Flashback: Android 4.4 KitKat optimized the OS for phones with just 512MB of RAM

23 January 2022
This sugary treat changed how Android works on the inside to improve the user experience on low RAM devices.

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • 0Ug
  • 23 Jan 2022

Can I run it on an SD card slot?

    Imagine the Money Nestle Paid google for naming its OS Kit Kat

      • D
      • Dhruv
      • 7kf
      • 23 Jan 2022

      It's the best smooth halo themed android

        • m
        • mick
        • gLr
        • 23 Jan 2022

        In real life it wasn't optimizer not even for 2GB RAM

          Love Nexus 5 with first ever KitKat android.. one of the best phone 2013, when will nexus back like this

            With no apps opened on multitask pane, my OnePlus 9 Pro with 12 GB RAM is consuming 6 GB memory... Android hogs too much resources, it is not optimised at all.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • Lj$
              • 23 Jan 2022

              Android 12 is too bad and infantile.
              Google needs to make it as good as android K, L and M.

                • g
                • gringo
                • rXG
                • 23 Jan 2022

                LOL

                dalvik-cache has never been replaced ... ART is just a feature that was added for faster app loading.

                dalvik-cache is a part of linux kernel : without it, your device will not boot at all !

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • tA$
                  • 23 Jan 2022

                  I have this version in my Xiaomi Redmi 2 but it is dead. I am still thinking that this happened because I played Pokemon Go everyday at that time.

                    • A
                    • And 3.0
                    • tuh
                    • 23 Jan 2022

                    I remember back day 10 years ago my 2nd smartphone
                    Android 2.2 Froyo running games smoothly
                    just 256mb ram + dualcore CPU.
                    Running intensive 3D game like Dead Space + Mass effect infiltrator was just fine.

                    nowsday even 12Gb ram still lagging here n there with some modern title.

                      Google engineers used a gimped Nexus 4 with 512 MB RAM, dual core, and less resolution to make KitKat possible. This was the only time in Android's life that the footprint was small and efficient. Project Svelte actually lived up to its hype. Android never reached this level of RAM efficiency ever again.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • IbE
                        • 23 Jan 2022

                        I miss the old days of Android

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • sUS
                          • 23 Jan 2022

                          Excellent Recent Apps View for Android 4.x, unlike the current kiddie version which can only fit one recent app at a time despite having a high res screen.

                            My first Moto G had this version. It was so good back in the day, coming from a Nokia Symbian, the UI was so smooth and adjustable.

                              • D
                              • AnonD-1018516
                              • t4t
                              • 23 Jan 2022

                              Man, I love these day, the phone ran so smoothly with barely any RAM. I remember I was using a Galaxy S4 at that time. The phone still runs perfectly fine now thanks to LineageOS.

                                Until like 2018, i had ONLY owned up to 4.4.4 devices.
                                I though i wasn't able to escape using that version.
                                But now this explains it, this specific version is made to run on low end hardware...🤔

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • cT{
                                  • 23 Jan 2022

                                  Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 (2013).

                                  Two great devices that still run just fine with LineageOS in 2022.

                                    • A
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 6v0
                                    • 23 Jan 2022

                                    Ah, the memories.

                                      Android KitKat was the first time I've been introduced to the world of Android. I loved KitKat a lot, it was so nostalgic to me. And now that I'm on Android 12, I can see the dramatic difference and look at how far Android has gone.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • KZK
                                        • 23 Jan 2022

                                        I had used Honor Holly AKA Honor 3C Lite between 2015 and 2017. Really like that experience at the time until saw the birth of Nokia 6 in 2017