The best phones with 16GB of RAM

How much RAM do you really need?

First things first, you have to wonder if you even need a phone with 16GB of RAM. In all honesty, we feel like it might be a bit overkill to get that much RAM on a smartphone. In 2019, we went deep into the topic and concluded that 6GB to 8GB was the sweet spot. Anything above that made no difference back then. Have things changed in a couple of years?

We ran a poll in August 2021 asking people what they thought was a good amount of RAM to use in a smartphone. The #1 answer was 8GB with 31.7% of the votes. 6GB was the second most popular option, accounting for 25.97% of the votes. Does this mean phones with 16GB of RAM have too much random access memory? You likely wouldn’t even notice a difference in performance once you went past 10GB or 12GB of RAM.

Also read: The best Android phones available

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go for one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. It’s always a good idea to future-proof yourself, especially if you’re planning to keep a phone for years to come. Standards and resource needs evolve, so maybe 16GB of RAM won’t be considered that much when apps start asking for more memory resources.

We must also consider that if a phone has 16GB of RAM, it’s also likely an amazing high-end device with great specs and features. We suppose that might be the best way to go about your 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.

The best phones with 16GB of RAM

Editor’s note: We will regularly update this list of the best phones with 16GB of RAM, as new devices launch and older ones are phased out.

If you’re looking for one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is likely your safest bet. Not only does it have all that RAM you’re looking for, but it’s also one of the most popular devices in the industry. Its specs, design, and features are stunning and, because it’s a Samsung device, it will likely hold its value better than the rest in this list in case you ever want to sell it.

Related: The best Samsung phones available today

You’ll have to get the most expensive version of the device to benefit from 16GB of RAM. That means you’ll also get 512GB 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 set-up that’s known to take amazing photos, and a large 5,000mAh battery.

Not only that, but the phone is part of Samsung’s premium line-up. It’s built very well and looks gorgeous. This might be the very best device on this list.

The Asus Zenfone 8 is one of the best offers in terms of phones with 16GB of RAM simply because of the price. The device may not look high-end, but it’s easy on the wallet and will perform just as well as most of the premium handsets out there.

Specs include a powerful Snapdragon 888 chipset, a 5.9-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED panel, dual-SIM functionality, a dual-camera set-up, and a 4,000mAh battery. You also won’t have to baby the device, as it comes with an IP68 rating.

More: The best budget phones available

The only downside is you’ll have to get the specced-out version of the Asus ZenFone 8 to get 16GB of RAM. There are also cheaper versions with 6GB, 8GB, or 12GB of RAM.

Oppo is not that popular a brand in the USA, but the Chinese manufacturer sure knows how to make impressive devices. The Oppo Find X3 Pro was launched as a top-notch handset with little to no sacrifices, but it’s also a pretty expensive handset. It’s also one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM.

You get plenty of flagship features, including a gorgeous QHD+ LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 888 chipset, a competent quad-camera system, a beautiful glass design, and an IP68 rating.

Also read: The best camera phones you can find

As it goes with these phones with 16GB of RAM, you’ll have to get the top-of-the-line Oppo Find X3 Pro (Mars Edition) to enjoy all that RAM. This would be the 512GB storage version. Other iterations come with 8-12GB of RAM.

Asus seems to lead the way in the world of gaming smartphones, so it’s no surprise to see them launching phones with 16GB of RAM. The Asus ROG Phone 5 is a beast. It comes with a Snapdragon 888 chipset, a massive 6,000mAh battery, 65W charging, a triple-camera system, and a large 144Hz AMOLED display.

Of course, you also get the gaming looks we’re used to seeing in Asus’ other gaming devices. It also comes with some gaming-specific improvements, which include shoulder triggers and the Asus Armoury Crate app.

Both the Asus ROG Phone 5 and 5 Pro are available in 16GB RAM variants. If you really want to go nuts, the ROG Phone 5 Ultimate has a whopping 18GB of RAM. Those who want a slight upgrade can also go for the Asus ROG Phone 5s, which comes with a few improvements. It comes with a slightly better Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset and a faster 360Hz touch response rate (as opposed to 300Hz).

Here’s another gaming phone, from Xiaomi’s Black Shark brand, which promises high performance while keeping prices slightly lower than the competition. These are some really impressive handsets, after all.

Also: Find the right gaming phone for your needs

The Xiaomi Black Shark 4s Pro cuts no corners, making it one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. Specs include a Snapdragon 888+ chipset, a triple camera set-up, a 6.67-inch 144HZ Super AMOLED display, and a 4,500mAh battery with 120W charging. Xiaomi claims the phone can charge from 0 to 100% in 15 minutes.

Quite the phone, right? The sad news is it’s a tough phone to find, especially in the USA. You can have it imported, though.

If you want to save some cash and don’t want to deal with availability issues, then you could consider the Red Magic 6s Pro. Red Magic comes from the ZTE-owned Nubia. Ownership confusions aside, this is one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM, especially if you want a high-end phone that doesn’t even get close to the $1,000 mark.

While it costs less than its rivals, the phone still packs a punch. It has a Snapdragon 888+ chipset and up to 18GB of RAM. There’s also a 6.8-inch 165Hz display, a triple camera set-up, a large 5,050mAh battery, and 120W charging.

Of course, you also get gaming-specific features, such as a built-in cooling fan, a sliding trigger, and RGB lighting (because we all know you can get more headshots with that!)

Are you tired of all the gaming phones? If so, let’s move back to more traditional handsets with elegant designs and great specs. The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra deserves a spot in this list of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. It comes with a healthy spec sheet and a gorgeous design worthy of competing with the best.

Inside, you’ll find a Snapdragon 888 chipset, a capable quad-camera system, and a nice 4,600mAh battery. The display measures 6.67 inches and features AMOLED technology, as well as a nice 144Hz refresh rate. More importantly, it’s a phone you won’t be ashamed to pull out during an important work meeting.

Next: Tips and tricks to speed up your Android device

Again, the only bad news is you have to get the most expensive version to enjoy 16GB of RAM. But you also get 1TB of storage thrown in. That should be enough for all the apps you’ll be using simultaneously.