How Do Phones Work if Typical Computers Are Still Very Large

Phones and computers share similar functions and operations, yet they differ significantly in their design and usage. While typical desktop computers may be perceived as bulky and heavy, modern smartphones have managed to integrate similar functionalities in a much smaller and lightweight package.

Similarities and Differences Between Phones and Computers

Modern smartphones, like computers, run on operating systems (OS) but are designed with a specific focus on efficiency and portability. Instead of large, power-hungry systems, smartphones utilize a System on a Chip (SoC). These SoCs, typically based on ARM or Apple's M1 architecture, provide a circular system design that integrates all necessary components into a single unit, making the phone lighter, smaller, and more power efficient.

For traditional computers, while they also use ARM or other architectures, these designs are heavily considered in terms of power efficiency, but not as drastically as in mobile devices. Desktops and laptops are generally designed for stationary use, with a focus on performance and expandability rather than portability. This means their components are not as tightly integrated as those in a phone, resulting in larger and heavier devices.

OS and Storage Efficiency

Another key difference lies in the handling of the operating system and storage. Unlike computers, which typically use large hard drives to store the OS and then load it into RAM, a phone keeps its OS in Read-Only Memory (ROM). This approach allows the phone to boot quickly and efficiently without the need for additional loading time. Additionally, the OS in a smartphone is much smaller and operates with custom-built chips designed to carry out all essential functions, whereas a PC may have multiple chips and a complex system bus to connect various boards.

Size and Efficiency Trade-offs

It is important to note that the relative size of a phone versus a computer comes down to multiple factors. While it is true that a Raspberry Pi can be used as a comparison point for the processing components, the size of a phone is not just about the chipset. It also includes peripheral connections, such as video connectors, USB ports, networking capabilities, GPIO interfaces, external power supply, and more. These additional components in a phone require more space, contributing to its overall size. Similarly, microcontroller boards can be even smaller, but they are designed for extremely specific tasks rather than general-purpose computing.

Theorizing on the Backward Compatibility Issue

Despite their size, phones often perform better than expected when running applications intended for larger devices. This is due to the high optimization and efficient resource management in mobile operating systems. Even complex applications that do not perform well on computers run remarkably smoother on phones due to the compact design and optimized resource use.

One popular anecdote to explain this phenomenon is the idea that phones communicate with some high-tech devices in another universe, receiving all the processing power needed through a wormhole. While this is purely hypothetical, it highlights the impressive capabilities of modern mobile technology. Another theory is that phones use specifically developed integrated circuits (ICs), including ARM-based CPUs, which allow them to fit and run a sufficient amount of processing power in a compact form factor.

Practical Examples

Consider a phone's computing power in context. My mobile phone, the Moto G6 Play, has 3GB of RAM, while Windows 10 runs best with 8GB and prefers 16GB. This difference in resources means that a phone needs to be optimized for efficiency. A fresh installation of a mobile OS like Android consumes around 15-20GB, much less than a full Windows install. Additionally, the phone's storage is shared between the OS and various app data, which fits comfortably within the 32GB capacity (16.1GB used in my case).

To illustrate, even a game designed for a phone, when run on a PC through an application like Bluestacks, often runs better than on the phone itself. This demonstrates that PC hardware, even in its large form, often struggles to match the performance efficiency of a well-optimized mobile device.

Conclusion

While the barrier between phone and computer technology is narrowing, the fundamental differences in design and usage mean that the same computing power can be achieved through fundamentally different means. The compactness and efficiency of smartphones today are a testament to advanced technology, enabling us to carry significant computing power in our pockets.

As technology continues to evolve, we can expect more seamless and efficient integration of computing power in our devices, bridging the gap between phones and larger computing devices.