Google has officially raised the minimum storage requirement for Android 15, setting a new standard that will directly impact budget and entry-level smartphones. Starting with Android 15, any device with less than 32GB of internal storage will not be eligible to receive the update, nor will new phones with lower storage be certified for Google Mobile Services (GMS), which includes essential apps like the Play Store, Gmail, and YouTube.
The minimum storage requirement has been doubled from 16GB (Android 13/14) to 32GB for Android 15. This move is driven by the increasing size of the Android operating system, pre-installed apps, and user data. With modern apps, high-resolution photos, videos, and offline content taking up more space, 16GB devices quickly run out of usable storage, leading to poor user experiences and sluggish performance.
Google’s goal is to ensure that even the most affordable Android devices can deliver a smooth, reliable experience and have enough space for future updates, apps, and user files. According to the new guidelines, at least 75% of the 32GB storage must be allocated to the data partition, which is used for system and user apps, app data, and user files.
Devices running the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) without GMS can technically run Android 15 with less storage, but they will not have access to Google’s core apps and services, severely limiting their usability for most consumers.
For users, it means that buying a phone with at least 32GB storage is now a baseline requirement for future-proofing against Android updates. In practice, many experts recommend opting for 64GB or higher for a smoother long-term experience.