Min 2GB of RAM required for Android 11 Go devices; Android becoming heavier?

With the improvements in software, the gadgets are required to come with better hardware. The addition in software is that it comes with a bunch of new features that automatically increase the hardware requirements. Android, Windows, and iOS platforms are getting better day by day. For instance, let us take the case of Android Go smartphones. Earlier, these devices can run on as low as 1GB RAM, but now the limit has increased. With the new Android 11, the Go smartphones should require at least 2GB of RAM.

The Android Go bases on Android 11 will be heavy, and in order to ship with Google apps, and services 2GB of RAM is a must condition now. The detail comes from the leaked document of Android 11 Go Edition’s configuration guide. As per the document, Google will be imposing these conditions on the vendor. What happens is that the pricing of these devices will rise.

Android 11 Go edition Device Configuration Guide (April 24, 2020)

• Beginning with Android 11, devices with 512MB RAM (including upgrades) are not qualified for preloading GMS.
• All new PRODUCTS launching with Android 11, if they have 2GB RAM or less, MUST return true for ActivityManager.isLowRamDevice() API, and launch as an Android Go device.
• Starting in Q4 2020, all new PRODUCTS launching with Android 10, if they have 2GB RAM or less, MUST return true for ActivityManager.isLowRamDevice() API, and launch as an Android Go device.
• Previously launched 2GB RAM devices in standard GMS configuration SHOULD NOT convert to Android Go configuration via MRs or letter upgrades. They will remain standard Android

I still remember my Acer Iconia B1 which came with 512MB of RAM on top of Jelly Bean. Later, Google increased it into 1GB, and now they have further increased into 2GB. Earlier, the brands can choose whether they need to go with the Android Go. But now, Google has included a condition that the low memory devices will get only Android Go. Although it increases the performance of Android Go devices, it will also increase the pricing. The condition will be valid for devices that come with Android 11, and Android 10 devices launching in Q3 of 2020. XDA warns that the document was from April, and Google may or may not have change the decision.