Modern users of Xiaomi smartphones often face slowing down the device while running several heavy applications. In attempts to speed up the gadget, owners are looking for hidden settings, among which the term RAM Jet is increasingly common. This option is positioned as a tool for expanding RAM, which sounds tempting for budget models with limited RAM. However, not everyone understands the real essence of the technology and the impact of its activation on the overall performance of the system.
In fact, RAM Jet is a software algorithm that reserves some of the device's internal flash memory for RAM, which in simple terms takes the place where your photos and applications are stored and makes it work as an addition to the main RAM chip, which allows you to keep more programs running in the background, but this approach has its own technical features and tradeoffs that you need to know about before making changes.
In this article, we will take a closer look at how this function works, analyze its effectiveness across Redmi and Poco models, and provide step-by-step instructions for activation. Understanding the mechanics of the process will help you make an informed decision whether to sacrifice part of the storage for potential multitasking gains or leave the default settings.
The principle of virtual memory in MIUI
The technology, known in MIUI and HyperOS interfaces as RAM Jet or Memory Extension, is based on the classic swap mechanism: When physical RAM is filled, the system moves the least active applications to a specially reserved partition of internal memory, which occurs automatically and unobtrusively to the user, creating the illusion that there is more “iron” RAM.
The key here is the difference in access speeds. Real RAM (LPDDR4X or LPDDR5) has a tremendous bandwidth, measured in tens of gigabytes per second. At the same time, internal memory (UFS 2.2, UFS 3.1 or slower eMMC) works much slower. RAM Jet acts as a buffer, but with heavy games or cameras, the speed of reading data from virtual memory can become a bottleneck, causing micro-freezes.
Technical details of swapping
It should be noted that the efficiency of virtual memory depends on the type of drive installed. On flagship models with a fast interface UFS 3.1 or UFS 4.0, the difference in speed will be less noticeable than on budget models with eMMC memory. That is why activating this feature on old or cheap devices can lead to the opposite effect – a general slowdown of the interface.
Advantages and disadvantages of expansion technology
The decision to use RAM Jet should be made with a balance between the pros and cons. On the one hand, users can keep 5-10 applications open instead of 3-4, which is convenient for those who constantly switch between messengers, browser and social networks. On the other hand, the internal memory resource is not infinite, and active data recording reduces its life.
The main advantage is multitasking. If you're used to having it restart when you return to an application (you see the boot screensaver), then enabling the memory extension will solve this problem. The applications will stay in the state you left them in, which saves time and traffic. However, the processor itself can be responsible for the smoothness of the work when the data is pumped out of virtual memory, which increases power consumption.
- 🚀 Increased Background Processes: The system less likely to “kill” running applications, freeing up resources for the current task.
- 📉 Reduced write speed: Active use of the swap partition leads to faster wear and tear of the phone memory cell.
- ⚡ Potential lags: With a lack of real RAM and active access to virtual, delays in the interface are possible.
It’s important to understand that RAM Jet doesn’t add physical power to the processor, it’s just a way to manage the resources available more efficiently. If your smartphone is initially equipped with 8 or 12 GB of RAM, enabling this feature can be redundant and even harmful, as the system will waste time on operations with a slower media without real need.
How to turn on RAM Jet on Xiaomi smartphones
Activation of the memory extension function in the shells MIUI 12.5, MIUI 13/14 and HyperOS is done through the standard settings menu.The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and region, but the general logic remains the same.
To access the settings, go to Settings → About Phone. Here, find the line indicating the amount of RAM (for example, “6.00 GB”). Clicking on this line or on a special icon next to it will open the memory management menu. In some versions of the firmware, the path may lie through Settings → Additional settings → Expansion of memory.
☑️ Pre-insertion check
In the menu that opens, you will be asked to select the amount of memory you add. There are usually options for adding 2, 3 or 4 GB (numbers depend on the model), after selecting the desired value, the system will warn you to reboot, confirm the action, and after turning on the smartphone will work with the new configuration profile.
⚠️ Note: After turning on the function and restarting, you may notice a temporary decrease in performance in the first few days. 10-15 This is normal, because the system indexes and redistributes file tables to create a virtual partition.
Impact on the speed and wear of the drive
One of the most common questions concerns the durability of a smartphone when using RAM Jet. NAND-type internal memory, which is used in smartphones, has a limited resource of overwrite cycles. Constant writing and erasing data in the swap section theoretically accelerates the wear of the drive. However, modern memory controllers and levelwearing algorithms at Xiaomi minimize this risk.
In practice, for the average user who changes his phone every 3-4 years, accelerated wear is unlikely to be a critical factor. Problems can arise if the phone is used in extreme conditions with a constant 100% load of memory for days. In such scenarios, physical memory can degrade faster, leading to the emergence of “broken” sectors and data loss.
| Parameter | No RAM Jet. | With RAM Jet on |
|---|---|---|
| Application Launch Speed | Maximum (from RAM) | Medium (depending on cache) |
| Number of background applications | Standard. | Enlarged. |
| Storage load | Low. | High (permanent recording) |
| Energy consumption | Standard. | A little higher. |
If you own a flagship with a UFS 3.1/4.0 fast drive, worrying about wear costs less than a public-sector eMMC owner. However, in both cases, it’s worth remembering that virtual memory is a compromise. You’re swapping the potential durability resource of the drive for the comfort of multitasking here and now.
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For devices with 6GB of RAM and less, the RAM Jet gives a noticeable increase in comfort. For models with 8GB or more, this feature is often redundant.
Comparison of real and virtual memory
Users often mistakenly assume that 8GB of physical memory plus 3GB of virtual memory equals 11GB of full-fledged performance. It's not. RAM Jet doesn't add up to the main memory in terms of speed. These are different classes of hardware. Real RAM operates at frequencies of thousands of megahertz, whereas virtual RAM is limited by the read/write speed of flash memory, which is an order of magnitude lower.
It is better to have 8 GB of fast physical memory than 6 GB of physical + 4 GB of virtual. In the first case, all operations will be performed instantly. In the second case, the system will be forced to constantly transfer data between fast and slow zones, which creates additional load on the processor and can cause stuttering in the interface when switching between tasks.
However, for the budget segment, where devices often come with 4GB or 6GB of RAM, Memory Extension technology is a lifesaver.It allows modern “heavy” versions of Android and MIUI shells to function without constant app reboots, making smartphone use more enjoyable, even if the absolute speed does not increase.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to keep RAM Jet on all the time?
Can I delete the virtual memory and return it to the same way?
Does RAM Jet affect the way games work?
Why did the phone start to work slower after switching on?
Is this feature available on all Redmi and Poco models?
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If you decide to enable a memory extension, try to keep at least 5-7 GB free on the internal drive, which will ensure stable operation of the paging mechanism and prevent a critical slowdown of the system.
To sum up, the RAM Jet in Xiaomi phones is a useful tool for owners of devices with little RAM, which allows you to extend the life of older models and improve multitasking for public employees. However, owners of powerful flagships should consider whether they should sacrifice the resource of a fast drive for a feature that in their case may be redundant. Proper management of memory settings is the key to long and fast work of your smartphone.