The best phones with 16GB of RAM

Some want the best screen, and others want the best camera system. Many will value battery life or something like performance. But those who want the ultimate multi-tasking performance will want to get a phone with the most RAM possible. Right now, the race is mainly led by phones with 16GB of RAM, and we’ve put together a list of the best ones available. Let’s learn more about RAM and explore options to find your next multi-tasking beast.

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.

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? Our tests found that 8-12GB is the current sweet spot. Anything above that should offer nothing more than bragging rights, at least for most users.

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 plan to keep a phone for years to come. Standards and resource needs evolve, so maybe 16GB of RAM won’t be considered much when apps ask for more memory resources, in the future.

We must also consider that a phone with 16GB of RAM is likely an excellent high-end device with great specs and features in other departments. 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.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

If you’re looking for one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is likely one of your safest bets. It’s getting older now, but it has all that RAM you’re looking for, and it’s still competent. Its specs, design, and features are still great, and because it’s a Samsung device, it will likely hold its value better than the rest on this list if you ever want to sell it. Not to mention, you can already get it significantly cheaper, too.

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 (albeit a bit older), a quad-camera that still takes great photos, and a sizeable 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. We should mention Samsung has released the Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S23 series, but those devices top off at 12GB of RAM. This is why we haven’t removed the previous iteration.

Galaxy S21 Ultra specs:

ASUS ZenFone 10

The ASUS Zenfone 10 is a popular device among those who like smaller devices. But don’t let its size fool you, it’s actually a very capable handset, as well as one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. It also comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a combination that makes this a very powerful handset.

The more affordable versions of this device have only 8GB of RAM. This means you will have to upgrade to get the 16GB of RAM. This higher-end iteration is available with 256GB or 512GB of storage.

Otherwise, the device is great. We loved its construction and design. It also offers very helpful gestures and wireless charging support. That said, nothing is perfect. We noticed the device tends to get hot under stress, it has no telephoto camera, and the update commitment isn’t the best. It will get two major Android upgrades and four years of security updates.

ZenFone 10 specs:

ASUS ROG Phone 7 and 7 Ultimate

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. It’s actually pretty common by now, and the ASUS ROG Phone 7 series is no exception. The ASUS ROG Phone 7 and 7 Ultimate come with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a massive 6,000mAh battery, 65W charging, a triple-camera system, and a large 165Hz AMOLED display.

Of course, you also get the gaming looks we’re used to seeing in ASUS’ other gaming devices. It also has some gaming-specific improvements, including shoulder triggers, the ASUS Armoury Crate app, and the Ultimate version has a fancy rear display for those gaming looks we all love showing off. If that’s not enough for you, getting an external fan for added cooling is possible. And those who get the Ultimate iteration also get a built-in active fan.

Needless to say, these are among the best phones with 16GB of RAM. There’s also a 12GB version of the ROG Phone 7, in case you want to spend less. These are pretty pricey phones, after all. They are quite impressive, though. Our only real complaints are that the cameras aren’t very good, and they have a limited IP54 rating.

ROG Phone 7 specs:

ROG Phone 7 Ultimate specs:

HONOR 90 and 90 Pro

The HONOR 90 series isn’t available in America, but you can get it in plenty of other markets, and is also one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. Both the HONOR 90 and HONOR 90 Pro come in variations with this much RAM, as well as having more affordable iterations with 8GB or 12GB.

Other specs are pretty good, too, but these are pretty affordable handsets, so they don’t come with the latest and greatest components. Regardless, in our HONOR 90 review, we found the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 to be a good performer. The camera system has a 200MP primary sensor, which takes some nice shots. The AMOLED display is gorgeous and smooth, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate.

Regarding battery life, we managed to make it last about 36 hours on a single charge. And when it was time to charge, the 66W speeds allowed us to fully juice it up in under an hour. There are some downsides, though. The phone has no wireless charging, lacks an IP rating, and we found the single mono speaker pretty disappointing.

If you want to go for the Pro version, it has an improved camera system, stereo speakers, and faster 90W wired charging.

HONOR 90 specs:

HONOR 90 Pro specs:

Xiaomi 13 Ultra

The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is another phone that’s hard to get in the USA, but we just couldn’t ignore it for this list of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. It’s not only a multi-tasking beast, but also happens to be an exceptional product in every other department. Xiaomi really went all out with this one.

Performance will be second to none, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and plenty of RAM found inside. The display is equally impressive, with a 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED panel, 120Hz refresh rate, and QHD+ resolution. The design is gorgeous, and the phone feels amazing in the hand. Not to mention the camera system, which features a whole four 50MP shooters.

It’s a hell of a phone. It’s also very expensive. The starting MSRP is €1,499, and that’s not even for the version with 16GB of RAM.

Xiaomi 13 Ultra specs:

OnePlus 11

The OnePlus 11 is for those looking for a premium experience without paying over a grand for a phone. It’s one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM and sports a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor. The performance will be nothing to worry about here.

Other specs include a 6.7-inch QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s a really nice one! And the 5,000mAh battery should make the phone last quite a bit. When it’s time to charge, you can do so at 100W (or 80W in the USA).

The downsides? It only has an IP64 rating, has no wireless charging, and the cameras are average at best. You should also keep in mind that there are versions of this phone with 12GB of RAM, so make sure you get the right one if you absolutely want all those 16GB.

OnePlus 11 specs:

Honorable mentions

We tend to focus on devices readily available in the US for these lists, but there are other great phones with 16GB of RAM in other markets. Let’s talk about some of them.

• OPPO Find X6 Pro ($1298 at eBay): This phone is powerful, gorgeously designed, and offers a premium experience. You can learn more about it in our OPPO Find X6 Pro hands-on review.
• OPPO Find N2 Flip ($1029 at Giztop): This flip phone with a foldable display is gorgeous, capable, and very pocketable. It’s still among the best flip smartphones, and it mostly manages to make the foldable screen crease disappear. Take a look at our OPPO Find N2 Flip review for more details.
• realme GT Neo 5 (240W) ($599 at Giztop): The realme GT Neo 5 (240W) is a pretty powerful device, and it comes with 16GB of RAM in all its configurations. What makes it special is its 240W fast charging, though, which can take the device from 0%-100% in about 11 minutes, according to our in-house testing.
• Nubia REDMAGIC 8S Pro ($649 at Red Magic): We didn’t add this phone to the top list because we felt like one gaming phone was good enough, and the ASUS alternative is more popular. The REDMAGIC 8S Pro also comes with an option offering 16GB of RAM, but you will need to get the 512GB storage version. All other specs are just as impressive.

FAQs

Have you realized that 16GB of RAM is too much? We also have listed our favorite smartphones with 8GB and 12GB of RAM. Check them out if you want to get something a bit more reasonable. Additionally, you should probably stop worrying so much about RAM and look at our list of the very best Android phones. All of them will have enough for most users.