Google raises hardware bar with Android 15: Key specs your phone must meet

Android 15 requires a minimum of 32GB internal storage, up from 16GB.
Phones with less than 4GB RAM must use Android Go Edition.
Devices must support Vulkan 1.3 graphics API and emergency contact sharing features.
Google is reportedly tightening hardware requirements for Android devices. According to a report by Android Authority, with Android 15, the devices must have at least 32GB of internal storage to run the latest version. Notably, it is a major jump from the previous 16GB minimum requirement on Android 14.
The reports add that the phones with only 16GB storage often struggle as the Android system takes up huge space leaving little room for other applications, photos, documents, or updates. This ultimately leads to a lot of problems for the users. By increasing the minimum required space to 32GB, Google aims to make budget Android phones run more smoothly, the report stated.
Interestingly, Google cannot stop the phone makers from using less storage if they use an open-source version of Android, but if they want to include Google applications like Play Store or YouTube, they need a Google Mobile Services (GMS) license — and these new rules apply to those devices.
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Furthermore, the minimum RAM requirement for regular Android phones is now 4GB. If a phone has less RAM, it must run Android Go, a lighter version of Android designed for lower-end devices. Furthermore, phones running Android 15 must have chips that support Vulkan 1.3 or newer, a graphics and game-enhancing technology.
New Android 15 Requirements:
32GB minimum storage (75% must be available for user apps and data)
Phones with 2GB or 3GB RAM must use special memory-saving features (like Android Go)
Support for Vulkan 1.3 graphics API and ANGLE libraries to help older apps run better
Emergency contact sharing must be available during emergency calls (with user permission)
Do note that these changes aim to boost performance, improve safety features, and ensure that Android phones handle the growing demands of modern applications given that mobile gaming and AI features have become common.
Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. Previously, he worked as a Senior Sub-Editor with Jagran English from 2022, and has been a journalist since 2020, with experience at Times Internet. Ashish specializes in Technology. In his free time, you can find him exploring new gadgets, gaming, and discovering new places. View Full Profile