Samsung promotes features like RAM Plus as tools to enhance performance, especially when multiple apps are open. On paper, it sounds like a smart upgrade since it adds extra memory without a hardware change. Most users leave it on by default because “more RAM” naturally feels like more speed. In practice, though, the experience is not always that simple.
RAM Plus sounds like speed, until it doesn't
Performance claims vs reality
RAM Plus is presented as an easy way to boost performance without upgrading your phone. Samsung frames it as a feature that helps keep more apps open in the background, so switching between them feels smoother. The idea is simple. If your phone runs low on memory while multitasking, the setting provides a buffer to keep apps available.
The name alone suggests it offers benefits similar to having more actual RAM. Most people see the word "RAM" and assume it means instant speed and better responsiveness. When something sounds like a free upgrade that improves performance, it rarely gets questioned.
RAM Plus is enabled by default on many recent Samsung phones, particularly budget and mid-range models. Since it sits quietly in the background, most users never think to check whether it is actually improving anything. If your device has only 4 or 6 gigabytes of physical RAM, the idea of having a small buffer feels reasonable.
That expectation does not always hold up in real use. Some people see no improvement, while others experience minor stutters that were not there before. RAM Plus sells the idea of “more memory,” and on the surface, it sounds harmless, yet the outcome depends on your hardware and habits. That is where things start to shift for some users.
Why RAM Plus can make your phone work harder, not faster
Storage pretending to be RAM
RAM Plus does not add real memory. It uses a portion of your internal storage as if it were temporary RAM, but storage is slower and not designed for that kind of constant access. When the system moves app data in and out of that space, it ends up doing extra work instead of speeding things up. Every swap between storage and active memory triggers more CPU activity and more read-and-write operations than physical RAM would require. That can lead to brief pauses when reopening apps, switching tasks, or returning to something you were using. Data that would normally stay in RAM has to be pulled back from storage, which slows things down in small but noticeable ways.
This process increases background CPU and storage activity. The system shuffles temporary data more often than necessary, and that extra movement keeps the processor busier than usual. Over time, that added work can also increase battery drain because the CPU remains active managing the swap space rather than idling. On phones with slower storage or limited physical RAM, these delays are more noticeable during multitasking or mobile gaming. A screen may redraw instead of resuming instantly, or an app may take longer to reload because its data was pushed into virtual memory instead of staying in live RAM.
There is also long-term strain on internal storage to consider. Internal storage has a limited lifespan for reads and writes, and RAM Plus forces it to handle tasks it was not designed for. While the impact is not immediate, constant swapping adds unnecessary wear that real RAM would avoid. Instead of easing the load, the feature creates extra steps that the system would not need with physical RAM alone.
Signs RAM Plus is actually slowing your phone
Clues your phone is struggling
RAM Plus does not affect every phone the same way, so the most reliable check is how your device feels in everyday use. If it helps, you won't notice anything out of the ordinary. But when it gets in the way, the first signs appear during routine multitasking.
Apps that used to resume instantly may start reloading when you switch back. Task switching can feel less fluid, and a screen may redraw rather than returning you to your exact spot. Paused games can take longer to resume, and some apps reopen as if they were fully closed rather than cached in memory. When these small delays occur more often, they are usually not random.
These changes are easier to notice on phones with slower storage or limited physical RAM, especially on mid-range and budget Samsung models. In some situations, battery drain can also feel slightly higher during multitasking because the processor is working harder to move data in and out of virtual memory.
If you see several of these signs together, RAM Plus is likely a contributing factor to the slowdown.
- Open Settings, go to Device care, then tap Memory.
- Scroll to the bottom and select RAM Plus.
- Choose the smallest size available, or turn it off completely.
Some models only let you reduce it rather than disable it, and a restart may be required for the change to take effect. If nothing improves, you can enable it again later.
So, should you keep RAM Plus on or turn it off?
RAM Plus is not pointless, but it is not a guaranteed upgrade either. It makes more sense on phones with 4GB or 6GB of physical RAM, where a small buffer can delay app closures during light multitasking. If you have one of those devices and have not noticed any slowdown, leaving it on is unlikely to cause problems.
On phones with 8GB, 12GB, or more, the benefit is harder to notice because there is already enough real memory for everyday use. In those cases, the extra storage swapping can create more interruptions than it prevents. So, if the phone feels smoother after turning it off, there is no harm in keeping it disabled.