Android 14 Compatibility Definition

1. Introduction

This document enumerates the requirements that must be met in order for devices to be compatible with Android 14.

The use of "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" is per the IETF standard defined in RFC2119.

As used in this document, a "device implementer" or "implementer" is a person or organization developing a hardware/software solution running Android 14. A "device implementation" or "implementation" is the hardware/software solution so developed.

To be considered compatible with Android 14, device implementations MUST meet the requirements presented in this Compatibility Definition, including any documents incorporated via reference.

Where this definition or the software tests described in section 10 is silent, ambiguous, or incomplete, it is the responsibility of the device implementer to ensure compatibility with existing implementations.

For this reason, the Android Open Source Project is both the reference and preferred implementation of Android. Device implementers are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to base their implementations to the greatest extent possible on the "upstream" source code available from the Android Open Source Project. While some components can hypothetically be replaced with alternate implementations, it is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to not follow this practice, as passing the software tests will become substantially more difficult. It is the implementer's responsibility to ensure full behavioral compatibility with the standard Android implementation, including and beyond the Compatibility Test Suite. Finally, note that certain component substitutions and modifications are explicitly forbidden by this document.

Many of the resources linked to in this document are derived directly or indirectly from the Android SDK and will be functionally identical to the information in that SDK's documentation. In any cases where this Compatibility Definition or the Compatibility Test Suite disagrees with the SDK documentation, the SDK documentation is considered authoritative. Any technical details provided in the linked resources throughout this document are considered by inclusion to be part of this Compatibility Definition.

1.1 Document Structure

1.1.1. Requirements by Device Type

Section 2 contains all of the requirements that apply to a specific device type. Each subsection of Section 2 is dedicated to a specific device type.

All the other requirements, that universally apply to any Android device implementations, are listed in the sections after Section 2. These requirements are referenced as "Core Requirements" in this document.

1.1.2. Requirement ID

Requirement ID is assigned for MUST requirements.

  • The ID is assigned for MUST requirements only.
  • STRONGLY RECOMMENDED requirements are marked as [SR] but ID is not assigned.
  • The ID consists of : Device Type ID - Condition ID - Requirement ID (e.g. C-0-1).

Each ID is defined as below:

  • Device Type ID (see more in 2. Device Types)
    • C: Core (Requirements that are applied to all Android device implementations)
    • H: Android Handheld device
    • T: Android Television device
    • A: Android Automotive implementation
    • W: Android Watch implementation
    • Tab: Android Tablet implementation
  • Condition ID
    • When the requirement is unconditional, this ID is set as 0.
    • When the requirement is conditional, 1 is assigned for the 1st condition and the number increments by 1 within the same section and the same device type.
  • Requirement ID
    • This ID starts from 1 and increments by 1 within the same section and the same condition.

1.1.3. Requirement ID in Section 2

The Requirement IDs in Section 2 have two parts. The first corresponds to a section ID as described above. The second part identifies the form factor and the form-factor specific requirement.

section ID that is followed by the Requirement ID described above.

  • The ID in Section 2 consists of : Section ID / Device Type ID - Condition ID - Requirement ID (e.g. 7.4.3/A-0-1).

2. Device Types

The Android Open Source Project provides a software stack that can be used for a variety of device types and form factors. To support security on devices, the software stack, including any replacement OS or an alternate kernel implementation, is expected to execute in a secure environment as described in section 9 and elsewhere within this CDD. There are a few device types that have a relatively better established application distribution ecosystem.

This section describes those device types, and additional requirements and recommendations applicable for each device type.

All Android device implementations that do not fit into any of the described device types MUST still meet all requirements in the other sections of this Compatibility Definition.

2.1 Device Configurations

For the major differences in hardware configuration by device type, see the device-specific requirements that follow in this section.

2.2. Handheld Requirements

An Android Handheld device refers to an Android device implementation that is typically used by holding it in the hand, such as an mp3 player, phone, or tablet.

Android device implementations are classified as a Handheld if they meet all the following criteria:

  • Have a power source that provides mobility, such as a battery.
  • Have a physical diagonal screen size in the range of 4 inches 3.3 inches (or 2.5 inches for device implementations which shipped on API level 29 or earlier) to 8 inches.
  • Have a touchscreen input interface.

