AI’s memory crunch is coming for Android apps
techcrunch ·
Google announced new Android app quality requirements in response to memory chip shortages caused by the AI data center boom. The company says hardware supply constraints are reducing device memory availability, affecting user experience. To address this, Google set new performance thresholds for dynamic memory and bitmap usage, plus code optimization rules to prevent slowdowns and crashes. New developer tools will alert apps when they exceed thresholds, with more diagnostics like a Memory Limiter arriving later. Developers have until February 2027 to meet these requirements. Separately, by April 2027, all Play Store apps must meet Zero Tap Sign-In, automatically restoring sign-in state during device migrations via the Android Restore Credentials API. These changes aim to help apps deliver quality experiences amid limited memory, especially on low-end devices.
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