Google recently announced Gemini Intelligence during the I/O edition of The Android Show, positioning it as one of the most significant AI feature rollouts for the platform. However, the company has also released detailed system requirements that will severely limit which Android devices can actually run these advanced capabilities. The requirements include a minimum of 12GB of RAM, support for AI Core, and integration of Gemini Nano v3 or higher. These specifications effectively exclude many current flagship models, including Google's own Pixel 9 series and Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Understanding Gemini Intelligence

Gemini Intelligence is an umbrella term encompassing Google's most sophisticated AI-powered features. These include Gboard's new voice-to-text feature called "Rambler," an enhanced Chrome auto-fill capable of handling complex forms, and the Create My Widget tool. The features are designed to provide deeper, more context-aware assistance across the Android operating system. Unlike standard AI features that run on cloud servers, Gemini Intelligence leverages on-device processing to ensure faster response times and better privacy.

Hardware Requirements: A High Bar

The primary barrier for most phones is the 12GB RAM requirement. This automatically eliminates all Pixel devices with less than 12GB of memory, including the Pixel 7, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, and Pixel 9 (which ships with 12GB but earlier models have less). Only the Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL meet the RAM threshold, but they still fail on other criteria. The requirement for a "flagship chip" further narrows the field, typically meaning a Snapdragon 8 series, MediaTek Dimensity 9000 series, or Google Tensor chip from recent generations.

The Critical Role of Gemini Nano v3

Beyond RAM and chipset, the device must support AI Core and Gemini Nano v3 or higher. Gemini Nano is Google's lightweight on-device AI model designed for efficient inference. Version 3 brings enhanced capabilities but also imposes stricter hardware compatibility. According to an Android Authority contributor AssembleDebug, Google maintains a developer page listing devices that currently support Nano v3. The list is dominated by phones released in 2026, such as the Pixel 10 series and the OPPO Find X9 series. This means devices from just one year earlier—like the Pixel 9 series and Galaxy Z Fold 7—lack the necessary support.

Which Phones Are Affected?

The implications are significant. The Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 8 Pro, and all Pixel 9 models will miss out on Gemini Intelligence despite being premium phones with flagship specs. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its upcoming TriFold are also excluded, as are the Galaxy S25 series and most other Android flagships from 2024 and early 2025. Even the powerful OnePlus 13 and Xiaomi 14 series may not qualify if they lack Gemini Nano v3 support. Google's own compatibility list suggests that only a handful of 2026 models will initially support the feature.

Why Google Set Such High Requirements

There are several reasons for Google's strict requirements. First, on-device AI processing requires substantial memory to load and run large language models without degrading system performance. Second, Gemini Nano v3 introduces new neural network operations that demand specific hardware accelerators, such as the Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) in Google's Tensor chips or equivalent NPUs in Qualcomm and MediaTek chipsets. Third, Google may be positioning Gemini Intelligence as a differentiator for its next-generation Pixel devices, encouraging upgrades. However, this strategy could fragment the Android ecosystem, leaving many users without access to core AI innovations.

Background on Google's AI Strategy

Google has been steadily expanding its on-device AI capabilities since the launch of the Pixel 6 with Tensor chip. Features like Magic Eraser, Live Translate, and Photo Unblur demonstrated the potential of on-device AI. With Gemini Nano introduced in the Pixel 8 Pro, Google began embedding a foundational AI model into the operating system itself, accessible to apps through the AI Core service. The new Gemini Intelligence represents the next evolution, but the steep hardware demands risk alienating a large portion of the Android user base. Apple, by contrast, has taken a more gradual approach with Apple Intelligence, initially supporting only high-end iPhone models but gradually expanding to older ones.

What This Means for Consumers

If you own a current or previous-generation flagship Android phone, you likely will not be able to use Gemini Intelligence features this summer. This includes the Samsung Galaxy S24, S25, and Z Fold/Flip series, as well as the Pixel 8 and 9 families. Only users of the Pixel 10 series (expected fall 2025) or premium 2026 devices from OPPO, Xiaomi, and possibly others will qualify. Google has not indicated whether it plans to backport Gemini Nano v3 support to older chipsets, which would be necessary for broader adoption. For now, the new AI features remain exclusive to the cutting edge of the Android ecosystem.

Technical Details of Gemini Nano v3

Gemini Nano v3 is a multimodal model that can process text, images, and audio. It runs entirely on-device, using the phone's NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for accelerated inference. The model's size requires at least 12GB of RAM because the operating system, apps, and other processes also consume memory. In addition, the AI Core service must be present in the firmware, which is why older devices with custom ROMs cannot simply add support. Google's developer page lists supported devices based on SoC support: currently, the Tensor G5 (found in Pixel 10), MediaTek Dimensity 9400, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 are confirmed to work. This means no device with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Gen 4, or Tensor G4 (Pixel 9) can run Gemini Intelligence.

Potential Workarounds and Updates

Some users have speculated that custom Android builds or bypass methods might enable Gemini Intelligence on unsupported hardware. However, given the deep integration with AI Core and the chip-level dependencies, such workarounds are unlikely. Google has also not announced plans to provide Gemini Nano v3 drivers for older SoCs. The company's focus appears to be on pushing forward with the most advanced hardware, similar to how certain camera features remain exclusive to the latest Pixel models. It is possible that Google will lower the requirements over time as AI models become more efficient, but there is no official timeline.

Impact on the Android Ecosystem

This move could widen the gap between premium and mid-range Android devices. While mid-range phones have improved dramatically in performance, they rarely come with more than 8GB of RAM, and their chipsets often lack the NPU horsepower needed for advanced AI. Google's requirements effectively make Gemini Intelligence a flagship-exclusive feature. This contrasts with the broader availability of AI features in iOS, where Apple Intelligence supports iPhone 15 Pro and later, and with Microsoft's Copilot+, which runs on a wider range of Windows PCs. Android manufacturers may need to accelerate their hardware specs to keep up, but this could increase costs for consumers.

The news has generated discussion among Android enthusiasts, with many pointing out that even the Pixel 9 Pro, which Google markets as an AI powerhouse, cannot run the company's most advanced AI features. This could lead to consumer frustration and skepticism about Google's software support promises. On the other hand, early adopters of the Pixel 10 series and other 2026 flagships will enjoy exclusive access to features like Rambler voice-to-text and enhanced auto-fill, which could significantly improve productivity and user experience.

Source: Android Authority News