Google mandates new phones for optimal app functionality

In March 2025, Google unveiled significant upgrades to its Play Store, impacting the security and functionality of Android devices. The company is taking measures to narrow the security and privacy gap between Android and iOS, a challenge complicated by the fragmented nature of the Android ecosystem. Google revealed that approximately 500 million Android phones no longer receive support and are vulnerable to security breaches. Furthermore, another 500 million phones still receive support but may require upgrades for optimal functionality. The updates include the introduction of the Play Integrity API, which is designed to protect apps from various threats such as fraud, bots, and data theft. The API’s changes will more rigorously distinguish between older and newer devices, particularly affecting those running Android versions 12 and lower, likely impacting around 35% of users. Google emphasizes that without an upgrade, users on older devices may encounter limitations in app functionality. Alongside these enhancements, the company also issued warnings regarding the dangers of sideloading apps, which significantly increases the risk of malware infections. A notable statistic is that there’s a risk of over 50 times more malware from internet-sideloaded sources than from apps available directly on the Google Play Store. As Google amplifies its security features, it strongly advises users whose phones are out of support to consider upgrading to a newer device to mitigate the risks and maintain full access to app functionalities.