The more RAM a computer has, the faster it will run. But naturally it’s not only the performance that increases: devices with more powerful random access memory are also more expensive. That’s why you should check in advance how much RAM you actually need. In turn, this depends on the kind of work you do and how many programs are running at the same time.
For a tablet that is only being used to surf the internet, for example, 2 GB of RAM are more than enough. If you’re buying a computer for professional use, for example to power more complex tasks like video editing or game development, then an investment into 8 GB or 16 GB or RAM is well worth it.
As a rough guide, you can stick to the following values:
- 4 GB RAM: If you are using your device primarily to surf the internet, to send email, or to work with Office applications, then 4 GB of RAM are sufficient.
- 8 GB RAM: 8 GB of random access memory are ideal if you use your computer a lot and like to have several programs running at the same time. Most current games or extravagant applications will also be covered with this amount of working memory.
- 16 GB RAM: 16 gigabytes RAM is suitable for intensive gaming and compute-intensive tasks like video editing and programing.
If you already know which programs you’re using before purchasing the device, then it is recommended to follow the minimum requirements of these applications.
For smartphone users, 2 to 4 GB of RAM is usually sufficient. This amount of memory is usually already integrated in cheaper Android mobile phones. Apple equips its smartphones, such as the current iPhone XR, with 3 GB of RAM. There are also smartphones with 8 GB RAM, although these can be assigned to the high-end segment.