When purchasing a smartphone, you may have come across the label "ROM XX GB" and wondered, "What does that mean?"
In addition, when you check the specs of your smartphone, you'll see technical terms like RAM and storage, which can be confusing.
In this article, we will clearly explain the differences between ROM, RAM, and storage, which can be confusing when choosing a smartphone.
The above three technical terms are terms you will definitely come across when choosing a smartphone, so try to understand at least the basics and use them as a reference when choosing the smartphone that is right for you.
ROM is an abbreviation for "Read Only Memory." In Japanese, it refers to a storage device that can only be read and cannot be written (saved). In its original meaning, CDs and DVDs used for music and movies are examples of ROM.
However, the problem is that in Japan, the specs of smartphones tend to be measured in terms of ROM, which is the amount of data that can be stored.
Normally, ROM is read-only, so data cannot be saved to it, but when domestic telecommunications companies list smartphone specifications, they typically state "ROM x GB," which can be confusing, so be careful.
RAM and storage, which are often confused with ROM, are listed below. Note that both are displayed in GB.
・RAM: Main memory (storage area) for working purposes
・Storage: A storage medium that allows data to be saved, deleted, and read freely.
Next, we'll take a closer look at RAM and storage.
RAM is an abbreviation for "Random Access Memory" and is a working area.
It's easier to understand if you think of it as a desk.
Just like the larger your desk is, the more books you can lay out and work on at the same time, the more RAM you have available, the more data you can process at once, and the faster your software and apps will run.
RAM is merely a working area, so when the device is turned off, the data stored in the working area will be lost.
■Trivia!
It's important to remember that it's sometimes referred to as "memory" instead of RAM.
RAM is generally around 4 to 12 GB. If you do heavy work such as playing smartphone games or using multiple apps, more RAM is better.
Storage refers to a storage medium that can store data such as videos and images for a long period of time, and typical examples include HDDs (hard disk drives) and SSDs (solid state drives).
Unlike ROMs, which are only for reading data, such as music CDs and movie DVDs, DVDs support both reading and writing (saving).
Also, even if you turn off your smartphone or computer, the data stored in the storage will not disappear.
■Trivia!
Domestic telecommunications carriers often express smartphone data storage capacity as "ROM XX GB," which is treated as synonymous with storage.
Although the original meanings of storage and ROM are different, be careful as they are often treated as synonyms when describing smartphone specifications.
Example: iPhone 15 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, etc.
Storage is a storage medium that can store data for a long period of time, so the larger the capacity, the more photos, videos, etc. you can store.
As mentioned above, in the Japanese telecommunications industry, internal storage for saving data is generally expressed as "ROM XX GB." It's also important to note that RAM is sometimes referred to as "memory."
Here, we will explain how much ROM (storage) and RAM (memory) you need when choosing a smartphone.
ROM refers to the internal storage, so the more capacity you have, the more data you can store, such as photos and videos.
Therefore, if you take a lot of photos and videos, or want to store video streaming services offline, choose a device with more storage space.
Check whether the storage space on your current smartphone is sufficient, just right, or not enough, and determine how much ROM space you need.
First, start by checking the amount of storage space you need on your smartphone by referring to the information below.
Reference: How much storage space do you need on your smartphone? Explaining the types and how to choose a smartphone! | povo Library | [Official] povo2.0
RAM is the main working memory, so the larger the memory, the faster apps and software will run.
Let's check the RAM by referring to the Xperia model.
| Model | RAM capacity |
|---|---|
| Xperia 1 V | 12-16GB |
| Xperia 10 V | 6GB |
| Xperia Ace III | 4GB |
Reference: Xperia｜SONY
As mentioned above, even the entry-level Xperia model, the "Xperia Ace III," has 4GB of RAM.
Modern smartphones, with their increasingly high performance, need to perform many processes simultaneously, and therefore their RAM capacity is also increasing accordingly.
Until a few years ago, there were many smartphones with 2GB of RAM in the lineup, but they're not seen as often these days.
As a guideline when choosing a smartphone, having 4GB of data should allow you to enjoy social media, internet browsing, and video streaming.
On the other hand, if the apps you frequently use are mainly relatively resource-intensive smartphone games, then 6GB or more is recommended.
■Fun facts!
RAM cannot be increased later if it becomes insufficient. Therefore, if you're unsure which to choose, opt for a smartphone with a large storage capacity.
If you are considering purchasing one of the Xperia models featured in this article, please also refer to the following articles when making your decision.
If your smartphone does not have enough ROM (storage), you will not be able to save new data or update the OS.
Try deleting unnecessary data or using external storage.
You can free up storage space by deleting unnecessary data (apps, emails, photos, etc.). When doing so, it is most efficient to start with the largest data.
After checking the storage capacity of your smartphone, find the data that is taking up space and delete any unnecessary data.
The following article explains how to check your storage capacity.
