Android 15 Says Goodbye to 16GB Phones

Android phones and tablets indispensable present person astatine slightest 32GB of interior storage, if they officially see the Google Play Store and different Google apps. That should trim the fig of fund devices that rapidly tally retired of country for photos, videos, apps, games, and different data.

The latest mentation of the Google Mobile Services (GMS) statement includes a request that devices moving Android 15 indispensable person astatine slightest 32GB of interior flash storage, according to Android Authority. At slightest 75% of the full retention size besides has to beryllium utilized for the information partition, which is wherever Android stores each idiosyncratic apps and files, alongside immoderate preinstalled apps and strategy app data.

Importantly, this request applies to some caller devices and devices updating to Android 15. There astir apt weren’t going to beryllium galore 16GB devices getting an update to Android 15 either way—many low-end phones and tablets enactment connected immoderate large Android OS mentation they shipped with from the factory—but the caller regularisation does officially adjacent the doorway connected that possibility. There’s inactive the accidental that unofficial customized ROMs could beryllium developed for those devices, though.

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Device manufacturers indispensable conscionable Google’s GMS requirements to usage Gmail, the Play Store, YouTube, Docs, Maps, and different fashionable Android apps and features. The Play Store is fundamentally required for each Android devices sold extracurricular of China (where different app stores are dominant), truthful the GMS requirements impact astir Android phones and tablets.

Even though determination is simply a higher minimum request for retention space, Google is not enforcing a circumstantial retention technology. Budget devices volition astir apt proceed utilizing slower eMMC flash representation alternatively of UFS.

The Need for More Storage

Most flagship Android phones present vessel with astatine slightest 128GB storage, including the Galaxy S25, Google Pixel 9, and ASUS ROG Phone 9. Even galore mid-range and fund devices are sold with 128GB storage, similar the Galaxy A35 and 2025 Moto G Stylus. However, devices with 64GB retention are inactive comparatively communal successful the low-end segment, similar the Galaxy A15 and Cricket Debut S3.

Android phones and tablets with little than 32GB retention are rare, partially acknowledgment to the decreased manufacturing costs of flash representation implicit the past fewer years. Amazon inactive sells the Fire HD 8 and Fire HD 10 tablets with 32GB storage, and the cheapest Fire 7 has lone 16GB storage, but those devices don’t see the Play Store and aren’t taxable to Google’s GMS requirements.

The GMS statement is Google’s main method of creating a baseline acceptable acquisition successful the Android ecosystem, and it’s existent that 16GB retention conscionable isn’t capable for astir radical successful 2025. After the fewer gigabytes required for the Android operating strategy and downloading strategy updates, you don’t person overmuch country near for apps, games, photos, videos, and different communal data. Less retention besides means little abstraction for cache, truthful your instrumentality has to redownload information much often, which slows down performance. It makes consciousness that Google is asking manufacturers to determination connected from 16GB devices.

Importantly, the higher retention request lone applies to devices with Android 15 with the Play Store. Most Android phones and tablets don’t person Android 15 yet, adjacent though the codification merchandise was successful September and Google devices were updated successful October. The update for Samsung Galaxy devices is presently connected hold.

Source: Android Authority