Google Sets 32GB Storage and RAM Limits for Android 15 Devices

No more phones with 16 GB storage and 6 GB of RAM. With Android 15, Google is tightening things up a bit when it comes to phone specs. If a phone wants to come with Google apps and services preinstalled — what’s known as Google Mobile Services (or GMS) — it now must have at least 32GB of internal storage. That’s double the old minimum of 16GB from Android 13 days, and way more than the 8GB that used to be the standard even earlier.

But it’s not just about hitting 32GB — Google also says at least 75% of that space has to go toward the data partition. That’s where your system apps, app data, and all your personal files live. So, if a device doesn’t meet this requirement, it won’t get Android 15 — not even as an update from an older version.

Let’s be real, though — hardly any phones today ship with just 16GB or 32GB of storage. And using one with only 32GB is already a frustrating experience, no matter what Android version you’re on. Still, it’s interesting to see Google putting official minimums in place.

RAM Requirements Are Getting Stricter Too

RAM rules are getting tougher as well. If a device has:

• 2GB or 3GB of RAM – it has to run Android Go Edition, which is the lightweight version for budget phones.

• Less than 2GB of RAM – it’s out of luck completely. No GMS, no Google apps.

• 4GB of RAM – still okay for Android 15, but not for long. Starting with Android 16, even these phones will be forced to switch to Android Go. That basically means that 6GB will become the new minimum for running the full Android experience.

Emergency Contact Sharing Is Now Required (If You Want GMS)

Another change with Android 15 is focused on safety. Google is now requiring that devices give users the option to share their emergency contact information along with their location during emergency calls — this is through something called Emergency Location Service.

It’s designed to help emergency responders find you faster and even contact your loved ones if you’re in trouble. But don’t worry — this feature is opt-in only, and Google is making sure there’s a clear explanation of what data might be shared.