Android Apps Face New Performance Requirements from Google
A new shift in Android development is underway, as Google Play announced stricter performance requirements for apps. The new metrics will measure dynamic memory usage, bitmap memory, and DEX code optimization, with enforcement set to begin in February 2027.
According to a Senior Android Engineer with over a decade of experience, the current approach to memory optimization is reactive and inadequate. He emphasizes that memory growth can block app releases even when developers cannot reproduce crashes locally.
The new requirements separate memory into several areas, including dynamic memory usage (anonymous RSS plus swap), bitmap memory (retaining bitmaps when they are no longer visible), and DEX optimization (at least 25% coverage of optimization, shrinking, and obfuscation using tools like R8).
To investigate memory growth, the engineer recommends reproducing specific user flows several times using Android Studio's Memory Profiler. He also suggests examining reference paths rather than raw object counts to identify why objects remain reachable from a GC root after their lifecycle should have ended.