Google forces Android apps to use memory more wisely as RAMpocalypse rages

Google is imposing new memory-use limits on Android apps to combat a global memory chip shortage driven by the AI data center boom. These hardware supply constraints may reduce RAM in lower-cost phones, potentially causing crashes and slowdowns. Developers have until February 2027 to comply with new thresholds for memory and bitmap usage. To support this transition, Google is introducing specialized tools to flag apps that exceed these limits and ensure a stable consumer experience.