Xiaomi’s “Extra RAM” feature really works – but only on a few phones
The extra memory option (officially called Memory Extension) does work – but its benefits are limited. It’s not a replacement for real, physical RAM, yet it can give lower‑end Xiaomi devices a noticeable lift. The trick is that it borrows a chunk of the phone’s internal storage (UFS) – we’re talking 3 GB, 5 GB or 8 GB – and turns it into virtual memory.
How Virtual RAM Works
Physical RAM is lightning‑fast and keeps your apps loaded in real time. Virtual RAM, on the other hand, taps a slower slice of the phone’s storage. When your device runs out of true RAM, Xiaomi’s software moves less‑used apps into this extra space instead of shutting them down.
For example, when you flip from Chrome to Instagram to a game, Memory Extension can park the background apps in this slower memory. When you return to them they open faster than if you’d had to restart the app, but they’re still slower than if they’d stayed in real RAM.
When It’s Actually Useful
- 4 GB or 6 GB RAM phones – This is where the feature shines. It keeps background apps from closing and smooths multitasking for budget models such as the Redmi Note series and the mid‑range POCO phones.
- 8 GB or 12 GB RAM phones – The benefit is tiny. These devices already have plenty of physical RAM, so the extra virtual memory rarely makes a difference in everyday use.
What It Doesn’t Do
- No boost for gaming – Games always rely on the fast physical RAM and GPU, so they’re unaffected.
- No extra frames per second – The feature won’t make games run smoother.
- Slight wear on your storage – Regular read/write cycles will chew a little into the storage’s lifespan, but it’s a very mild effect.
| Situation | Effectiveness | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 4–6 GB RAM phones | Very useful | Keeps more apps open, improves multitasking |
| 8 GB+ RAM phones | Minimal benefit | Physical RAM is already plenty |
| Gaming performance | No effect | Games use pure RAM & GPU |
Final Thoughts
In short, Xiaomi’s Extra RAM is a smart optimisation for lower‑and‑mid‑range devices, giving them a better multitasking experience. On high‑end models like the Xiaomi 17 or the POCO F8 Pro it’s largely redundant – more a convenience than a real performance jump.
Want to see if your phone can run HyperOS 3.0?
Download the HyperOS Downloader from Google Play – it’ll tell you whether your device is eligible for the new update.
