Google has implemented new guidelines for memory management in Android apps, reacting to an unprecedented global component shortage. These stricter rules aim to ensure the proper functioning of software on various devices, including those with lower capacity. Developers have until February 2027 to carry out the necessary optimizations and reduce memory usage by their applications.

Component shortages and the impact on devices

• Artificial intelligence data centers utilize the entirety of globally available memory and storage capacity.
• The demand for processors for data centers has grown exponentially, driven mainly by AI agents.
• The lack of chips seriously impacts the automotive sector, with a crisis that worsens for Nexperia and DRAM memory.

Faced with tight supply and rising prices for memory and storage components, smartphone makers are taking varied approaches. Some choose to reduce the memory or storage capacity in their products, while others pass the additional costs directly to consumers. Previously, it was common for entry-level cell phones to come with 6GB or 8GB of memory, but many now only offer 4GB, which will hamper the devices’ performance.

The new memory parameters established by Google seek to ensure more efficient use on smartphones with limited capacity. If an application exceeds predefined limits, the Android operating system will act to slow down or terminate the application, preventing crashes or slowdowns. The company asked developers to focus efforts on optimizing three main areas: dynamic memory consumption (which encompasses anonymous RSS and swap), bitmap memory, and DEX code.

Details about Dynamic Memory Optimization

Dynamic memory usage concerns the temporary portion of memory that an application consumes during its operation. It is essential that developers apply more efficient management, ensuring that memory is freed up as soon as the need for it ceases. This happens, for example, when the user stops interacting with the application or minimizes it on the screen.

Efficient memory management for bitmaps

The memory used by bitmaps represents another critical aspect that programmers must prioritize. Although bitmaps are common graphic elements for displaying detail-rich images, they require significantly more memory compared to text. Excessive use of bitmaps can quickly exhaust the device’s resources. Therefore, Google advises developers to use bitmaps consciously and to adopt more effective image management methods.

Impact on the low-cost smartphone market

Memory shortages have caused a collapse in the low-cost smartphone market. This means that finding affordable devices with good performance is increasingly difficult for consumers, who need to adapt to new hardware and price realities.

Windows 11 performance and the memory crisis

Microsoft assures that its operating system, Windows 11, operates smoothly with just 8 GB of RAM, even amid the current memory shortage. This contrasts with previous hardware trends and shows the optimization of systems to deal with component limitations.

Predictions about how long memory shortages will last

The company SK Hynix, a giant in the semiconductor sector, projects that 2027 will be the most challenging year in relation to memory shortages. The company’s forecast is that this component crisis will last at least until 2030, indicating a long-term scenario for restrictions in the market.

The importance of code optimization by developers

Google also emphasizes the need to optimize application code. Often, during the development process, software accumulates redundant or unused code snippets. In some cases, developers provide applications with more code than is essential, which results in greater memory consumption. According to the new guidelines, programmers are required to clean up and reduce application code by at least 25% using tools such as R8 before submitting the software to the Google Play Store.

Just like technology enthusiasts when it comes to computers, smartphone users are hesitant to purchase new devices. This trend has driven companies to pursue a more active strategy, focusing on improving the experience with existing devices for their customers.