Google Slashes App Memory Limits Amid Ongoing RAM Crisis

Google has introduced new memory rules for apps to prevent them from using too much RAM. This change will first appear on Google's own Pixel devices and is due to the ongoing RAM crisis, where smartphone manufacturers are likely to equip their devices with less memory.

The base versions of the Pixel 11 Pro series now come with only 12 gigabytes instead of 16 GB, making it crucial for apps to make optimal use of available memory. Google has already introduced app memory limits with Android 17 on its own Pixel devices and several other manufacturers will implement similar limits by 2027.

The new limits are not predetermined restrictions but rather calculated based on the RAM size of each device. When an app reaches its limit, Android moves its content to compressed memory zRAM, which prevents immediate shutdown but puts a strain on the processor.