The additional requirements in the rest of this section are specific to Android Handheld device implementations.

Note: Requirements that do not apply to Android Tablet devices are marked with an *.

2.2.1. Hardware

Handheld device implementations:

  • [7.1.1.1/H-0-1] MUST have at least one Android-compatible display that meets all requirements described on this document. display that measures at least 2.2” on the short edge and 3.4” on the long edge.

  • [7.1.1.3/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to provide users an affordance to change the display size (screen density).

  • [7.1.1.1/H-0-2] MUST support GPU composition of graphic buffers at least as large as the highest resolution of any built-in display.

Start new requirements

  • [7.1.1.1/H-0-3]* MUST map each UI_MODE_NORMAL display made available for third party applications onto an unobstructed physical display area that is at least 2.2” inches on the short edge and 3.4” inches on the long edge.

  • [7.1.1.3/H-0-1]* MUST set the value of DENSITY_DEVICE_STABLE to be 92% or greater than the actual, physical density of the corresponding display.

End new requirements

If Handheld device implementations support software screen rotation, they:

  • [7.1.1.1/H-1-1]* MUST make the logical screen that is made available for third party applications be at least 2 inches on the short edge(s) and 2.7 inches on the long edge(s). Devices that shipped on Android API level 29 or earlier MAY be exempted from this requirement.

If Handheld device implementations do not support software screen rotation, they:

  • [7.1.1.1/H-2-1]* MUST make the logical screen that is made available for third party applications be at least 2.7 inches on the short edge(s). Devices that shipped on Android API level 29 or earlier MAY be exempted from this requirement.

Start new requirements

If handheld device implementations include support for Vulkan, they:

End new requirements

If Handheld device implementations claim support for high dynamic range displays through Configuration.isScreenHdr() , they:

  • [7.1.4.5/H-1-1] MUST advertise support for the EGL_EXT_gl_colorspace_bt2020_pq, EGL_EXT_surface_SMPTE2086_metadata, EGL_EXT_surface_CTA861_3_metadata, VK_EXT_swapchain_colorspace, and VK_EXT_hdr_metadata extensions.

Handheld device implementations:

  • [7.1.4.6/H-0-1] MUST report whether the device supports the GPU profiling capability via a system property graphics.gpu.profiler.support.

If Handheld device implementations declare support via a system property graphics.gpu.profiler.support, they:

Handheld device implementations:

  • [7.1.5/H-0-1] MUST include support for legacy application compatibility mode as implemented by the upstream Android open source code. That is, device implementations MUST NOT alter the triggers or thresholds at which compatibility mode is activated, and MUST NOT alter the behavior of the compatibility mode itself.
  • [7.2.1/H-0-1] MUST include support for third-party Input Method Editor (IME) applications.
  • [7.2.3/H-0-2] MUST send both the normal and long press event of the Back function (KEYCODE_BACK) to the foreground application. These events MUST NOT be consumed by the system and CAN be triggered by outside of the Android device (e.g. external hardware keyboard connected to the Android device).
  • [7.2.3/H-0-3] MUST provide the Home function on all the Android-compatible displays that provide the home screen.
  • [7.2.3/H-0-4] MUST provide the Back function on all the Android-compatible displays and the Recents function on at least one of the Android-compatible displays.
  • [7.2.4/H-0-1] MUST support touchscreen input.
  • [7.2.4/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to launch the user-selected assist app, in other words the app that implements VoiceInteractionService, or an activity handling the ACTION_ASSIST on long-press of KEYCODE_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE or KEYCODE_HEADSETHOOK if the foreground activity does not handle those long-press events.
  • [7.3.1/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to include a 3-axis accelerometer.

If Handheld device implementations include a 3-axis accelerometer, they:

  • [7.3.1/H-1-1] MUST be able to report events up to a frequency of at least 100 Hz.

If Handheld device implementations include a GPS/GNSS receiver and report the capability to applications through the android.hardware.location.gps feature flag, they:

  • [7.3.3/H-2-1] MUST report GNSS measurements, as soon as they are found, even if a location calculated from GPS/GNSS is not yet reported.
  • [7.3.3/H-2-2] MUST report GNSS pseudoranges and pseudorange rates, that, in open-sky conditions after determining the location, while stationary or moving with less than 0.2 meter per second squared of acceleration, are sufficient to calculate position within 20 meters, and speed within 0.2 meters per second, at least 95% of the time.

