The rollout of Android 15 commenced in October, introducing a variety of intriguing and beneficial features for devices capable of supporting the update. Now, six months later, Google has opted to raise the minimum specifications that manufacturers must adhere to in order for their products to qualify for this new software. Fortunately, the updated criteria are quite manageable.

Recently, Android Authority shared that devices aiming to adopt Android 15 now need to possess a minimum of 32GB of storage. This refers not to available space but to the actual storage capacity, which must be 32GB or higher. In comparison, the previous versions—Android 14 and 13—required only 16GB, marking a significant increase.

This change primarily relates to Google’s suite of preinstalled applications and APIs, known as GMS (Google Mobile Services). This includes vital tools such as the Google Play Store and Google Play Services. Should an Android manufacturer opt to produce a device with below 32GB, they would forfeit access to GMS, leading to a diminished user experience.

Another noteworthy adjustment pertains to RAM requirements. As with Android 14, devices that run Android 15 must equip a minimum of 2GB of RAM, but this version must employ the “Go edition” of Android—specifically designed for devices with limited RAM. A new aspect this year is that devices boasting 3GB of RAM will similarly be required to operate on the Android Go edition. While this could enhance performance by reducing resource demands on less capable hardware, it means that phones previously running the full Android 14 will now utilize a simplified version of Android 15, potentially lacking some newer features.

It’s important to note that a device equipped with 3GB of RAM might not even execute the complete Android 14 version. Manufacturers have the choice to deploy the Android Go edition on devices with lower RAM capacities. Under the updated criteria, smartphones incorporating 4GB of RAM also have the option to run on the Go edition, a shift from the previous stipulation that applied only to devices with 3GB.

The newly instated specifications are not excessively demanding. While high-end smartphones effortlessly surpass these minimum standards, many mid-range and budget devices also comply. For instance, consumers can purchase the previous year’s Motorola Moto G Power for just over $200, featuring 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. This circumstance is likely to apply to manufacturers creating cost-effective devices, where the increase in storage and RAM ideally shouldn’t significantly raise the retail price.