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 processing power. 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 internal 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. Not to mention, it can also help improve gaming performance, if you’re an avid mobile gamer.

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.

ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra

The ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra really changed things up. Usually known for its quality smaller handsets, the latest iteration to the Zenfone line-up is pretty large with a 6.78-inch screen. It also goes head-to-head with the best in the industry, featuring a premium design, top-tier performance, great battery life, speedy charging speeds, and an IP68 rating. In our ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra review we mentioned it’s pretty much like a non-gaming version of the ASUS ROG Phone 8 series.

The only tricky part is that, while this is one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM, the version with 16GB of RAM isn’t available in the USA. We get the shorter end of the stick with 12GB of RAM. That said, many of you in other markets can get the 16GB version. If you’re in the USA, you can either try to import the 16GB version, or just go with the older ASUS Zenfone 10 ($699.99 at Amazon).

ZenFone 11 Ultra specs:

ASUS ROG Phone 8 and 8 Pro

ASUS has established itself in the world of gaming smartphones, and these devices are known for offering amazing specs. It’s no surprise the ASUS ROG Phone 8 series offers some of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. Both the ASUS ROG Phone 8 and ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro come in variants with 16GB of RAM. and if you go with the Pro model, you can get as much as 24GB!

Other specs are just as impressive. Both models feature a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a very nice 6.78-inch display with a 165Hz refresh rate, and a 5,500mAh battery with 65W max charging. You’ll also get gaming optimizations like shoulder triggers, the Armoury Crate app, and very fun gaming aesthetics. Not to mention the optional accessories, such as the AeroActive Cooler X.

We had very little to complain about in our ASUS ROG Phone 8 review. Our only real complaint is that it is a bit expensive. Otherwise, it’s a very powerful device. And this time around it actually comes with an IP68 rating, as well as pretty decent cameras, both rare to find in gaming smartphones.

ROG Phone 8 specs:

ROG Phone 8 Pro specs:

REDMAGIC 9 Pro

Here’s another one of the best gaming smartphones. The REDMAGIC 9 Pro checks all the boxes to get into this list of the best phones with 16GB of RAM. You will have to get the higher-end version of this phone to get 16GB of RAM, which also comes with 512GB of storage and is available in three colors. The one you see in the image above is Snowfall. There are also Sleet and Cyclone, which are both black.

This is one powerful smartphone, by the way. It features a potent Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. The large 6.8-inch AMOLED screen will make games look great thanks to the 1,116 x 2,480 resolution and the smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It has gaming-dedicated features, such as an integrated cooling fan and pressure-sensitive shoulder triggers.

By the way, if you want fantastic battery life, this phone also comes with a sizeable 6,500mAh battery. Also great is the addition of 80W charging. The best part? It’s actually very affordable for such a high-end phone. Pricing starts at only $649 for the 12GB RAM version. The versions with 16GB of RAM start at $799, which is still very cheap for what you get.

The REDMAGIC 9 Pro Plus ($959 at Giztop) is a more powerful version. It also has 16GB of RAM, and the most expensive one has 24GB of RAM! We didn’t include it in the list because it’s harder to get in America, and we feel it’s a bit overkill for most people.

REDMAGIC 9 Pro specs:

Xiaomi 14 and 14 Pro

The Xiaomi 14 and 14 Pro are amazing phones, and we couldn’t ignore them. There is one major downside, though. So far, they are not officially available in the USA. There are ways to import them, though.

Both devices come with a maximum of 16GB of RAM. They are also the first phones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Both also come with triple 50MP cameras. The main differences are in the screen sizes and battery sizes. And the Pro can charge at 120W, while the Xiaomi 14 can handle “only” 90W. By the way, wireless charging is super fast, too, at 50W.

Both versions offer a variety of colors. The Xiaomi 14 is available in black, silver, pink, and green. The Xiaomi 14 Pro can be had in black, silver, titanium, and green.

Xiaomi 14 specs:

Xiaomi 14 Pro specs:

OnePlus 12

The OnePlus 12 is for those looking for a premium experience without paying over a grand for a phone. We’ve previously mentioned that it’s a great gaming phone in disguise. Additionally, there is a version with 16GB of RAM.

Performance is amazing, as the unit comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. You can find other high-end specs in the device, including a great 6.82-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a QHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It also features a large 5,400mAh battery with 80W fast charging and an impressive 50W wireless charging.

And if you really want to go all out, the device isn’t limited to 16GB of RAM. The higher-end version has 24GB.

OnePlus 12 specs:

OnePlus Open

The OnePlus Open is the first mainstream foldable phone with 16GB of RAM that is widely available, including in the USA. Xiaomi, OPPO, and HONOR made a few, but none of them made it to the American market.

This is one of the best phones with 16GB of RAM, and it is a great device. It offers plenty of performance, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. In our OnePlus Open review, we also found the camera system to be outstanding, which is surprising for OnePlus. Battery life was also pretty good. We made it last well over a full day, with over six hours of screen-on time. And when it’s time to charge, it can do so at 67W.

Are there any downsides? It has no wireless charging, the IPX4 rating is disappointing, and we aren’t fans of Oxygen OS. It’s also still pretty expensive at $1,700.

OnePlus Open 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 X7 Ultra ($979 at Giztop): This phone is powerful, gorgeously designed, and offers a premium experience. One of its most unique features is that it has two periscope lenses.
• OPPO Find N3 ($1599 at Oppo): If you’re really digging the foldable phones and want 16GB of RAM, your next best bet after the OnePlus Open is to get an OPPO Find N3. This flagship handset has impressive specs, a gorgeous design, and a great overall experience. It also has a nearly invisible crease.
• 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.
• OnePlus Nord 3 (€39900 at OnePlus): The OnePlus Nord 3 is a great budget device, with features one would usually only see in high-end phones. There’s even a version with 16GB of RAM!

FAQs

Have you realized that 16GB of RAM is too much? We also have listed our favorite smartphones with 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.