Why Does iOS Feel Smoother Than Android? A Humorous Dialogue Explained
A humorous Zhihu dialogue illustrates how iOS and Android manage RAM and background processes differently, explaining why iOS often feels smoother despite having less memory, by personifying apps like WeChat, Alipay, and Taobao, the answer highlights iOS's stricter resource control versus Android's more generous allocation.
These days I was browsing Zhihu and saw an interesting question: Why does iOS feel smoother than Android?
A Zhihu user @Zhou Dute gave an entertaining answer, which I share below:
Actually it's simple.
Act One
iPhone: I currently have 2 GB of RAM, what do you all think?
WeChat: I'm being used right now, I won't say much, you decide.
iPhone: Okay, give me 1 GB.
Alipay: I'm not being used now, but I might be needed later.
iPhone: Store 10 MB of state.
Baidu Maps: I might be needed soon for navigation, also request location, maybe my brother Baidu Tieba...
iPhone: No, I won't give anything, open later.
“Switch to NetEase Cloud Music”
iPhone: NetEase Cloud Music gets 1 GB RAM, WeChat gives you 20 MB, store state quickly, otherwise I'll reload you next time.
WeChat: Got it.
Zhihu: I want to send a message, can I…
iPhone: What are you thinking? No rules, messages have nothing to do with me, I'll remove you from Siri recommendations if you keep talking.
“Switch to Taobao”
iPhone: Allocate 1.5 GB, Taobao, be faster, my system usage is low; NetEase Cloud Music just play music, no tricks, RAM is tight, collect caches of WeChat, Alipay, Zhihu, everyone get ready!
Act Two
Android: I currently have 8 GB of RAM, what do you all think?
WeChat: *cough*.
Android: Sir, 500 MB RAM is ready, take it, if not enough tell me.
Alipay: Hmm.
Android: Father, 300 MB RAM for you, please, also 200 MB each for Taobao, Tmall, Xianyu, and several others, all prepared, background can use freely.
NetEase Cloud Music: I just play music, negotiable.
Android: NetEase is easy, 200 MB, that's enough.
Zhihu: I want to send a message, you know the world has changed…
Android: Thanks for the invite, 200 MB memory allocated, all channels ready, you can mess around.
Honor of Kings: When my dad speaks, why don't I wake up? Explain.
Android: Your process is big, my resources are small, can't handle.
Honor of Kings: What about my notification permission? Won't you open the process?
Android: Opening now!
Taobao: Your system has a calendar?
Android: Yes, it's there.
Taobao: Don't you know Double Eleven is coming?
Android: 600 MB memory, can't add more, otherwise I'd have to cut Baidu's processes.
Baidu: Huh?
Finally, what do you think about this issue? Feel free to discuss in the comments.
Programmer DD
A tinkering programmer and author of "Spring Cloud Microservices in Action"
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