iPad What is the difference of 3GB RAM vs 8GB of RAM?

[Bubble99]

Some cheaper iPads are still shipping with only 3GB of RAM well other more expensive iPads are shipping with 8GB of RAM. What is the difference of 3GB RAM vs 8GB of RAM or is it being held back by iPadOS limitations?

Some one said with 3GB of RAM you can only have 15 to 20 tabs open before it reloads, or only 4 to 5 light apps running in the background before the app reloads.

 

[M5RahuL]

With 3GB of RAM, you’d be lucky to have 15-20 tabs open.. Heck, even with 4GB.. the screen refreshes quite often with half those number of tabs open. Have YT or another app running in the background only makes it worse.

Now, 8GBs.. At least in my experience, is the sweet spot if you have numerous tabs open and multi-task. I’m sure certain use cases benefit from the 16GB iteration over 8.

 

[oasantos1]

I can’t speak for a device with 3GB.

My mini 6 has 4 vs my Pro that has 8.

The mini definitely reloads pretty often. I don’t have more than 3 or 4 tabs and it reloads.
I usually have music playing in the background or a youtube video.

When I’m on a FaceTime call, and try to reply to a message or open up to safari to google something it will choke. I’ve had it slowdown to where it became unresponsive.

I can’t wait for an updated mini.

My M1 and now M4 no reloads, just buttery smooth. Mind you I don’t run super intensive apps. So others experiences will be different.

 

[Isengardtom]

The difference is 8GB will be great for years to come. 3GB iPads might be excluded from some OS updates, and will stop getting updates much sooner than the 8GB iPads will

 

[rui no onna]

Some cheaper iPads are still shipping with only 3GB of RAM well other more expensive iPads are shipping with 8GB of RAM. What is the difference of 3GB RAM vs 8GB of RAM or is it being held back by iPadOS limitations?

Some one said with 3GB of RAM you can only have 15 to 20 tabs open before it reloads, or only 4 to 5 light apps running in the background before the app reloads.

With 3-4GB RAM, I’ve pretty much come to expect that my tabs or apps can reload or perhaps even crash at any time.

There are also apps, most notably games, that require higher end hardware (newer chipset, more RAM). Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition won’t on 3GB RAM devices despite App Store Information showing it’s compatible with the iPad 9th gen. Same goes for Divinity - Original Sin 2.

Some games are even more demanding and require A17 Pro/M1 + 8GB RAM minimum.

 

[Digitalguy]

15-20 tabs lol, 3GB reloads with 3-4 tabs open. 4GB reloads after you leave it unused for some hours, 3GB reloads while you use it, you switch tabs and they reload, it's a disaster with Safari

 

[bryo]

On the iPad 9 3gb was causing a lot of games to eventually crash. It’s not really sufficient.

 

[Isamilis]

With 8gb, frequently you can go back to last tabs or apps after leaving them for days / weeks.

 

[Ipadfever]

5 GB

 

[richard371]

I’d say 5gb.

 

[Torty]

I find my 3GB Air3 still very usable. Can hold it till M5 iPad is available.. maybe already end of the year? Those Safari reloading could be fixed with a swap file... Times of 16GB iPads a long gone.

 

[rui no onna]

I find my 3GB Air3 still very usable. Can hold it till M5 iPad is available.. maybe already end of the year? Those Safari reloading could be fixed with a swap file... Times of 16GB iPads a long gone.

Most of those 3GB RAM iPads likely have 32-64GB storage. That’s not enough for swap considering how bloated iOS and apps have gotten.

On the 32GB iPad 7, I had to offload pretty much all my apps (including Netflix, Disney+, etc) just so I can install iPadOS 17 betas. iPadOS+System Data uses 20GB by itself and it wanted 10+GB free to install the update. 🤦‍♀️

I kept my Air 3 on 14 so that one actually still works quite nicely.