All iPads iPad Air - how severe is the RAM problem?

[nikusak]

That's the problem with the whole RAM theory. Also, think about this..... The complaint is with safari and seemingly NO other apps at all. So, high end games with huge graphics and action run like a champ but the web browser blows up with a few tabs opened? Just don't make sense.

It's a software issue, IMO.

Yes, switching off JavaScript improves things greatly, but of course no JavaScript means that most of the web sites won't work properly or at all. So there is something strange about the JS engine on Safari. iOS 7.1. is apparently just around the corner, so we will see if it makes a difference or not.

Still, having more than 1GB RAM would *not* make the iPad experience worse. That's the idea one gets when reading these defences for Apple's decision to go with just 1GB. There is no defence for going with 1GB in this day and age in what is a very expensive device and supposed to be somewhat future proof.

iOS9 is not necessarily much fun on a 1GB device.

Web browsing with "just a few tabs opened" can be quite memory intensive. Just have a look at the memory usage of Chrome. Easily 50-80 megabytes per tab in Chrome, although in Chrome each tab is a separate process so that increases the memory usage somewhat I think, but still.

 

[cynics]

I don't think its a huge issue but its big enough that I'm going to hold onto my iPad 3 at this point and just wait to see what they do with the next iPad.

I returned my Air due to the web browsing crashing/reloading tab issue (might not be RAM related I know). I found it to be too disruptive to my work flow. It wasn't until I found myself using an old Android tablet so I wouldn't lose data that I had to step back and ask myself why even have the Air if I'm not going to use it 100% of the time for my tablet needs....

 

[AppleWarMachine]

it's just an iOS7 problems

 

[JoeRito]

There's really not a RAM problem.

There absolutely is a RAM issue... The low memory errors do not relate to stored flash memory, it's the "operating memory" or ram that is driving the low memory crashes we are all experiencing. We are all hoping 7.1 manages this issue better but we will see.

 

[Rodster]

There absolutely is a RAM issue... The low memory errors do not relate to stored flash memory, it's the "operating memory" or ram that is driving the low memory crashes we are all experiencing. We are all hoping 7.1 manages this issue better but we will see.

Well your statement of 'we're all experiencing' is a pretty broad brush. There are many including myself who are not having low memory or crash issues.

 

[gnasher729]

I don't have any ram problem. Don't go by a vocal few complainers on here. If most people had a ram problem, don't you think it would be widespread news, as millions have been sold.

Actually, some complainers have figured out a way to read log files on the iPad Air and then complained about what they found, because they completely misunderstood what they read. "A little knowledge can be dangerous".

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There absolutely is a RAM issue... The low memory errors do not relate to stored flash memory, it's the "operating memory" or ram that is driving the low memory crashes we are all experiencing. We are all hoping 7.1 manages this issue better but we will see.

That's what I'm talking about.

 

[cynics]

There absolutely is a RAM issue... The low memory errors do not relate to stored flash memory, it's the "operating memory" or ram that is driving the low memory crashes we are all experiencing. We are all hoping 7.1 manages this issue better but we will see.

But if the low memory errors where directly related to RAM then my iPhone 4S with less RAM (512 mb) would have a lot more errors. I won't lie there are a few but no where near as many as my Air had over the course of a week.

The Android device I was using in place of the Air was a Motorola Xoom which has 1gb RAM and it can have 20 tabs open without any reloading plus load any webpage even flash videos and such. So I think there are software ways of fixing this and RAM isn't actually the problem.

However that said more RAM would work better when multitasking and not wanting other apps to reload.

 

[sracer]

But if the low memory errors where directly related to RAM then my iPhone 4S with less RAM (512 mb) would have a lot more errors. I won't lie there are a few but no where near as many as my Air had over the course of a week.

The difference is that the iPhone 4S is 32-bit, the iPad Air is 64-bit.

As for the OP's question, I recommend waiting until iOS 7.1 is officially released before purchasing an Air. You can test it thoroughly well within the return window and make an assessment based on how YOU use it.

 

[Count Blah]

But if the low memory errors where directly related to RAM then my iPhone 4S with less RAM (512 mb) would have a lot more errors. I won't lie there are a few but no where near as many as my Air had over the course of a week.

The Android device I was using in place of the Air was a Motorola Xoom which has 1gb RAM and it can have 20 tabs open without any reloading plus load any webpage even flash videos and such. So I think there are software ways of fixing this and RAM isn't actually the problem.

However that said more RAM would work better when multitasking and not wanting other apps to reload.

32bit vs 64bit
4s screen resolution versus iPad screen resolution
4s does not have all the functionality of the air/rMini in iOS7
Compare kernel_task's footprint in OS X with differing amounts of ram - more ram = kernel_task uses more RAM.

all of those make a difference between your 4s and an air/rMini.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

If the iPad Air deserves more RAM, why not every other current model from Apple? While one person may be thinking, "I wouldn't do that on a smaller screen," there are others who are doing exactly that on a smaller screen. If the 64-bit Air "needs" more RAM, then the 64-bit 5s does, too.