If Handheld device implementations include a 3-axis gyroscope, they:

  • [7.3.4/H-3-1] MUST be able to report events up to a frequency of at least 100 Hz.
  • [7.3.4/H-3-2] MUST be capable of measuring orientation changes up to 1000 degrees per second.

Handheld device implementations that can make a voice call and indicate any value other than PHONE_TYPE_NONE in getPhoneType:

  • [7.3.8/H] SHOULD include a proximity sensor.

Handheld device implementations:

  • [7.3.11/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to support pose sensor with 6 degrees of freedom.
  • [7.4.3/H] SHOULD include support for Bluetooth and Bluetooth LE.

If devices support WiFi Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) protocol by declaring PackageManager.FEATURE_WIFI_AWARE and Wi-Fi Location (Wi-Fi Round Trip Time — RTT) by declaring PackageManager.FEATURE_WIFI_RTT, then they:

  • [7.4.2.5/H-1-1] MUST report the range accurately to within +/-1 meter at 160 MHz bandwidth at the 68th percentile (as calculated with the Cumulative Distribution Function), +/-2 meters at 80 MHz bandwidth at the 68th percentile, +/-4 meters at 40 MHz bandwidth at the 68th percentile, and +/-8 meters at 20 MHz bandwidth at the 68th percentile at distances of 10 cm, 1 m, 3 m, and 5 m, as observed via the WifiRttManager#startRanging Android API.

  • [7.4.2.5/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to report the range accurately to within +/-1 meter at 160 MHz bandwidth at the 90th percentile (as calculated with the Cumulative Distribution Function), +/-2 meters at 80 MHz bandwidth at the 90th percentile, +/-4 meters at 40 MHz bandwidth at the 90th percentile, and +/-8 meters at 20 MHz bandwidth at the 90th percentile at distances of 10 cm, as observed via the WifiRttManager#startRanging Android API.

It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to follow the measurement setup steps specified in Presence Calibration.

Start new requirements

If Handheld device implementations declare FEATURE_BLUETOOTH_LE, they:

  • [7.4.3/H-1-3] MUST measure and compensate for Rx offset to ensure the median BLE RSSI is -50dBm +/-15 dB at 1m distance from a reference device transmitting at ADVERTISE_TX_POWER_HIGH.
  • [7.4.3/H-1-4] MUST measure and compensate for Tx offset to ensure the median BLE RSSI is -50dBm +/-15 dB when scanning from a reference device positioned at 1m distance and transmitting at ADVERTISE_TX_POWER_HIGH.

End new requirements

If Handheld device implementations include a logical camera device that lists capabilities using CameraMetadata.REQUEST_AVAILABLE_CAPABILITIES_LOGICAL_MULTI_CAMERA, they:

  • [7.5.4/H-1-1] MUST have normal field of view (FOV) by default and it MUST be between 50 and degrees.

Handheld device implementations:

  • [7.6.1/H-0-1] MUST have at least 4 GB of non-volatile storage available for application private data (a.k.a. "/data" partition).
  • [7.6.1/H-0-2] MUST return “true” for ActivityManager.isLowRamDevice() when there is less than 1GB of memory available to the kernel and userspace.

If Handheld device implementations declare support of only a 32-bit ABI:

  • [7.6.1/H-1-1] The memory available to the kernel and userspace MUST be at least 416MB if the default display uses framebuffer resolutions up to qHD (e.g. FWVGA).

  • [7.6.1/H-2-1] The memory available to the kernel and userspace MUST be at least 592MB if the default display uses framebuffer resolutions up to HD+ (e.g. HD, WSVGA).

  • [7.6.1/H-3-1] The memory available to the kernel and userspace MUST be at least 896MB if the default display uses framebuffer resolutions up to FHD (e.g. WSXGA+).

  • [7.6.1/H-4-1] The memory available to the kernel and userspace MUST be at least 1344MB if the default display uses framebuffer resolutions up to QHD (e.g. QWXGA).

If Handheld device implementations declare support of any 64-bit ABI (with or without any 32-bit ABI):

  • [7.6.1/H-5-1] The memory available to the kernel and userspace MUST be at least 816MB if the default display uses framebuffer resolutions up to qHD (e.g. FWVGA).