Reference: How much storage space do you need on your smartphone? Explaining the types and how to choose a smartphone! | povo Library | [Official] povo2.0
Among the data stored on your smartphone are photos and videos that you don't need right now but don't want to delete. For this kind of data, we recommend using online storage such as iCloud or Google Drive.
In addition to cloud services, another way to free up storage space is to use external storage such as HDDs, SSDs, and SD cards.
RAM, the main working memory, can be overloaded if you use apps such as games and videos beyond its capacity, which can cause your smartphone to run slowly.
If you feel that your smartphone is running slowly, try freeing up some RAM space.
However, poor communication conditions can sometimes cause smartphone operation to slow down, so it's a good idea to first check your communication conditions and, if there are no abnormalities, suspect the RAM.
There may also be several other hidden reasons why your smartphone is running slowly, such as an outdated OS or app version, so please refer to the article below to find out the cause.
Reference: What to do if your smartphone's internet speed suddenly slows down and what causes it! | povo Library | [Official] povo2.0
Here are some ways to free up RAM:
Cache is a mechanism that temporarily stores browser and app data on your device, making subsequent loading smoother and faster than usual.
However, the more you use your smartphone, the more the browser and app cache increases, which can cause your smartphone to run slowly.
This cache is stored in RAM, so if you notice slow performance, try clearing the accumulated cache.
■ How to delete cache on iPhone (Safari)
1. Tap "Settings" > "Safari"
2. Tap "Clear History and Website Data"
■ How to delete cache for Android (method may vary depending on the model)
1. Tap "Settings" > "Apps" or "Apps & notifications"
2. Tap "Show all ◯ apps"
3. Select the app you want to clear the cache for and select "Storage and cache."
4. Tap "Clear cache"
Background apps are apps that remain running even when you are not using them.
Background apps use RAM to run, so the more apps you have running, the more RAM you will need.
■ How to close background apps on iPhone (X or later)
1. Swipe up from the bottom of the home screen and pause your finger in the center of the screen.
2. Swipe left or right to select the app you want to close
3. Swipe up on the app you want to close to finish
■How to end background apps (Android)
The procedure for closing background apps on Android devices varies depending on the manufacturer. Check the website or retailer for details.
Data stored in RAM is automatically erased when the device is turned off. If you want to quickly free up RAM space, restart your device.
■ How to restart "iPhone (X, 11, 12, 13 or later)"
1. Press and hold either volume button and the side button
2. When the power off slider appears, slide it to turn off the power.
3. To turn your device back on, press and hold the side button on the right side of your iPhone until you see the Apple logo.
■How to restart "Android" (method may vary depending on the model)
1. Press and hold the power button
2. When the menu appears, tap "Power off" or "Restart."
In this article, we explain the following terms that are often confused when choosing a smartphone.
| ROM | ・It is an abbreviation for "Read Only Memory," which in Japanese means a recording device that can only be read and cannot be written (saved). ・For example, CDs and DVDs used for music and movies ・However, when domestic carriers list smartphone specifications, they generally use the term "ROM x GB," which is treated as synonymous with storage. |
| RAM | ・An abbreviation for "Random Access Memory" and refers to the working area ・The larger the area, the faster the software and apps will run. |
| Storage | ・Storage media that can store data such as videos and images for a long period of time ・For example, HDD (hard disk drive) and SSD (solid state drive) |
Many people are probably considering replacing their smartphone due to a lack of ROM and RAM capacity.
When considering replacing your smartphone, consider povo2.0 (※1), au 's online-only brand.
povo2.0 is a new fees plan offered by au 's online-only brand, with a basic fees starting from 0 yen (※2)(※3)(※4), that allows you to freely customize your data capacity (gigabytes) and call Topping.
If you are looking for a great fees plan when considering a new model, please also consider povo2.0.
*1: All procedures and support are online. povo2.0 Please contact us through the application or official website. *2: Additional fees such as handling charges may apply. validity for 180 days or more, or if you have never purchased Topping for a fee, your usage may be suspended or your contract may be terminated. Please understand this in advance.
If you subscribe to 5 lines(*) under the same name, a contract administration fee of tax included 3,850 yen/line will be charged for the 6th line and thereafter.
*2: Including lines that have been terminated or cancelled by the Company within the past year. 3：Domestic calls are charged separately at tax included 22 yen/30 seconds, and SMS sending is charged separately at tax included 3.3 yen/text (up to 70 characters). Depending on the model, up to 670 two-byte characters can be sent; up to 134 characters are counted as two SMS messages, and thereafter one SMS message is charged for each 67 characters. Call charges may differ for some calls, such as calls to satellite phones.
Reference:" povo2.0 Plan Details" (povo)
*4: If data Topping is not purchased, the maximum sending/receiving rate is 128 kbps. *The images are for illustrative purposes only. Apple and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone trademark is used under license from Aiphone Co.
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