Last May, Google announced Android 17 , the latest version of its mobile operating system. Among all the new features, one has gone largely unnoticed but is crucial for the future of mobile phones, especially budget models. This feature is the RAM limits that the system will impose on each application, a measure designed to prevent the device from slowing down or freezing when multiple apps are open simultaneously.
Initially exclusive to Pixel phones, this feature has been rolled out to more Android devices by Google, which has confirmed it will be rolled out to more Android phones and has already announced a release date. And it's not arriving alone: ​​a new component called Android Pulse has also appeared, which monitors resource usage in the background. All of this comes amidst a RAM price crisis affecting the entire industry.
The RAM crisis and its consequences
RAM has become one of the most expensive components in a smartphone. According to recent analyses, RAM already accounts for 43% of a phone's total price , and prices are expected to continue rising until at least 2028. This has led some manufacturers to consider bringing back phones with 4GB of RAM, something that seemed to have been overcome. In this scenario, any tool that helps increase RAM on Android or optimize performance is welcome, and Google knows it.
Therefore, the company has decided to regulate app memory usage. The limits won't be fixed, but will be calculated dynamically based on the available memory on each device. However, they will be somewhat more lenient for games, which typically require more resources. Nevertheless, as Android Authority points out, there are "normal" apps that also consume a lot of memory, such as those running AI models locally, and it's unclear how these limits will affect them.
New memory limits for applications
Google has established new performance thresholds in several areas, such as dynamic memory usage and bitmaps. It has also integrated code optimization requirements to prevent performance issues. Developers will need to adapt, and to help them, Google will release several diagnostic tools that will alert them when their apps exceed the limits. One of these is the Memory Limiter , which will prevent applications from using excessive device memory.
The deadline for developers to comply with these requirements is February 2027. After that date, apps that don't comply could lose visibility on Google Play and even have their publishing capabilities restricted. Furthermore, starting in April 2027, all apps with login functionality must allow automatic session restoration when switching devices, which will greatly facilitate mobile migration.
Android Pulse: The Silent Watchman
In parallel, Google has begun rolling out a new system component called Android Pulse. This app, which automatically appears in the app list of millions of users, monitors background resource consumption . It detects abnormal spikes in memory, processor, or battery usage and sends the information to Google so that it can correct unwanted behavior in future updates.
It's not a tool you can interact with; you can't even open it. But its presence is completely safe and official. In fact, it has already accumulated more than ten million downloads, and its icon, a green line that simulates an electrocardiogram, makes its purpose clear: to check the system's "vital signs." If you see it on your phone, don't worry: you can update it without any problem.
With all these measures, Google aims to extend the lifespan of mobile phones, especially low-end models, and address a component shortage that shows no signs of abating. Developers have several months to adapt their applications, but the pressure is already on. And users, for their part, will be able to enjoy a more stable and efficient system, free from unexpected crashes and shutdowns.
