Google Play Store is introducing new memory limits for apps and games, a move designed to counter an industry-wide shortage of smartphone RAM. The measure aims to protect the overall user experience from applications that consume excess memory and trigger system-wide slowdowns.
The shortage stems from the surge in AI development. AI data centres require vast numbers of High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) chips, and manufacturers such as Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron have prioritised producing these higher-margin components over standard RAM. That choice has reduced the supply of conventional memory chips available to smartphone makers.
Memory chip pricing has climbed sharply
The impact on pricing has been dramatic. In the middle of 2025, LPDDR5/LPDDR5X memory cost roughly £2.75 to £4.30 per GB on bulk contracts. This year, contract prices for flagship LPDDR5X memory modules have risen to a range of about £14.90 to £16.50 per GB. A 12GB LPDDR5X module last year carried an estimated wholesale price of £31 to £39. As of the second quarter of 2026, that same module had a wholesale price of roughly £114.
To address the strain, the Android Developers Blog has set out a new requirement intended to help developers navigate hardware constraints and Android’s broader memory limits.
Strict memory limits arrive in February
Starting this coming February, Android apps and games will face strict caps on the amount of system memory they can consume. Apps that exceed these limits will be subject to the same penalties Google applies to apps that use deceptive behaviour, misrepresent themselves, distribute malware, change system settings, sign users up to hidden subscriptions, or use fake close buttons on adverts.
These penalties make it harder for an app to be discovered, as rankings can be lowered, and apps can be suspended or permanently banned. Google says apps that hog system resources can slow down a phone, force other apps to crash, or drain the battery.
What developers must optimise
Google wants apps and games to stay under a set limit for RAM usage and a set limit for Bitmap memory, which is used to display images, graphics, textures and UI elements. Typical violations that cause large memory spikes include high-resolution images and unoptimised textures. When an app is in the foreground, bitmaps occupy memory as expected, but in non-visible situations, such as when the app is in the background or cached, bitmaps should not be held in memory for extended periods.
Developers have been given a deadline to optimise three areas of their app’s memory usage: core background code, images and graphics, and executable code. The new requirements take effect in February 2026.
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Image: phonearena.com
