Google has made a radical change to the Android operating system and updated the minimum hardware requirements for Android 15 and Android 16. According to the new system policies, low-end smartphones will no longer be able to receive Android updates.
System requirements for Android have changed
This means that software support, especially for older models, has completely ended. The minimum storage requirement for device manufacturers who want to run Android 15 has been determined as 32 GB. Devices that fall below this limit will not be able to switch to the new operating system.
Moreover, 75% of this 32 GB space has to be reserved for system files and user data. In previous versions, the lower limit was applied as 16 GB. The new requirement will make it technically impossible for older devices to receive software updates.
A serious change has also been made to the RAM side. While 4 GB of RAM continues to be considered sufficient for Android 15, this level is being increased to 6 GB with Android 16. In other words, devices with less than 6 GB of RAM will not be able to switch to Android 16. These devices will only be directed to lighter operating systems such as Android Go Edition.
iPhone sales have once again peaked. Apple's recent strategies played an important role in this development.
Google’s policies have introduced an even stricter restriction for models with 2GB or less of RAM. These devices will no longer be able to receive Google Mobile Services (GMS). GMS includes system components that are essential for core Google apps like Google Play Store, YouTube, and Gmail to work. Cutting off this support will significantly reduce the functionality of these devices.
Google’s move aims to declutter the Android ecosystem. However, this decision will result in millions of old Android devices that are still widely used around the world becoming dysfunctional. What do you think about this? You can share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
