Phones with 12GB of RAM: What are your best options?

More companies are releasing phones with 12GB of RAM these days. Having as much RAM as possible makes sense if you plan to keep your phone for a long time or are a true multitasking beast. While 12GB of RAM for a phone may be overkill for some, it could become standard on flagship Android phones a few years down the line. If you really want that much RAM, here are our favorite options.

The best phones with 12GB of RAM

Editor’s note: As new devices launch, we’ll regularly update this list of the best phones with 12GB of RAM.

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Google took things to another level with its Pixel 6 series in 2021, and the 2022 Pixel 7 series only took things to the next level. In 2023, the Pixel 8 series symbolizes refinement, with a similar design approach and incremental improvements. The device has a fun design, premium build quality, powerful specs, and an overall great smartphone experience, all for a very competitive price.

You’ll also get Google’s outstanding camera performance and better hardware. The Pixel 8 Pro comes with three cameras. On the front side, you’ll find a 10.5MP camera and a great LTPO OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 1,344 x 2,992 resolution.

Other specs include the Google Tensor G3 chipset, a large 5,050mAh battery, and plenty of other Pixel features. Not to mention, you’ll get a clean UI and timely updates. Especially considering Google has taken things up a notch with a seven-year update promise! Overall, we had pretty good impressions of it in our Pixel 8 Pro review.

Pricing starts at $999, but this phone is definitely one of the best phones with 12 GB of RAM.

Pixel 8 Pro specs:

Google Pixel Fold

If you feel adventurous and want to be on the bleeding edge of technology, we would like to direct you to the Google Pixel Fold. It’s unique because it has a flexible screen that allows it to fold in half. The device essentially doubles as a smartphone and a tablet, depending on how you use it.

The price is set at a whopping $1,799, making it one of the most expensive smartphones available. It’s the same price as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, though. By now, this is standard pricing for high-end foldable phones like this one.

The Pixel Fold makes very few compromises, which makes sense when it costs so much. Thanks to the Tensor G2 chipset and the 12GB of RAM, its performance is great. You’ll also get great OLED screens with 120Hz refresh rates. The cameras should be worthy of the Pixel moniker, and the battery is pretty nice at 4,821mAh. You’ll even get an IPx8 rating for water resistance.

Pixel Fold specs:

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus and Ultra

It’s no surprise to see the Samsung Galaxy S series devices making it to our lists of best devices. If you’re looking for the best phones with 12GB of RAM, the latest and greatest from Sammy offers two options. Both the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus and the Galaxy S24 Ultra come with 12GB RAM options.

These devices are all that and a bag of chips, really. They are among the best you’ll find in all of 2024. Highlights include powerful performance, gorgeous screens, stunning camera systems, and more.

Of course, the Samsung Galaxy s24 Ultra is the best of the bunch, and it’s the only version that comes with an S Pen. It may also be a bit overkill, though, and our own C Scott Brown believes the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus may be a better buy for most. If you need some more details and guidance on which might be a better purchase for you, we have a full Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus vs S24 Ultra comparison.

Galaxy S24 Plus specs:

Galaxy S24 Ultra specs:

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

The Google Pixel Fold is a fantastic foldable device, but its closest competitor is also one of the best phones with 12GB of RAM. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is a great handset, and many would prefer its slew of Samsung features and design. And, of course, it also costs $1,800.

All things considered, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 continues to be a great high-end option. In our review, we found that battery life could be improved, and the device is pretty thick and heavy. Otherwise, you will love it. It is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy processor, and performance is no issue. It’s also a multitasking beast, thanks to its large internal display, and the screen is very smooth, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate.

The 4,400mAh battery manages to keep the phone alive for nearly a full day. We also wish it came with an S Pen, which it does support. And the crease is very visible. Aside from those few downsides, though, this is a spectacular device.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 specs:

OnePlus 12

OnePlus‘ track record continues in all its glory, and the OnePlus 12 is one of the best phones with 12GB of RAM. And if you want to get wild, there are also versions with 16GB and 24GB.

This time around, we found that the OnePlus 12 makes much less sacrifices than previous iterations. Of course, its $800 price point is also pretty nice. That said, you get a gorgeous design, great performance, a beautiful LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and high-speed charging (80W in the USA or 100W elsewhere).

All that said, there are some sacrifices. The IP65 rating isn’t as good as we would expect, and the cameras can be underwhelming, especially in low light. It is still one of the best phones with 12GB of RAM, though, and you can get even more.

OnePlus 12 specs:

Nothing Phone 2

If you’re looking for a high-end experience on a tighter budget, the Nothing Phone 2 is definitely one of the best phones with 12 GB of RAM. The base version will come with 8GB of RAM, so you’ll need to upgrade to either the 256GB or 512GB storage versions to get 12GB of RAM. These start at $699.

No one can deny the Nothing Phone 2 is a very unique phone, both minimalistic and flashy. It also features very good performance. Though its Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is older, it still performs very nicely. We had no issues during our Nothing Phone 2 review, and we also loved its gorgeous OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, the primary camera is very solid, and great battery life.

Of course, there are some sacrifices to be had at such a nice price point. It only has an IP54 rating, the speakers aren’t very good, and we’re not fans of the ultrawide camera. Otherwise, it is a great handset!

If you want to save some money, there’s also the Nothing Phone 2a (£319.99 at Amazon). It is actually a pretty good budget phone, and it gets pretty close to the Nothing Phone 2 experience. The higher-pend version has 256GB of storage and 12GB of RAM.

Nothing Phone 2 specs:

ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra

ASUS Zenfone devices used to be known for their small profiles and great value, touting very accessible price points. The manufacturer really changed things up with the ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, though. It is as close to high-end territory as they get, and the $900 price tag is more than we’re used to from this line-up.

That said, it is a great phone, and we can confidently say it’s among the best phones with 12GB of RAM. It is nicely built, uniquely designed, offers fast 65W charging, and top-tier performance. Additionally, you get a nice set of features and AI enhancements.

In fact, this phone is more similar to the ASUS ROG series than the Zenfone line-up we’re used to. This makes it a great option for gamers and casual users alike.

Zenfone 11 Ultra specs:

Sony Xperia 1 V

The Sony Xperia 1 V enters the list of the best phones with 12GB of RAM gracefully, especially for those who appreciate the company’s minimalist yet high-quality design. It’s a costly phone at $1,400, but it’s also an excellent one.

While the display tech is slightly older, it’s still an impressive 4K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also has stunning performance, excellent battery life, and the camera system makes it stand out from the competition. And performance is nothing short of great.

By the way, this phone is also on our list of the best camera phones. The photos are great, but its video capabilities make it unique. It can shoot 4K video at 120fps, and the quality is excellent. It’s really an amazing phone if you can get past the slightly outrageous price.

Xperia 1 V specs:

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