And isn't there just a little vanity involved when we post, "I need more power, because I'm going to take my machine beyond average usage?" Do we have any idea of what "average" really is when we say that? The main thing, for every one of us, is to be "above average." To quote a line from "The Incredibles," "...and when everyone's super, no one will be."

Since RAM is not upgradable in iOS devices, if developers are allowed to design apps that require more than 1gb RAM to run well, then what happens to those with nearly brand-new 1gb devices who install the latest app upgrades? The performance of their device seems to degrade, customer is unhappy with Apple... When the day comes that Apple does step-up maximum RAM (seems inevitable), it's not going to be limited to specific models, it's going to be across the board for the entire new generation.

I also don't see Apple offering the same product with various RAM options - there is no clear line of demarcation between "pro" users and "home" users, pro apps and consumer apps. Apple is going to keep aiming for as consistent a user experience as is possible. "Here's why you should buy the new generation of devices," not "Sorry, you should have bought the more expensive model."

Clearly, Apple wants the iOS market to be far more disciplined about RAM than the PC market, and I agree. When they add more RAM, it's going to be for something big, something they can sell to the public, not simply to accommodate bloat.

 

[irDigital0l]

iOS 7 needs to be better optimized for the iPad. It was clearly designed with iPhone in mind first.

Sure 1GB might be fine but Apple will upgrade to 2GB this year. iOS 7 uses more RAM and so are more powerful iPad apps.

 

[Count Blah]

...

Clearly, Apple wants the iOS market to be far more disciplined about RAM than the PC market, and I agree. When they add more RAM, it's going to be for something big, something they can sell to the public, not simply to accommodate bloat.

And we would only ever need 640K of RAM.

Sorry, time matches on. You can sit and pout, cross your arms in a huff, and mumble to yourself all you like. But ram will always be increasing and apps will always be needing more.

 

[nikusak]

Since RAM is not upgradable in iOS devices, if developers are allowed to design apps that require more than 1gb RAM to run well, then what happens to those with nearly brand-new 1gb devices who install the latest app upgrades? The performance of their device seems to degrade, customer is unhappy with Apple... When the day comes that Apple does step-up maximum RAM (seems inevitable), it's not going to be limited to specific models, it's going to be across the board for the entire new generation.

No matter when Apple releases an iPad with 2GB of RAM (or more), there will be a huge amount of iOS devices with 1GB, 512MB and even just 256MB of RAM out there.

Releasing an "entire new generation with more memory" does not make these existing devices go away. Fragmentation in this case is just unevitable, it's already happening, and yes, it won't make developer's life easier, but it needs to be done at some point.

 

[VFC]

Who really knows what's causing it? I posted a comment earlier where I opened 5-6 tabs and a couple of them used Disqus. I zoomed in and positioned each tab so when I went back I knew it hadn't reloaded. I did this on my iPad 2 and iPad Air both running 7.0.6

Guess what? All of them were in the exact same spot I left them.

Someone started a thread in the Help Section saying they believe the reloads have something to do with iCloud which is causing the problem. I don't use iCloud.

I believe the reload issue depends on where you go to before you come back to Safari. If you are just going from Safari to the Home screen and back, yes your Safari tabs should be exactly where you left them without reloading. However, if you leave Safari and go to an app that uses a lot of memory for a few seconds and then go back to Safari, all the tabs will need to reload.

 

[Rodster]

I believe the reload issue depends on where you go to before you come back to Safari. If you are just going from Safari to the Home screen and back, yes your Safari tabs should be exactly where you left them without reloading. However, if you leave Safari and go to an app that uses a lot of memory for a few seconds and then go back to Safari, all the tabs will need to reload.

I just tried that and no reloads.

 

[VFC]

I just tried that and no reloads.

If you truly switched into an app that uses a lot of memory and stayed there for a few seconds, iOS will flush the Safari tab data out to free up memory. The 64 bit A7 and iOS 7 use more memory, so some of the larger apps that didn't cause the Safari tabs to flush before are now triggering it. That is why more people are noticing the tab reload issue.

 

[calvol]

I'm holding out for a 2GB RAM Air, or the Sony Z2 tablet coming in March. It's got 3GB RAM, is waterproof, and thinner/lighter than the Air.

 

[s2mikey]

Yes, switching off JavaScript improves things greatly, but of course no JavaScript means that most of the web sites won't work properly or at all. So there is something strange about the JS engine on Safari. iOS 7.1. is apparently just around the corner, so we will see if it makes a difference or not.

