The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge are wonderful smartphones with gorgeous, eye-popping Quad HD displays (2,560 x 1,440p) that pack camera tech, wireless charging, and airplane metal and Corning’s toughest glass panels (Gorilla Glass 4) yet. But, there is a major drawback: a RAM bug has frustrated what could be two of the best smartphones in world history. It’s not the bug that causes apps to quickly shut down in the background, but something more severe for a few users that is rendering the most sleek and sexy smartphones on the market practically unusable.
This RAM bug is doing something like the following: a user who wants to take advantage of multitasking goes and opens multiple webpages and apps, playing games while keeping track of his or her Twitter account, and uploading photos to Google+ while listening to Samsung’s Milk Music radio service, for example. The user decides to eliminate certain webpages after being finished with them and believes that the once-occupied RAM has been recycled and is ready to use again.
Except, there’s just one problem: the RAM doesn’t recycle, but instead, remains “used” in the S6 and S6 edge until, at last, after loading a webpage, at which point the device’s RAM is now full, a popup message about an app that has “stopped working” or “will close” appears. Apps crash, freeze, and just simply stop operating (some have pressed the same app to reopen it, only to find that the “not working” popup message becomes a long-term feature of a once good-to-use app).
Some have blamed Samsung for the RAM problem, with many of our own readership asking, “When will Samsung fix the RAM bug?” We have heard rumors that Samsung is waiting to release the Galaxy S6 Plus and S6 edge Plus before it fixes the app killing problem, but Galaxy S6 users are right to feel that they deserve a fix for the app crashes and memory shortages right now. We here at SamMobile hear their complaints, and we agree: something must be done.
Yet, the issue is not entirely Samsung’s fault. Samsung’s devices don’t run Tizen (in which case, Samsung would be completely to blame), but instead, Android. Android is owned by Google, so Google must supply a fix before Samsung can send the patch or bug fix to current device owners. Even if Samsung optimizes its devices, the company’s own software and solutions can and do clash with Google’s work in Android. So, after turning to Samsung, S6 and S6 edge users can only turn to Google next.
What makes matters worse is that Google’s known about the RAM issue since Android 5.0 Lollipop was introduced to the consumer public with the Nexus 6. Nexus 5 users complained in large numbers after getting updated to 5.0 and 5.0.1, and, despite being promised that Android 5.1 or 5.1.1 would put an end to the problem, still have the RAM bug to this day.
If the issue were only with the Nexus 5, we could blame the problem on outdated hardware and get on with the next Android problems. However, it’s not. When Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge customers complain about a device that’s only been on the market for two months, it’s never a good sign. And, with the Note 5 being a productivity device, Google’s RAM management issue leaves what will be the best phablet device on the market in a frustrating position.
Now, we realize that we have a sizable readership here at SamMobile that loves Android. We respect that; we love Samsung’s Android devices too. At the same time, however, we find ourselves in the position of having to place the blame at the feet of Google.
Google has maintained its control and expanded its control over Android within the last few years, acting almost Apple-like in its demands with Samsung. From scaling down TouchWiz, to watering down Samsung’s own originality in its Android smartwatches with the Gear Live, Google has made it clear to Samsung that “we’re in control, we decide the fate of Android.”
Well, Google, here’s your chance. RAM management is an area that only Google can fix. Samsung can implement new RAM in its smartphones, but it can’t dictate what Android OS does or doesn’t do with it. Android is Google’s territory, Google’s property, Google’s problem.
Google, for the sake of your own Nexus 6 and Samsung’s latest, please fix the RAM bug. Android M is not the solution, we don’t need new features, we simply need the S6 and S6 edge RAM bug to go away completely. This problem should not be a feature in some of the top smartphones of the year.
Oh, and while you’re at it, please see to it that Google accounts on Samsung’s new beauties don’t delete themselves unexpectedly. Thanks.
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