Best Android Smartphones with 16GB of RAM

Some want the best screen, while others want the best camera system. Many will value battery life or something like performance. But those who want the best multitasking performance will want to get a phone with as much RAM as possible. Phones with 16GB of RAM are leading the race right now, and we’ve compiled a list of the best available. Let’s learn more about RAM and explore the options to find your next multitasking beast.

How much RAM do you really need?

First things first, you have to wonder if you even need a phone with 16GB of RAM. To be honest, we feel like it would be a little overkill to have that much RAM on a smartphone. In 2019, we delved into this topic and came to the conclusion that from 6 GB to 8 GB is the most suitable amount. Anything above that didn’t matter then. Has anything changed in a few years?

In August 2021, we conducted a survey asking people how much RAM they think is appropriate for use in a smartphone. Answer #1 – 8 GB with 31.7% of the votes. 6 GB was the second most popular option, with 25.97% of the votes. Does this mean phones with 16GB of RAM have too much RAM? Chances are you won’t notice a difference in performance once you go beyond 10GB or 12GB of RAM.

This does not mean that you should not choose one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. It’s always good to be prepared for the future, especially if you plan to keep your phone for years. Standards and resource needs change, so perhaps 16GB of RAM won’t be considered as such when applications start requesting more memory resources.

We also have to consider that if a phone has 16 GB of RAM, then most likely it is also a great high-end smartphone with great specs and features. We assume that this may be the best way to make a decision. While having 16GB of RAM is fantastic, you probably shouldn’t buy a phone for that reason alone. Make sure the rest of the phone is also excellent. That’s why we’re here to help you find the best ones.

Editor’s note : We’ll be updating this list of the best phones with 16GB of RAM regularly as new devices are released and old ones are phased out.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

If you’re looking for one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is likely to be the safest choice. It not only has all the necessary RAM, but it is one of the most popular smartphones in the industry. Its specs, design, and features are amazing, and since it’s a Samsung smartphone, it’s likely to hold its value better than the rest of this list if you ever want to sell it.

You will have to purchase the most expensive version of the smartphone to take advantage of the 16GB of RAM. This means that you will also get 512 GB of internal storage. Other specs include a large 6.8-inch dynamic AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a powerful processor, a quad-camera that is known to take amazing photos, and a large 5000mAh battery.

Not only that, but also that the phone is part of Samsung’s premium lineup. It is very well made and looks great. We should mention that Samsung has released the Galaxy S22 Ultra, but this device has 12GB of RAM. That’s why we didn’t remove the previous iteration.

Specifications of Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G:

Asus ZenFone 8

The Asus Zenfone 8 is one of the best deals for phones with 16GB of RAM, simply because of the price. The smartphone may not look high-end, but it’s not expensive and performs just as well as most premium phones.

Specifications include the powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset, 5.9-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED panel, dual SIM function, dual camera system, and 4000mAh battery. You won’t have to babysit your smartphone either, as it has an IP68 water-resistant rating .

The only downside is that you’ll have to purchase a special edition of the Asus ZenFone 8 to get 16GB of RAM. There are also cheaper versions with 6GB, 8GB, or 12GB of RAM.

Asus ZenFone 8 Specifications:

Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro

A gaming phone from the Xiaomi Black Shark brand that promises high performance while keeping prices slightly lower than the competition. After all, these are some impressive phones.

The Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro doesn’t cut corners, making it one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. Specs include a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a triple camera setup, a 6.67-inch 144Hz OLED display, and a 4650mAh battery with 120W charging. Xiaomi claims that the phone can charge from 0 to 100% in 15 minutes.

Nice phone, right?

Specifications of Xiaomi Black Shark 5 Pro:

Nubia Red Magic 7 and 7 Pro

If you’re looking to save some money and don’t want to deal with affordability issues, you might want to consider the Red Magic 7 or 7 Pro. The red magic comes from ZTE-owned Nubia. Owner confusion aside, these are some of the best phones with 16GB of RAM, especially if you want a high-end phone that doesn’t even come close to the $100,000 mark. Alternatively, you can purchase the standard Red Magic 7 versions with either 12GB or 18GB of RAM.

Even though they cost less than their competitors, the phones are still impressive. Both have Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipsets. There is a 6.8-inch 165Hz display, triple cameras, big battery and fast charging.

Of course, you also get gaming features like extra accessories, shoulder triggers, built-in air cooling, and a gaming design that can be seen from a mile away.

Features Nubia Red Magic 7:

ZTE Axon 40 Ultra

Are you tired of all gaming phones? If that’s the case, let’s go back to more traditional phones with sleek designs and great specs. The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra deserves a spot on this list of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. It comes with a healthy specification and a great design worthy to compete with the best.

Inside, you’ll find a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, a powerful triple-camera system, and a great 5,000mAh battery. The 6.8-inch display features AMOLED technology and an excellent 120Hz refresh rate. More importantly, it’s a phone you won’t be ashamed to pull out during an important work meeting.

Again, the only bad news is that you will have to purchase the most expensive version to enjoy 16GB of RAM. But you also get 1TB of internal storage. This should be enough for all the apps you will be using at the same time.

Specifications ZTE Axon 40 Ultra:

OnePlus 10T

The OnePlus 10T is a little odd, but it’s still one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. The smartphone is powered by an updated Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. The more expensive variant comes with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 6.7-inch AMOLED display delivers outstanding quality, top-level performance, and a 4800mAh battery to keep you going all day long. It is still considered a valuable device, so some sacrifices had to be made.

The OnePlus 10T lacks wireless charging, lacks cameras, is only IP54 rated (in the US) and has pretty poor speakers. The price is also very low for a device of this caliber.

OnePlus 10T Specs:

Frequently asked Questions

How much does RAM affect performance?
As mentioned earlier in the article, RAM mainly affects multitasking performance. This can also be important when performing resource-intensive tasks such as playing games. However, having too much RAM will most likely not make a noticeable difference to most average users. You will only notice a difference when using your smartphone intensively or using too many applications at the same time.

Which smartphone has the most RAM?
So far, the phones with the most RAM we’ve seen have had 18GB. Some of the more important ones include Asus ROG Phone 5s, Red Magic 7, ZTE Axon 30 Ultra and Lenovo Legion Y90.

How much RAM should my phone have?
How much RAM you need on a smartphone depends on your needs, but most experts agree that 12GB is the best. You won’t notice much of a difference above.

Have you realized that 16 GB of RAM is too much? We’ve also listed our favorite 8GB and 12GB RAM smartphones . Check them out if you want something more reasonable. Also, you should probably stop worrying so much about RAM and take a look at our list of the very best Android phones . All of them will be enough for most users.