The LG-made Nexus 5X can apparently support 4 GB of RAM with no troubles, although Google chose to equip it with half that amount.
Newer smartphones pack up to 6 GB of RAM and even midrangers now come with 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM, but it's not a rule and it certainly did not apply when the Nexus 5X hit the scene.
Google's great Nexus line - now rebranded as the Pixel line - has always comprised neat devices serving as launch vehicles for a new version of Android. That said, each Nexus was a treat for its time, but that's not quite true with the Nexus 5X.
Back in 2015, Google launched the LG-made Nexus 5X and the Huawei-made Nexus 6P, marking the first time it released two smartphones in the same year. The Nexus 6P was the higher-end of the two and it came with 3 GB of RAM, while the Nexus 5X was a midranger from the get-go, even by that time's standards, and it came with only 2 GB of RAM.
Nexus 5X Bootloop Issue
As it turns out, however, the Nexus 5X actually supports twice that amount of RAM, as one owner recently found out with the help of a repair shop in China. More specifically, XDA member Cathair2906 took their Nexus 5X to the repair shop to deal with the dreaded bootloop issue that's currently plaguing a slew of Nexus devices. LG even offered full refunds for the Nexus 5X last year because it didn't have the necessary parts in stock to fix it.
When Cathair2906 sent their Nexus 5X to the shop to fix the bootloop problem, the tech workers suggested upgrading the RAM as well while they were dealing with the processor.
Nexus 5X Upgraded With 4 GB Of RAM
Nobody knows exactly what causes the bootloop issue, but a poorly attached processor is believed to be among the possible causes. When Cathair2906 sent their smartphone to the shop, the repair process entailed removing the SoC first - the SoC is placed on top of the processor, and it also includes the RAM. While they were at it, why not tweak the RAM a bit too?
"[I] decided to send my 5x to China for CPU fixing, as the RAM is packed with the CPU together, the guy suggested me upgrading it to 3 or 4 GB RAM. That's how the 4GB RAM 5X comes out," writes the XDA user.
Surprisingly, things went smoothly and the Nexus 5X in question successfully rocks 4 GB of RAM instead of the 2 GB it came with. Cathair2906 says their Nexus 5X works perfectly fine with 4 GB of RAM, with no glitches or problems.
That's not to encourage Nexus 5X users to take their smartphones apart and start stacking more RAM, but it goes to prove that it's possible and the smartphone can support twice the RAM with no sweat.
Those who would like to upgrade their Nexus 5X with more RAM as well are advised to do so only at specialized repair shops familiar with the operation.
