Google Raises Minimum Requirements for Android 15: Expanded Storage and RAM Needed

In a significant shift, Google has announced that smartphones and tablets will need to meet higher hardware specifications to support the upcoming Android 15 operating system. The tech giant is enforcing stricter requirements, particularly concerning storage space and RAM, with the aim of enhancing user experience across all devices, including entry-level models.

With Android 15, Google has increased the minimum storage requirement from 16 GB to 32 GB of flash memory. This change means that manufacturers must equip their devices with at least 32 GB of internal storage to be eligible for the update. This applies to both new devices and existing models, ensuring a consistent standard across the board.

While mid-range and high-end smartphones typically exceed this requirement--often featuring 128 GB or more--many budget models still fall short. Some manufacturers continue to produce devices with significantly less storage capacity, which will no longer be compatible with Android 15. Furthermore, Google stipulates that 75% of the total 32 GB must be allocated for the data partition, which includes pre-installed system apps, their data, essential system files, and user-installed applications.

Manufacturers could potentially sidestep these requirements by offering devices with a pure AOSP (Android Open Source Project) version. However, such devices would lack essential Google services, including the Play Store, Play Services, and various Google apps, which could severely limit their functionality.

In addition to storage, RAM requirements have also been raised. For devices to run Android 15, manufacturers must incorporate a minimum of 2 to 3 GB of RAM. However, utilizing this level of memory would restrict devices to the Go Edition of Android, designed for lower-end hardware. To experience the full capabilities of Android 15, devices will need at least 4 GB of RAM. Furthermore, the forthcoming Android 16 update is expected to require a minimum of 6 GB of RAM, effectively phasing out support for devices with 4 GB or less, which will only be able to run the Android Go Edition.

Google's new specifications also include additional requirements for devices with telephony capabilities. Manufacturers must now provide users with the option to share their emergency contacts through the Emergency Location Service. This feature enables users to share their location with emergency services and allows those services to contact designated emergency contacts for updates or further information during a crisis.

Moreover, Google mandates that new chipsets must support Vulkan 1.3 or higher and comply with the Android Baseline 2022 profile along with the Vulkan profile for Android 15. The integration of ANGLE (Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine) libraries is also required, which will translate older OpenGL-ES calls into Vulkan, ensuring compatibility with legacy apps and games.