Pixel 10 owners have been wondering why their phone with 12GB of RAM sometimes feels tighter on memory than expected. Here’s the reason: to speed up on‑device AI features and stake its claim in the AI race, Google dedicates 3GB of RAM to the Tensor TPU on the Pixel 10. That leaves about 9GB for everything else, from apps and games to background tasks. If you’d rather prioritize multitasking over faster AI responses, there’s a simple way to reclaim that RAM and use the full 12GB.
What changed from the Pixel 9 is how memory is allocated. Last year’s model tapped into system RAM for AI work only when needed, keeping more memory available for Android and your apps, but slowing down AI operations. The Pixel 10 flips that: it boosts AI speed by reserving RAM up front, which can squeeze background apps. The good news is you can turn off that reserve if AI speed isn’t your priority.
How to disable AI Core and unlock the full 12GB on Pixel 10
– Open Settings
– Tap Apps
– Tap All apps
– Tap the three‑dot menu in the top‑right
– Tap Show system
– Find and select AI Core
– Disable the service
Once disabled, the phone stops holding 3GB for the Tensor TPU, freeing more memory for your apps and multitasking. Expect AI tasks to start more slowly and some on‑device AI features to take longer to run. If you rely on those experiences, you may prefer leaving AI Core enabled.
Not enough RAM? Consider the Pro model
If you regularly push your phone with heavy multitasking or gaming, the Pixel 10 Pro steps up to 16GB of RAM. It costs more, but it gives you more headroom without sacrificing AI responsiveness. If you’re shopping storage tiers, the 256GB version uses faster UFS 4.0 storage, while the 128GB model sticks to UFS 3.1. The 256GB option can deliver snappier app launches and game load times. Some retailers are also offering a $200 gift card with purchase, which can ease the upgrade cost—just be sure you pick the 256GB variant if you want the speed boost.
Bottom line
– Pixel 10 reserves 3GB of RAM for the Tensor TPU to accelerate AI features, leaving about 9GB for apps.
– You can disable AI Core to reclaim that 3GB and use the full 12GB, improving multitasking at the cost of slower AI operations.
– Power users who want both fast AI and more memory should look at the Pixel 10 Pro with 16GB RAM, ideally in the 256GB UFS 4.0 configuration.
This quick tweak puts you in control: prioritize AI speed or unlock maximum RAM for the smoothest possible multitasking on your Pixel 10.