Still, having more than 1GB RAM would *not* make the iPad experience worse. That's the idea one gets when reading these defences for Apple's decision to go with just 1GB. There is no defence for going with 1GB in this day and age in what is a very expensive device and supposed to be somewhat future proof.

iOS9 is not necessarily much fun on a 1GB device.

Web browsing with "just a few tabs opened" can be quite memory intensive. Just have a look at the memory usage of Chrome. Easily 50-80 megabytes per tab in Chrome, although in Chrome each tab is a separate process so that increases the memory usage somewhat I think, but still.

Can't argue with the fact that having more RAM would be a good thing. Apple should have probably went with 2GB for the Air. I'll admit that. However, my own experience with the Air and safari remain rather satisfying. Just lucky or dumb or both.

 

[AppleRobert]

I believe the reload issue depends on where you go to before you come back to Safari. If you are just going from Safari to the Home screen and back, yes your Safari tabs should be exactly where you left them without reloading. However, if you leave Safari and go to an app that uses a lot of memory for a few seconds and then go back to Safari, all the tabs will need to reload.

10 tabs opened in Safari, went back to Home screen a number of times and each site was exactly where I left it without reloading.

This is over a slow DSL connection.

 

[s2mikey]

10 tabs opened in Safari, went back to Home screen a number of times and each site was exactly where I left it without reloading.

This is over a slow DSL connection.

See? This is the kind of thing that doesn't make any sense. I've had up to four opened at once bouncing between them without issue. I've even had a graphic intensive game opened and during gameplay I paused it to hit a forum and get some help. No problems with the game or safari.

As Vince Lombardi once screamed "what the hell is going on out there?"

 

[Count Blah]

See? This is the kind of thing that doesn't make any sense. I've had up to four opened at once bouncing between them without issue. I've even had a graphic intensive game opened and during gameplay I paused it to hit a forum and get some help. No problems with the game or safari.

As Vince Lombardi once screamed "what the hell is going on out there?"

Just the other day, I was trying to respond to another post here in macrumors. Safari was the only app open/running, and I only had two tabs open. While in the middle of a response in one tab, I went to the only other tab to research a quote. When I went back to the macrumors tab, it reloaded. Two tabs, crappy reload experience for the user. This happened a couple times, with a safari/iPAD hard crash mixed it.

It truly is a horrible user experience, IMHO. I dont' see how anyone can say otherwise, if these "RARE" things happened to them as well.

 

[Yoohoo1231]

Very.

The iPad Air has really shaken my confidence in Apple. Maybe it's iOS7, maybe it's the 1gb of ram, I don't know and I don't care. All I know is the crashing and constant reloading is awful. I regret upgrading from my iPad 3.

Between this and the 5s' fingerprint scanner I'm not sure Apple's "it just works" mantra still means anything.

 

[petvas]

I think we all have to agree that tab reloading should never be happening. It is ridiculous! It's not important what the reasons for this issue are. Apple has to solve it and there is nothing telling me that they will. iOS 7.1 doesn't solve the problem.

Surfing the Internet with a real computer is so much better...

 

[s2mikey]

Just the other day, I was trying to respond to another post here in macrumors. Safari was the only app open/running, and I only had two tabs open. While in the middle of a response in one tab, I went to the only other tab to research a quote. When I went back to the macrumors tab, it reloaded. Two tabs, crappy reload experience for the user. This happened a couple times, with a safari/iPAD hard crash mixed it.

It truly is a horrible user experience, IMHO. I dont' see how anyone can say otherwise, if these "RARE" things happened to them as well.

Sounds awful. I can see why you're not too thrilled. Bottom line, the iOS update ought to take care of this! Here's hoping!

 

[Rodster]

Just the other day, I was trying to respond to another post here in macrumors. Safari was the only app open/running, and I only had two tabs open. While in the middle of a response in one tab, I went to the only other tab to research a quote. When I went back to the macrumors tab, it reloaded. Two tabs, crappy reload experience for the user. This happened a couple times, with a safari/iPAD hard crash mixed it.

It truly is a horrible user experience, IMHO. I dont' see how anyone can say otherwise, if these "RARE" things happened to them as well.

I don't deny your having those problems but that has never occurred on either my iPad 2 or Air running iOS 7. Let's hope 7.1 addresses this issue for those who are having Safari reload problems.

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Very.

The iPad Air has really shaken my confidence in Apple. Maybe it's iOS7, maybe it's the 1gb of ram, I don't know and I don't care. All I know is the crashing and constant reloading is awful. I regret upgrading from my iPad 3.

Between this and the 5s' fingerprint scanner I'm not sure Apple's "it just works" mantra still means anything.

Yeah I can agree that the mystique or shine of Apple has without question been diminished for me as well. Not to beat the proverbial "Steve would have never allowed that to occur". I think in the grand scheme of things, iOS 7 was such a giant cluster$@#& when it was released. Steve would have shot on site anyone who would have released the OS in it's current form.