Google’s Gemini AI limited to top Android flagships for now
▼ Summary
– Google announced Gemini Intelligence, a feature set that can automate multi-step background tasks like sourcing information and interacting with apps autonomously.
– Gemini Intelligence will debut on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Flip8, with Google confirming it for the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10 series “this summer.”
– The feature requires at least 12GB of RAM and Gemini Nano v3 or greater, limiting it to devices with high on-device AI capability.
– Additional requirements include a flagship SoC, passing quality tests on A17+, 5 OS upgrades, six years of security updates, and support for Android Virtualization Framework.
– A recent Pixel 11 leak suggests non-Pro models may have only 8GB of RAM, potentially excluding them from Gemini Intelligence support.
Not every Android user will get to experience Google’s Gemini Intelligence anytime soon. While the feature was unveiled just days ago as more than a simple rebrand, it brings genuinely advanced capabilities: automating complex multi-step tasks in the background, pulling and transforming data across apps and websites, and even powering a new “Rambler” mode in Gboard that lets you speak naturally with filler words and mixed languages. The demos are impressive, but the hardware requirements to run them are steep.
For now, the rollout appears tightly controlled. The feature is expected to debut on Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Flip8. Google has confirmed that the Galaxy S26 series and the Pixel 10 lineup will follow “this summer.” That’s a short list for what could be a flagship-only feature.
Looking closer at the fine print on the official android.com site, the restrictions become even clearer. Gemini Intelligence requires at least 12GB of RAM, suggesting the on-device models are resource-heavy. The host device must also support AICore, Android’s system service that provides an API for AI tasks running on a Gemini Nano model. Specifically, Gemini Intelligence needs Gemini Nano v3 or higher, and only a handful of current devices meet that threshold.
The requirements don’t stop there. The device must have a “Qualifies SOC (flagship chip)”, pass a quality-at-launch test suite on A17+, and maintain low crash rates in the field. It also needs to offer five OS upgrades and six years of quarterly security updates, plus support for Android Virtualization Framework (AVF) and pKVM (Protected Kernel-based Virtual Machine). There is even a vague line about enforced media and gaming performance standards, including spatial audio, low-light HDR, and annual GPU driver updates.
That adds up to a very exclusive club. It also raises an uncomfortable question: a recent specs leak for the Google Pixel 11 family suggests the non-Pro models may launch with as little as 8GB of RAM. If that holds, those devices would be locked out of Gemini Intelligence entirely. That seems like a strange outcome for a feature Google is clearly positioning as a major selling point. But for now, if you want the smartest assistant on Android, you will need the most powerful hardware to run it.
(Source: GSMArena.com)
