In a decisive move to combat the global RAM crisis affecting the tech industry, Google is cracking down on Android applications that consume excessive memory. Starting next year, developers who do not optimize their app's memory usage will face severe penalties, including forced performance slowdowns and potential restrictions in the Google Play Store.
New Memory Management Policies
This new memory management initiative is being gradually implemented through updates to Android 17, with Google using its Pixel smartphones as testing grounds. The tech giant's decision reflects the hardware limitations that have become increasingly apparent in the industry.
Impact on New Devices
Notably, the recently launched Pixel 11 Pro and 11 Pro XL models feature smaller RAM capacities compared to their predecessors. This shift underscores the challenges faced by smartphone manufacturers and the need for applications to adapt to these constraints.
Warnings for Developers
In a recent memo, Google alerted developers that other Android smartphone manufacturers are expected to adopt these memory limitations widely within the next year. This stringent policy will affect all hardware categories, from budget devices with 4 GB of RAM to flagship models boasting 16 GB or more.
Consequences for Non-Compliant Apps
Google is serious about enforcing the new regulations. Applications that exceed the allowed memory usage will experience forced slowdowns, and if they continue to misbehave, the Android system may terminate them in the background. Furthermore, inefficient apps will face penalties in the app store, including reduced visibility, making them harder to find in Google Play Store searches, and potential limitations on developer account publishing capabilities.
The ongoing silicon shortage that has troubled hardware manufacturers is now impacting the software ecosystem as well. Google is providing developers with ample time to adjust and rewrite their applications for better memory efficiency.
The enforcement of these sanctions is set to begin in full force by February 2027, according to reports from The Verge.
Source: https://inet.detik.com/consumer/d-8640127/krisis-ram-google-siap-tendang-aplikasi-android-rakus-memori
