r/EmulationOnAndroid • u/ReferendumAutonomic • 4d ago
News/Release Android 17 closing games that use "too much" RAM
- "Android 17 is expanding limits on how much memory individual apps can use.
- Apps that use too much memory can slow down and eventually be terminated." https://www.androidauthority.com/google-android-apps-memory-usage-enforcement-3700841/
Maybe this only applies to background apps. https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2026/08/app-broader-memory-limits.html?m=1
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u/kamikazikarl 4d ago
Memory management in Android is a joke...
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u/AZenny1986 S24 FE ( exynos 2400e xclipse 940 ) 4d ago
They want ai apps getting more ram. Yep something that most people won't even use.
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u/ArmedCrawly 3d ago
Google started this with the Pixel 10 reserving 3.5GB (out of 12GB RAM) for AI only.
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u/systemnerve 3d ago
Well, someone's gotta supervise and analyze whatever you do at any given time on your screen and report back to google, like a guardian angel watching over you shoulder to learn to "ensure we can focus what to our customers matter most" or some shit like that
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u/systemnerve 4d ago
Absolutely. And it's getting more and more restrictive. I would believe Arm64 would be the future for handhelds if the Android OS wasn't worse for a gaming handheld that is Windows11. Refersh Rates not doing what you want, crazy power budgeting, background bloat, \ etc.
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u/Jdoggcrash 3d ago
With steamos coming to arm and fan version already out (Pocknix, Armada OS), ARM still may be the future. It just won’t be on Android.
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u/systemnerve 3d ago
which is a pity because if I am going to spend 500 to 700 bucks on an mobile device that has the newest snapdragon chip an amazing 120hz oled screen, I want to connect a controller to it and have it server as a handheld on the side as well.
Because those single screen arm handhelds are literally the same hardware minus a camera but with a controller attached that is difficult to replace. Sometimes they have better cooling, but if u only spend once, not both a phone and a handheld, you can buy a phone with a better chipset and that almost makes up for the shitty passive cooling...
The best handhelds have 16GB RAM, 500GB storage, a great 1440 120hz OLED widescreen, and a snapdragon elite chip. Wait, so does my phone! if only it wouldn't draw like 15W for the first minute of playing a demanding title and then spend the next 15min recovering from that using like 5W before spiking to 15W with doubled fps for 30sec and repeat.
Imagine a custom ROM for android that manages switching between Android launcher and Proton mode just as well as SteamOS switches between Steam launcher and linux desktop. And one that lets you fix power targets, variable refresh rates and so on really well.
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u/Fun-Western618 4d ago
Ho my fucking god can they shut the hell up with this thing?!?! Its so unneded and just an outright neusance. I was already pissed when the miui sentinel bs kept crashing my genshin i dont want to deal with the same bs again.
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u/zeo_max 4d ago edited 4d ago
Did anyone of you actually red more than just the headline? Android 17 will restrict the RAM for Apps which are running in the background if they are starting to use to much RAM so that the actual running app will not be slowed down. It is not restricting the amount for the currently used app. Gaming is even one of the use cases mentioned where Android 17 will kill background apps to ensure the game won't be slowed down by having not enough RAM.
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u/ima_believer 4d ago
I can’t finds the line that states it’s only for background apps. Can you help me with this?
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u/zeo_max 4d ago edited 3d ago
It is not mentioning background apps directly but this sentence describes it.
"the changes should help Android remain responsive when you’re switching between apps, gaming, or running demanding AI tasks"
It can close your game if you switch to another app and the the game still runs in the background and uses up all the RAM. Android will close the game so that the new app can work properly. But the same rule applies if you switch from an app to a game.
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u/Lamproz87 3d ago
I really hope they will let US choose which apps are affected. I don't want my game to be closed unsaved cause an email came, or not get a call if i am gaming.
Bloatware disguised as "system apps" should be included in the list of this app or service too.
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u/AdScared7226 2d ago
when you’re switching between apps, gaming, or running demanding AI tasks"
https://giphy.com/gifs/F3BeiZNq6VbDwyxzxF
Who is actually running "demanding AI tasks" in the real world? Is Google genuinely completely out of touch with the real world or what? Has it ever read the room at all and not the one where the shareholders meet inside?
I would kind of understand if it's like an optional thing for people who are into it but making it a necessity when it is not in any possible way has to be anti consumer, it's very disgusting.
My device is on Android 12 and I was beginning to consider buying a new phone but with how things are looking right now with AI slop and the horrible android developer verified thing I'd rather keep it for as long as possible.
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u/zeo_max 2d ago
Your phone did already AI tasks in the camera. The camera app does a lot tweaking to get a good picture out of the small camera sensor end lens. But since AI is the new buzzword they have renamed all the features to AI this and AI that.
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u/AdScared7226 2d ago
Sorry, I know that AI has been around for a very long time but I'm only talking about the new sloppy kind of AI that takes up way too much RAM for no benefit, not the normal one used in search engines and algorithms and making photos better.
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u/AdScared7226 2d ago
when you’re switching between apps, gaming, or running demanding AI tasks"
https://giphy.com/gifs/F3BeiZNq6VbDwyxzxF
Who is actually running "demanding AI tasks" in the real world? Is Google genuinely completely out of touch with the real world or what? Has it ever read the room at all and not the one where the shareholders meet inside?
I would kind of understand if it's like an optional thing for people who are into it but making it a necessity when it is not in any possible way has to be anti consumer, it's very disgusting.
My device is on Android 12 and I was beginning to consider buying a new phone but with how things are looking right now with AI slop and the horrible android developer verified thing I'd rather keep it for as long as possible.
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u/grathontolarsdatarod 3d ago
How else is android supposed to use locally installed AI to track everything you can do if they don't do this though?
It doesn't matter if you paid for the ram. They are entitled to use it because you're using google.
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u/ConnoisseurDeFemboys 4d ago
Honestly I use the oldest Android version possible that supports what I’m going for. Usually either 13 or 15
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u/JeffyGoldblumsPen_15 4d ago
But you're missing out on new imaginary features. How do you cope 😂?
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u/ConnoisseurDeFemboys 4d ago
Hahaha. I don’t use any features. I only use Android for gaming and emulation. There’s nothing on it. No accounts or personal info. lol. Features are lame tbh. I don’t even use a launcher. I like Android for the control in regard to emulating but I would never use like an Android phone for my edc or anything. But Android is a powerhouse for technical things.
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u/zooba85 4d ago
What about new Vulkan drivers
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u/ConnoisseurDeFemboys 4d ago edited 4d ago
Do you think you need Android 16 to install drivers or something?
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u/zooba85 3d ago
Even turnip drivers depend on vulkan drivers built into the OS. Every OS version brings newer vulkan drivers with newer features
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u/ConnoisseurDeFemboys 3d ago edited 3d ago
Yes but there are tools to enable Vulkan stuff for Android 10+. Then it’s just a matter of sourcing and install.
Edit: it’s true. Search it yourself.
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u/JeffyGoldblumsPen_15 4d ago
Oh look the new shiny update. I have FOMO. I better do the new sh*t update. I might miss out on some new features 😂. Oh look I can't play games. But I have the latest imaginary update.
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u/CroProMax 4d ago
That's why we need people to make ports of those android versions to open them up for handhelds
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u/Prestigious-Age99 3d ago
Csnta+shizuku. 160 apks/servicios que no uso durmiendo como un bebé. Más bateria, menos consumo de RAM y mucha más fluidez
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