Heavy apps slow down smartphones, experts advise cautious usage

Experts say that while limiting background activity can help, it is not always feasible as many applications require constant permissions and background operation

LONDON: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 24^th, 2026) Smartphone users experiencing slow performance over time may have certain applications to blame, as experts warn that some popular apps consume excessive system resources.

These apps continuously use a device’s RAM and CPU to function efficiently, but prolonged usage—particularly on phones with less than 8GB RAM—can significantly reduce overall performance.

Experts say that while limiting background activity can help, it is not always feasible as many applications require constant permissions and background operation.

Among such apps, TikTok is considered highly resource-intensive due to continuous video processing, heavy cache usage, and storage consumption. Users may opt for its lighter version to improve performance on low-end devices.

Similarly, Google Photos can impact performance when its cloud backup feature is enabled, as it uses significant background resources to upload media files.

Google Maps also requires substantial resources, relying on GPS and real-time data processing, which keeps the app active in the background.

Social media platforms like Instagram further contribute to slower performance through frequent notifications, background data refresh, and preloading of media content.

In addition, Spotify can affect device speed by aggressively caching data for uninterrupted streaming, particularly when storage space is limited.

Experts recommend managing app permissions, reducing background activity, and regularly clearing cache to maintain optimal smartphone performance.