Google has quietly but decisively ended the era of 16GB Android smartphones. With the rollout of Android 15, any phone that wants to ship with Google apps—including essentials like the Play Store—must now have at least 32GB of internal storage and 2GB of RAM. Devices that fall below this threshold are relegated to the lighter, stripped-down Android Go Edition, or lose access to Google Mobile Services (GMS) entirely This change is more than a technical footnote. It signals a major shift in the Android ecosystem, with far-reaching implications for developers, manufacturers, retailers, marketers, and consumers alike. Why Google Raised the Bar Apps Are Heavier, Expectations Are Higher The days when 16GB could comfortably house the Android OS, a handful of apps, and some photos are long gone. Modern apps—especially those with rich media, AI features, and offline capabilities—are significantly larger. Even so-called “lite” apps have grown in size, and the Android system itself continues to ...
Google has quietly but decisively ended the era of 16GB Android smartphones. With the rollout of Android 15, any phone that wants to ship with Google apps—including essentials like the Play Store—must now have at least 32GB of internal storage and 2GB of RAM. Devices that fall below this threshold are relegated to the lighter, stripped-down Android Go Edition, or lose access to Google Mobile Services (GMS) entirely This change is more than a technical footnote. It signals a major shift in the Android ecosystem, with far-reaching implications for developers, manufacturers, retailers, marketers, and consumers alike. Why Google Raised the Bar Apps Are Heavier, Expectations Are Higher The days when 16GB could comfortably house the Android OS, a handful of apps, and some photos are long gone. Modern apps—especially those with rich media, AI features, and offline capabilities—are significantly larger. Even so-called “lite” apps have grown in size, and the Android system itself continues to ...