Video Shows Benefits of 2GB RAM in iPhone 6s

[manu chao]

I was curious after reading this thread. So I opened ten different sites on my iPhone 6 Plus and none of them are reloading when I switch back to them.

Did you open the same websites as used in this video? How much content a site loads can vary from almost nothing to an awful lot.

 

[Larry-K]

'1GB of RAM is enough' they said.

I think somebody once said the same thing about 128K.

 

[manu chao]

Y'know, I'd be willing to bet that a lot more than 5% of iPhone users have experienced detrimental effects due to the RAM limit, but as they're not a 'power user' it's pretty damn likely they don't know what's causing the problems.

And those prioritised features and user experience – like 16GB base storage since the iPhone 3GS?

Apple do a lot of good stuff and some crazy good innovation, but boy, do you ever sound like an apologist.

I think they should have added 2 GB of RAM years ago (obviously websites have become heavier over time so 1 GB might have been justified at some point in the past given all the other factors mentioned). And I also think way more than 5% of users have been affected. But being affected can vary over a wide range, from having to reload a tab once per week to 50 times per day. So the categorisation of being affected isn't the only yardstick.

 

[fourthtunz]

Anyone else not seeing that big of a difference?

Yeah, I don't see it either! I think the complainers need to get a life, I feel bad for 'em!
Waiting a few seconds for and old tab to reload??? WTF!
I do care if a music app runs better, but like people that I know who own an iPhone,
the iPhone 6 does everything I need it to do already!

 

[macduke]

Switching to 64-bit can increase memory footprint but when that transition happened on the desktop, the increase was in the single percentage points, if it was noticeable at all. So I am a bit sceptical of your 20 to 30% claim.

It is well documented and widely accepted by experts at Anandtech and elsewhere.

 

[manu chao]

They sure seemed to highlight specs with all marketing blitz around 64-bit. I think the average user would benefit more from more RAM then 64-bit.

Going 64-bit is a slightly bigger technological step than doubling the RAM.

 

[TMRJIJ]

You're kidding right, nobody could be that naive.

I'm fine with 6 nonreloading tabs on my iPhone 6 right now.

 

[manu chao]

It's amazing to see what the 1 GB extra added RAM can do to apps like Safari. Definitely gonna make THE difference. If the iPhone 6s only could come faster to the Netherlands... xD

All things equal, it could be that Safari had to make do with 300 MB of RAM on the 1 GB phones and now might have 1.3 GB available, which would be a quadrupling of available resources.

 

[HenryDJP]

Same reason they haven't increased the 16GB base model to 32GB.

Actually not really. That's hardly the same reason. At least with a 16GB-based iPhone the customer can simply choose to buy the 64GB or 128GB. You can't buy an iPhone with more ram as an option.

 

[manu chao]

I don't see why you would need more than 8GB of ram in iOS device. By all means work on trying to be right.

Given that they were selling a 8 GB flash storage iPhone 5c until very recently, 8 GB of RAM seem a bit on the high side (for phones at least).

 

[manu chao]

My iPhone 5 reloads tabs just rotating to several apps prior to going back to Safari.

Netflix crashes on my iPad 3 (which I am pretty sure is due to its memory being repurposed), whenever I switch to another app and do more than a bare minimum in that app.

 

[Tamagotchi]

That's the only thing I hate on my 6 plus, and also the reason I upgrade to the 6s Plus

I rather wait for the 7 than give Apple more of my money... Oh wait...

 

[manu chao]

Why does Apple put so little ram, which likely costs them in the $1-$2 per GB range, in such an expensive phone?

I am pretty sure if the only issue would have been a $1 to $2 cost, it would have happened earlier.

 

[Dmunjal]

Going 64-bit is a slightly bigger technological step than doubling the RAM.

So what? I'm sure putting an 8k screen would have be an amazing feat, too. Again, more RAM benefits everyone, especially users who multitask or use many Safari tabs. What did 64-bit accomplish for the average user or even power user? Bragging rights is all.

 

[manu chao]

It is well documented and widely accepted by experts at Anandtech and elsewhere.

Since you seem to know something about this, can you give us a hint why that number is so different on Apple's ARM devices compared its Intel-based computers?

 

[Larry-K]

I am pretty sure if the only issue would have been a $1 to $2 cost, it would have happened earlier.

Yeah, it's only a $700 device, how could anyone possibly expect Apple to put RAM in it for that paltry sum.

 

[johnnyturbouk]

Oh please, stop pulling numbers out of your ass. .

could not stop laughing!

My 6Plus couldn't even keep 3 tabs open without refreshing .

I had two handset replaced and an apple engineer look at my icloud, could not work out why safari kept crashing with 4/5 tabs open and every other app closed.

The 6s plus is certainly faster, slicker, and finally lets me actually multi tasks with out safari tabs re-loading ever 10ns!

 

[dannys1]

how is it useless. You can charge your phone and when you want to get up just pick the phone up, you don't need to unplug the cord. When you return after 5 mins, you just set the phone on the pad again instead of having to reconnect.

I have to place the phone exactly where I have my charging cord which takes less than a second to plug in and charges it twice as fast as the daft "wireless" pad.

 

[manu chao]

So what? I'm sure putting an 8k screen would have been an amazing feat, too. Again, more RAM benefits everyone, especially users who multitask or use many Safari tabs. What did 64-bit accomplish for the average user or even power user? Bragging rights is all.

64-bit is something that others couldn't match by just slightly re-arranging things inside a phone to make space for more memory. You brag about things that others cannot easily replicate. That's the difference.

 

[RockSpider]

I am pretty sure if the only issue would have been a $1 to $2 cost, it would have happened earlier.

You obviously don't know Apple very well, try multiplying $2 by millions and you'll find their reason.

 

[Dmunjal]

64-bit is something that others couldn't match by just slightly re-arranging things inside a phone to make space for more memory. You brag about things that others cannot easily replicate. That's the difference.

I completely agree with this. That's also the reason Apple never mentions RAM because they can't brag about it.

But you have to agree that 2GB of RAM would have done more for the average user's experience than 64-bit did?

 

[dannys1]

3 tabs!! A power-user you are.

I'm a power user, I use my Macbook Pro to browse 40 tabs instead of my phone...

 

[Dionte]

The additional memory is amazing on the 6S plus.

 

[hleewell]

Next year we'll all be winging about not having 4Gb.

But seriously Safari on iPhone is super slow with all that tab reloading. 2GB RAM is very much welcome.

 

[QuarterSwede]

could not stop laughing!



I had two handset replaced and an apple engineer look at my icloud, could not work out why safari kept crashing with 4/5 tabs open and every other app closed.

The 6s plus is certainly faster, slicker, and finally lets me actually multi tasks with out safari tabs re-loading ever 10ns!

Did you have your Notification Center loaded with widgets? They take up RAM too.