iPhone 8 Plus: Big Memory Suck?

Question

Level 1

29 points

iPhone 8 Plus: Big Memory Suck?

Just got mine yesterday, with 256 GB.

I used it for a bit, opening a few apps, then I decided to look at the RAM usage. Out of 3 GB of RAM available, it showed only 10 MB free.

I used a memory booster app to clear some RAM and it could not even get to 100 MB free. So I shut down every app and turned off the phone, turned it back on, opened the memory booster app, and it still shows only 30% of memory free:

This is with a single app open. I chose the “Boost Memory” option and could get it only to 35% free. There is no way this one app is sucking up all the memory.

Plus, not for nothing, battery seems to be draining at the same rate my 6 did while it was in its death throes. I'm inclined to hypothesize that it's related to this memory issue.

Could this possibly be a feature and not a bug? Does Apple intend to lock up two-thirds of the memory even with no apps open? That doesn’t pass the smell test for me.

Anyone else experiencing this? Is everyone else experiencing this?

iPhone 8 Plus, iOS 11.0.1, 256 GB

Posted on Sep 30, 2017 10:30 AM

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Answer 1

benjack2

Level 1

4 points

Oct 31, 2017 1:54 PM in response to chasfh

chasfh, you are not alone. I have your same problem on my new iPhone 8 (non plus) 256GB version. iOS 11.0.3 drains about 70% of the 2gb of ram without any open app; iOS 11.1 now uses about 80% of ram. On my old iPhone 5 (32GB) iOS 10.3.3 used only 50% of ram. there are many video about bad ram management (speed and app reloading) on iOS 11 so far and on other forums people have this exact problem. sorry for my english

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Answer 2

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Sep 30, 2017 10:48 AM in response to chasfh

Sorry if the truth and a correct answer offends you. Those apps and trying to manually manage RAM might have been helpful back on iPhone OS 1.0 (and it really wasn't) but today it is a total waste of time and does more harm than good. iOS completely handles allocation of RAM and will override any of those apps.

Or are you still using MS-DOS on your computer?

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Answer 3

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Sep 30, 2017 10:39 AM in response to chasfh

Stop using any of these so called memory apps, you are completely wasting your time.

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Answer 4

deggie

Level 10

167,525 points

Sep 30, 2017 11:15 AM in response to chasfh

I had to dredge up some Unix commands from the cobwebs of my memory yesterday, I would hate to do MS-DOS. No one else will be able to help you, iOS 11 is working as designed in handling the RAM. If you truly want to juggle the RAM and manually control the usage you will need to replace the OS.

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Answer 5

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Sep 30, 2017 12:42 PM in response to chasfh

Does Apple intend to lock up two-thirds of the memory even with no apps open?

Is everyone else experiencing this?

If anyone else can help with my actual question,

One of your actual questions is completely unanswerable. Who exactly would be able to speak for everyone else?

Another actual question is simply preposterous. What answer about Apple's intentions would soothe you?

You've been a given a pretty accurate answer you don't like. No app developer save Apple, will get access to the level of control that app suggests it provides to you. It's a fidget spinner. A placebo.

If you don't trust Apple and iOS to dynamically manage memory and such for you, perhaps an alternate mobile OS is best for you and your needs.

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