○ IN BRIEF
○ Task killers and cache cleaners won’t improve the performance of your phone. You don’t need antivirus software, either.
○ More megapixels don’t mean better photos, and while more RAM can be useful it only works up to a point.
○ Things like rooting no longer add much value to Android phones.
Over the 15+ years of Android’s existence, lots of ideas have become established about the best ways to manage your phone. Some used to be true but no longer are; others were always bad advice. Here are some of the myths about Android that you should definitely avoid.
1. Task Killers Enhance Performance
Myth: Using task killers will speed up your phone and save battery life.
Reality: Contrary to popular belief, task killers have never been a good idea on Android. Although it seems logical that shutting down apps would free up resources for other tasks and improve performance as a result, but in reality it can have the opposite effect. Some apps and tasks are designed to run in the background, so shutting them constantly simply causes them to be restarted again, which itself requires memory and power to do. Let Android manage tasks itself—if it needs to shut things down, it will.
2. More Megapixels Mean Better Photos
Myth: A higher megapixel count guarantees superior photo quality.
Reality: While megapixels do contribute to the detail level of an image, they are not the sole determinant of photo quality. Factors such as sensor size, aperture, and image processing algorithms play a significant role. A camera with fewer megapixels but a larger sensor and better software can outperform one with a higher megapixel count. Thankfully, most manufacturers have stopped going for stupidly high megapixel counts in favour better software to tease out the detail in images.
3. Antivirus Apps Are Essential
Myth: You need antivirus apps to protect your Android phone from malware.
Reality: While malware does exist on Android, the threat is overstated. Google Play Protect and the built-in security features of Android are all you need. The best defence against malware is practicing safe browsing habits, such as downloading apps only from the Google Play Store and being cautious of suspicious links. Also, make sure you install security updates as soon as they’re available for your device. The biggest malware threat comes from cracked apps—paid apps and games that have been rebuilt to work for free. As long as you don’t install those, you should be fine.
4. Clearing the Cache Frequently Is Beneficial
Myth: Regularly clearing the cache will keep your phone running smoothly.
Reality: Cache is temporary storage that helps speed up app performance by storing frequently accessed data. Clearing it can free up space temporarily but can slow down apps as they need to rebuild the cache. You should only really clear the cache if you experience any problems with specific apps. If you’re running out of space on your device it can also help a little, but that’s only a very short term solution.
5. More RAM Always Means Better Performance
Myth: The more RAM a phone has, the better it will perform.
Reality: Android manufacturers have always used specs wars to try and sell their phones. Higher numbers on the spec sheets are an easy upgrade to market, yet they often add little practical value. A case in point is RAM. You can now buy phones with more RAM than you’ve got in your laptop. But does Android actually need it? Once you get beyond 8GB or 12GB, it’s unlikely. It might not make high-end games run more smoothly, as heat from the CPU or GPU will affect performance far more. It’s not even guaranteed to ensure your apps keep running in the background, as that’s handled by each manufacturer’s software choices.
6. Updating the OS Slows Down Your Phone
Myth: New OS updates will slow down your phone and make it less usable.
Reality: OS updates typically include performance improvements, security patches, and new features designed to enhance the user experience. While it’s true that older devices may struggle with new updates due to hardware limitations, most updates are optimised to run smoothly on supported devices. Delaying updates can also leave your phone vulnerable to security risks.
7. Rooting Is Necessary for Customisation
Myth: You must root your Android phone to customise it.
Reality: We used to be big advocates of rooting, but it’s barely worth doing these days. Modern Android versions offer a high degree of customisation without rooting, including changing themes, adjusting interface elements, and using third-party launchers. Rooting used to be the best way to overcome the poor software design and limited features of Android and many manufacturer’s custom Android skins. But the likes of Pixel, Samsung Galaxy and Nothing phones now offer a great user experience and just don’t need that level of tinkering anymore.
Some of the things we’ve discussed here have been around for years, and persist even now. You can forget about them. The truth is, Android is now good enough that you can mostly use it and forget about it. It’s safe, secure and performs very efficiently—and don’t get sucked in by the idea that big numbers of spec sheets means a better device.