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The Galaxy Note 6 and iPhone 7 might be in for a huge RAM upgrade

Published May 20th, 2016 6:50AM EDT
Galaxy Note 6 iPhone 7 Plus

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We often talk about the performance of mobile devices, insisting on real life tests that show how the hottest smartphones in town perform during regular usage. These are, after all, our main computers. And we want them to be fast, reliable, and efficient. The iPhone is still the performance benchmark to beat, with Galaxy flagships fighting for second place. The upcoming generation of smartphones from Apple and Samsung promise to be faster and more efficient than ever. And, ironically, it’s Samsung that’s going to help do that.

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In early April, we learned that Samsung created 10nm DDR4 RAM chips that are 30% faster than previous RAM modules built on 20nm process, and up to 20% more efficient. We speculated at the time that the new RAM may end up in new Macs and the iPhone 7 this year. The latter seemed like a no-brainer, considering that the iPhone 6s has speedy Samsung memory just like the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7.

Since then, a reliable Apple insider said the iPhone 7 Plus will need 3GB of RAM, given that the phone will have a dual lens camera with advanced photo features that will require more memory. It’s likely that Apple is looking for the fastest memory in town for its upcoming iPhones, and Samsung seems to be the company that makes it.

In addition to the iPhone 7 series, the Galaxy Note 6 is also expected to pack fast 10nm DDR4 RAM. But since this is a Samsung phone, it’s also rumored to have a ridiculous amount of RAM, more than any of its predecessors – that’s 6GB of RAM.

At the 2016 Samsung Mobile Solution Forum in Shenzhen, China, Samsung just unveiled its 10nm LPDDR4 6GB mobile DRAM solution, SamMobile reports, which is expected to go inside the Galaxy Note 6 this year. If Samsung does indeed equip the new phablet with that much memory, then it’s probably safe to assume it’ll have plenty of RAM to go around.

Nothing is official at this point, so we can’t confirm what kind of RAM will power the iPhone 7 and Galaxy Note 6, but we can only hope it’s this new 10nm kind.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.