One of the most common complaints iPhone users report — and one you may have experienced — is a slowed-down device that takes forever to load pages, download apps — or do just about anything. Your apps may be to blame for this hold-up in functionality, but there are numerous ways you can get your phone back on track. One involves taking a good look at the apps that you have sitting on your phone and making tough choices about which are too resource-intensive to be worth their while, and which you honestly never really use anyway.
“Some apps can adversely affect your phone’s performance, resulting in slower operation,” says Prabhsharan Singh, technical head and a software developer who is associated with Clinicspots. Here Singh highlights two types of apps that can slow down your phone and explains why they have this effect.
Resource-Intensive Gaming Apps:
Resource-intensive gaming apps are notorious for their impact on smartphone performance, according to Singh. “These apps demand substantial processing power, graphics rendering, and memory usage. When installed on a device with limited hardware capabilities, such as low RAM or an older processor, these apps can cause significant slowdowns,” he says/
Real-Life Example:
What does a resource-intensive gaming app look like? Singh says there are some signs to watch for. “Consider a popular mobile game that requires advanced graphics and intricate gameplay mechanics,” he notes. “Running this game on a budget smartphone or an older device with outdated hardware specifications can lead to lag, frame rate drops, and overall sluggish performance. The extensive resources required to handle the game’s graphics, physics calculations, and real-time rendering strain the device’s capabilities, resulting in slower operation.”
Overly Bloated Apps:
Some apps are designed with excessive features, unnecessary animations, and inefficient coding, Sing says — and this can lead to bloated software. “These apps often consume a significant amount of system resources and can slow down your phone, even during basic operations,” he adds.
Real-Life Example:
“Take, for example, a social media app that incorporates multiple features like live streaming, video editing, and augmented reality filters,” Singh says. “While these features may enhance the user experience, they also require substantial processing power and memory allocation. Running such a resource-heavy app alongside other apps or processes on a device with limited resources can cause delays, increased battery drain, and decreased overall performance.”
To maintain optimal smartphone performance, Singh stresses that it's essential to be cautious while choosing which apps to install. “Resource-intensive gaming apps and overly bloated apps are two types that can potentially slow down your phone. When selecting apps, consider your device's hardware capabilities and prioritize efficiency over unnecessary features. Regularly monitoring and removing unused or resource-hogging apps can help maintain a smooth and fast smartphone experience.”
