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Summary
- Android 15 quietly doubled the minimum storage requirement for devices to obtain Google Mobile Services (GMS) certification, increasing it from 16GB to 32GB.
- This new storage rule applies to both new devices shipping with Android 15 and existing devices attempting to upgrade, potentially preventing updates for phones and tablets with less than 32GB of internal storage.
- While Google can’t stop manufacturers from using less storage with the open-source Android, this change aims to improve the user experience on budget-friendly devices by providing more space for apps, as GMS is essential for accessing key Google services like the Play Store.
Google’s Android 15 has been out for a while now, with its successor, Android 16, already in its Platform Stability phase. However, a major Android 15 change seems to have gone unnoticed.
With Android 15, Google has reportedly increased the storage requirements a device needs to be able to obtain a Google Mobile Services (GMS) certification.
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Aimed at OEMs shipping lower-end smartphones and tablets, the change will increase the minimum storage a device needs to ship with from 16GB to 32GB, as pointed out by credible Android leaker and analyst Mishaal Rahman in a report for Android Authority. The change doubles the previous 16GB minimum storage requirement, which was introduced with 2022’s Android 13.
The requirement applies to both new and upgrading devices, which means that existing devices running Android 14 won’t be able to update to Android 15 if they offer less than the required storage, while new devices won’t be able to ship with Android 15 out of the box. The new requirement also stipulates that at least 75 percent of the new 32GB requirement must be allocated to the data partition, which means at least 24GB of storage must be available for pre-installed apps, new apps, and system data to be stored in.
This is Google’s play for a better Android experience
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Rahman clarified that while Google can not prevent OEMs from shipping devices with less than 32GB of storage with an open-source version of Android (AOSP), it can enforce the minimum storage requirement for OEMs seeking a Google Mobile Services (GMS) license for their devices. GMS, for those unaware, powers Google’s proprietary APIs, and provides access to essential Google services like Play Store, Play Services, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Assistant, and more.
By increasing the minimum storage requirement, Google aims to enhance the user experience on budget-friendly Android devices. Additionally, it gives users more breathing room to install some of their favorite apps without worrying about partial storage occupied by the operating system and system apps. Whether this results in OEMs passing the costs onto the consumers remains to be seen.
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