Starting in February 2027, Google will restrict the amount of memory that Android apps can utilize.

      Google is set to monitor the memory consumption of Android applications due to a global RAM shortage. Starting February 2027, apps that surpass the newly established limits could face two penalties: Android may slow down or terminate them, and their visibility on the Play Store could diminish.

      This announcement was shared this week on the Android Developers Blog, with TechCrunch being the first to report on it. Google states that the mobile sector is experiencing "significant hardware supply constraints that are impacting device memory availability."

      In more direct terms, the technical documentation notes, "An ecosystem-wide memory crisis is imminent due to rising RAM costs," a statement highlighted first by The Register.

      Understanding the Limits

      The imposed limits vary by device. For example, on a phone with 8GB of RAM, an app can utilize no more than 2.25GB in the foreground, along with 1.5GB for user-perceived services and another 1.5GB for background processes. Devices with over 16GB of RAM are mostly excluded from these restrictions.

      Google assesses the primary measurement as the Anonymous Resident Set Size plus Swap, which reflects the memory an app uses that is not backed by any file. Bitmap memory has its own cap applicable to all devices, allowing apps 200MB in both user-perceived services and in the background, as well as 400MB cached. There are slight variations for games regarding these limits.

      These figures are not particularly generous for mid-range devices. Modern applications that incorporate large image caches or integrated browsers can easily reach these thresholds without any unusual activities.

      The third stipulation pertains to DEX code optimization. DEX files, which contain a compressed version of an app’s Java bytecode, must be optimized for efficient memory use, quicker launches, and improved runtime performance.

      Consequences for Non-compliance

      Google clearly states the repercussions for apps that disregard these limits: “If your app exceeds these limits, it will be slowed down and may be terminated,” as outlined in their documentation.

      The more significant concern revolves around commercial ramifications. “Apps and games that do not meet these thresholds may see reduced visibility and publishing capabilities on Google Play,” the company stated, promising additional details later this year.

      The potential decline in visibility on the Play Store is a critical issue for developers. A lower search ranking leads to fewer installs, which directly impacts revenue. Google has yet to specify the extent of these reductions.

      Understanding the RAM Shortage

      The surge in AI data centers is consuming the memory resources that would typically be allocated for smartphones. TNW reported in May that the rise of AI is adversely affecting affordable smartphones since the memory initially used in handsets is now directed towards data centers. Memory costs are expected to raise Nvidia AI server prices by over 15% starting early next year.

      Consumers have already felt the impact, with Amazon increasing prices on Echo, Kindle, and Fire TV devices by as much as 60% in August. Consequently, Xiaomi has experienced another decline in profits as these pressures have diminished phone margins.

      In response to these challenges, phone manufacturers are equipping devices with less RAM. The Verge pointed out that the base models of the Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL come with reduced memory compared to their predecessors. Google confirmed in July that higher Pixel 11 prices were a result of the rising RAM costs, and mentioned that it is adjusting Android to require less memory. This adjustment is now being enforced as a regulation for all.

      Initial Implementation on Pixels

      The new memory limits are part of Android 17 and are being introduced on Pixel devices first, with Google indicating that more manufacturers will adopt the Android per-app memory limits across various RAM configurations ranging from 4GB to above 16GB over the next year.

      This follows a push Google had announced in June aimed at “preventing one bad actor from disrupting the multitasking experience and stability of the user’s entire device.” Their documentation cites a concern where a single app might create a memory leak, consume most of the phone's memory, and force Android to terminate all other processes.

      The Impact on Budget Phones

      Google's terminology encompasses devices with RAM capacities from 4GB to 16GB and higher. Apps that will find it challenging typically operate at the lower end of that range. These budget phones are primarily sold in markets like Europe, India, Brazil, and Africa, rather than Silicon Valley.

      Google portrays the regulations as protective measures for those users. In a device with only 4GB of RAM, there’s no buffer, so a single poorly performing app can jeopardize the entire functionality. However, the counter-point is straightforward: Developers are now bearing the consequences of a shortage created by data center demand.

      On-device AI Contributions

      Google is also urging developers to implement AI models directly on devices through Gemini Nano. These models will utilize the same memory that is being regulated by the new rules. The Register highlighted this tension with the observation that on-device AI might not be beneficial.

      Google has not addressed this issue straightforward