones.
By using some of the internal storage on a phone as “virtual” RAM, virtual memory essentially expands the physical RAM of the device. It means that your phone can offload part of its data to storage when it’s experiencing a high memory load, such as when you’re navigating between several apps or playing a resource-demanding game, therefore maintaining seamless operation.
Technically speaking, paging—the act of transferring data between RAM and storage to create the appearance of more memory than is actually available—is made possible by virtual memory.
The Benefits of Virtual Memory
- Smoother Multitasking
Android phones can do more tasks without experiencing performance issues thanks to virtual memory. There’s an evident increase in the amount of programs that may run in the background without being forced to close, and switching between them seems more seamless.
- Extending the Lifespan of Older Devices
A particularly useful feature for mid-range or older phones that are starting to feel slow is virtual memory. Devices that might only have 4GB or 6GB of RAM can now stretch their legs a bit more, running apps that would otherwise slow them down.
- Better Support for High-End Apps
High-end games, video editing tools, and productivity apps that demand more from a phone’s memory will feel more responsive, thanks to the extra breathing room virtual memory provides.
The Drawbacks
Storage Speed Matters – Virtual memory may seem like an instant fix, but it’s important to remember that storage operates far more slowly than RAM. Dedicated memory chips surpass even the fastest UFS 3.1 storage seen in flagship smartphones in terms of speed. Thus, although virtual memory facilitates multitasking, real RAM cannot be replaced by virtual memory.
Increased Wear and Tear – Storage wear is an additional possible drawback. A limited amount of write cycles is present in flash storage, such as that used in smartphones. The life span of your storage might theoretically be shortened over time if you use it for virtual memory, which increases read/write activities. This is less of an urgent problem and more of a long-term worry given the powerful flash memory found in newer phones.
How Android Phones Leverage Virtual Memory
Android devices vary in how virtual memory works. RAM Expansion, also known as Extended RAM, is a feature found in many flagship and even some mid-range phones that lets users add up to 8GB of virtual memory by accessing the internal storage of their phone.
This functionality has been welcomed by manufacturers such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and OnePlus, particularly as the size of apps increases and multitasking demands increase. For instance, users of Xiaomi’s Mi 11 series and Samsung’s Galaxy S21 can toggle on virtual Memory in the settings to add up to 8GB of virtual memory on top of the physical RAM that is already present.
Will Virtual Memory Become Standard in Android Devices?
Virtual memory is becoming more and more common, therefore it’s possible that more Android phones will come equipped with this feature by default. In fact, virtual memory is a compelling feature for customers who want to ensure their gadgets are ready for the future. While it might not totally remove the requirement for bigger RAM configurations, it helps to close the gap, particularly for those who have higher expectations of their gadgets.
My Take 😎
Virtual memory is becoming more and more common, so it’s likely that more Android phones will come equipped with this feature by default 📱. In fact, virtual memory is a compelling option for customers who want to ensure their gadgets are ready for the future 🚀.
While it might not completely eliminate the need for bigger RAM configurations 💾, it helps close the gap, particularly for those who have higher expectations of their gadgets 🔝.
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