How much RAM and storage do you really need in a phone?

RAM and storage are the two numbers printed biggest on every phone box, and the easiest to overpay for. Here is what each one does and how much most people need.

RAM: how many apps stay open

RAM is the phone's short-term memory. More RAM lets more apps stay open in the background, so WhatsApp, the camera and your UPI app reopen where you left them instead of loading again.

• 6GB: fine for calls, WhatsApp, YouTube and UPI payments.
• 8GB: the sweet spot for most people, and enough for casual games.
• 12GB or more: helps heavy gamers and people who keep many apps open, and leaves room for the AI features some brands add.

Many phones also advertise virtual RAM or extended RAM. This borrows space from storage and is much slower than real RAM, so compare the real number.

Storage: plan for photos and WhatsApp

Storage holds your apps, photos, videos and WhatsApp media. The phone's own software takes part of it, so a 128GB phone gives you less than 128GB to use. Busy WhatsApp groups fill a phone quickly with photos, videos and forwards.

• 128GB: enough if you back up photos to the cloud and clear WhatsApp media now and then.
• 256GB: the safer pick if you shoot a lot of video or keep a phone for 4 years.
• 512GB or more: for people who shoot 4K video and never delete anything.

Most new phones have no memory card slot, so you cannot add storage later. Paying a little more for the bigger storage version is often cheaper than paying for cloud storage for years. The Shop page lets you compare every phone's RAM and storage, and each phone page lists its versions with their prices.

Fast storage matters too

Two phones with 256GB can feel different. Newer UFS 4 storage opens apps and saves photos faster than the UFS 2.2 found in many budget phones. Switch to Geek mode on any phone page to see its storage type.

What to pick for your budget

Under Rs 20,000, aim for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and start with the best phones under Rs 20,000. Around Rs 30,000, 8GB and 256GB is easy to find: see the best phones under Rs 30,000. Gamers should go to our best gaming phones, and students who keep a phone for years can check the best phones for students.

If your phone keeps running out of space, see what is filling it before you buy a new one. Our free phone tools and My Device page help you look after the phone you already have.

Not sure what you need? Take the 60-second phone quiz, or compare up to 4 phones side by side.