Android 15 GMS Requirements Evolving: Storage Boost and Industry Impact
Things are evolving in the background with the new Android 15 release. Google has quietly made a thing happen with the requirements for phones that want to use its suite of Google Mobile Services (GMS). These changes could cause some realignment in the budget phone industry.
More Storage Needed for Android 15 GMS
One of the most important new requirements is in storage. If a phone company wants to preload well-known Google apps such as the Play Store, Gmail, and YouTube on their Android 15 phones, they will need to ship at least 32GB of storage. Previously, the minimum was 16GB. The reason for the increase is to provide an easier-to-use experience right out of the box. Apps are getting bigger and user expectations are increasing. 16GB is no longer sufficient. This change likely pushes manufacturers into offering more usable space for apps, photos, and other user content.
Emergency Ready: Location Services Enhanced
Another significant update relates to emergency calls. Going forward, Android 15 devices running GMS will be required to send contact and location information to emergency services (ELS) when dialing for assistance. This is a safety feature designed to give the best possible information to emergency responders to help them in critical situations.
Technical Updates: Vulkan and Modern Standards
For the technical community, there are also adjustments to the technical low-level specs. Android 15 now mandates:
- Support for Vulkan API level 1.3 or higher for fresh graphics and improved game performance.
- Compliance with Android Baseline 2022 and "Vulkan profiles for Android 15" to maintain best practices of Android development.
- Support for the ANGLE library to help maintain consistency in graphics rendering across different devices.
These changes are primarily about making the platform more standardized and up-to-date for users and developers.
Android Go Edition Expands Reach
If you are on Android, you might be familiar with "Go Edition". It is a stripped-down version of Android meant for low-end phones. With Android 15, the threshold at which you will have to choose Go Edition has shifted. Phones with 3GB or less of RAM will run on Android 15 Go Edition. Previously, this was for phones with 2GB or less of RAM.
This means that buying a phone with 3GB of RAM will likely mean it runs a lighter "Go" version of Android. Go Edition is tuned to run better on less powerful hardware and is designed to be light but still provide essential Android functionality.
Bonus Requirement: Widevine L1 for HD Video
Another reference is to "Widevine L1" support. Widevine L1 relates to playing high-definition video content from streaming services. Including this suggests Google is looking to enable even budget Android 15 phones to deliver a good entertainment experience.
Impact of Android 15 GMS Changes
All told, these changes mean that Google is aiming to raise the bar on even low-end Android phones. Increased storage, enhanced emergency options, and modern technical requirements could amount to a better user experience even on cheaper handsets. If you are shopping for an affordable Android phone, keep these updates in mind.
