Google Increases Minimum Storage Requirements for Android 15 on Phones and Tablets, Ending 16GB Internal Memory Support

In recent years, manufacturers of smartphones and tablets have become more generous in equipping their devices with internal memory. However, Google is raising the stakes by imposing new minimum storage standards for devices running Android 15. Consequently, any device capable of executing this operating system update that contains only 16GB of storage will be outright incompatible, regardless of whether it meets other technical specifications.

New Minimum Storage Standards for Android 15

Devices that wish to run Android 15 must now include a minimum of 32GB of internal storage. While Android 14 could function on devices with just 16GB, insights uncovered by Android Authority reveal substantial shifts in storage requirements for the upcoming version. Specifically, manufacturers must allocate 75% of this 32GB storage towards the data partition, which houses pre-installed applications, system files, and other essential app data.

Legally, Google cannot stop device makers from producing smartphones or tablets with less than 32GB of storage as long as they utilize the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) version of Android. However, the justification behind Google increasing the minimum storage threshold appears to center around enhancing the user experience, especially for budget-friendly smartphones and tablets that are prevalent across various markets.

The Impact of Storage Type on User Experience

While devices meeting the new storage requirements can technically upgrade to Android 15, the overall experience may still suffer if they rely on slower storage solutions. Many entry-level devices are equipped with eMMC flash memory, which is notably inferior in speed compared to the latest UFS 4.0 technology. Although eMMC is more economical to produce, its performance limitations may hinder the functionality of Android 15 on these devices.

Besides the increased storage specifications, Android 15 also mandates additional features, such as the ability to share emergency contacts information with the system’s Emergency Location Service during emergency calls, thereby enhancing user safety.

For further details, you can read the original article on Android Authority.

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