Google Cracks Down on Memory-Hungry Android Apps Amidst RAM Price Spike

Google has announced new memory performance thresholds for Android apps distributed through Google Play, set to take effect in early 2027. The move aims to address an ecosystem-wide memory crisis caused by rising RAM costs and consumers opting for phones with leaner specs.

The company is requiring developers to meet stricter memory usage limits, including capping app usage at 2.25 GB on devices with 8 GB of physical RAM. Devices with more than 16 GB are largely exempt from these requirements.

The new app quality requirements represent an expansion of the Android memory efficiency push announced in June, aimed at preventing 'one bad actor' from destroying the multitasking experience and stability of the user's entire device.