  • [7.6.1/H-6-1] The memory available to the kernel and userspace MUST be at least 944MB if the default display uses framebuffer resolutions up to HD+ (e.g. HD, WSVGA).

  • [7.6.1/H-7-1] The memory available to the kernel and userspace MUST be at least 1280MB if the default display uses framebuffer resolutions up to FHD (e.g. WSXGA+).

  • [7.6.1/H-8-1] The memory available to the kernel and userspace MUST be at least 1824MB if the default display uses framebuffer resolutions up to QHD (e.g. QWXGA).

Note that the "memory available to the kernel and userspace" above refers to the memory space provided in addition to any memory already dedicated to hardware components such as radio, video, and so on that are not under the kernel’s control on device implementations.

If Handheld device implementations include less than or equal to 1GB of memory available to the kernel and userspace, they:

  • [7.6.1/H-9-1] MUST declare the feature flag android.hardware.ram.low.
  • [7.6.1/H-9-2] MUST have at least 1.1 GB of non-volatile storage for application private data (a.k.a. "/data" partition).

If Handheld device implementations include more than 1GB of memory available to the kernel and userspace, they:

  • [7.6.1/H-10-1] MUST have at least 4GB of non-volatile storage available for application private data (a.k.a. "/data" partition).
  • SHOULD declare the feature flag android.hardware.ram.normal.

If Handheld device implementations include greater than or equal to 2GB and less than 4GB of memory available to the kernel and userspace, they:

  • [7.6.1/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to support only 32-bit userspace (both apps and system code)

If Handheld device implementations include less than 2GB of memory available to the kernel and userspace, they:

  • [7.6.1/H-1-1] MUST only support a single ABI (either 64-bit only or 32-bit only).

Handheld device implementations:

  • [7.6.2/H-0-1] MUST NOT provide an application shared storage smaller than 1 GiB.
  • [7.7.1/H] SHOULD include a USB port supporting peripheral mode.

If handheld device implementations include a USB port supporting peripheral mode, they:

  • [7.7.1/H-1-1] MUST implement the Android Open Accessory (AOA) API.

If Handheld device implementations include a USB port supporting host mode, they:

  • [7.7.2/H-1-1] MUST implement the USB audio class as documented in the Android SDK documentation.

Handheld device implementations:

  • [7.8.1/H-0-1] MUST include a microphone.
  • [7.8.2/H-0-1] MUST have an audio output and declare android.hardware.audio.output.

If Handheld device implementations are capable of meeting all the performance requirements for supporting VR mode and include support for it, they:

  • [7.9.1/H-1-1] MUST declare the android.hardware.vr.high_performance feature flag.
  • [7.9.1/H-1-2] MUST include an application implementing android.service.vr.VrListenerService that can be enabled by VR applications via android.app.Activity#setVrModeEnabled.

If Handheld device implementations include one or more USB-C port(s) in host mode and implement (USB audio class), in addition to requirements in section 7.7.2, they:

  • [7.8.2.2/H-1-1] MUST provide the following software mapping of HID codes:
Function Mappings Context Behavior
A HID usage page: 0x0C
HID usage: 0x0CD
Kernel key: KEY_PLAYPAUSE
Android key: KEYCODE_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE		 Media playback Input: Short press
Output: Play or pause
Input: Long press
Output: Launch voice command
Sends: android.speech.action.VOICE_SEARCH_HANDS_FREE if the device is locked or its screen is off. Sends android.speech.RecognizerIntent.ACTION_WEB_SEARCH otherwise
Incoming call Input: Short press
Output: Accept call
Input: Long press
Output: Reject call
Ongoing call Input: Short press
Output: End call
Input: Long press
Output: Mute or unmute microphone
B HID usage page: 0x0C
HID usage: 0x0E9
Kernel key: KEY_VOLUMEUP
Android key: VOLUME_UP		 Media playback, Ongoing call Input: Short or long press
Output: Increases the system or headset volume
C HID usage page: 0x0C
HID usage: 0x0EA
Kernel key: KEY_VOLUMEDOWN
Android key: VOLUME_DOWN		 Media playback, Ongoing call Input: Short or long press
Output: Decreases the system or headset volume
D HID usage page: 0x0C
HID usage: 0x0CF
Kernel key: KEY_VOICECOMMAND
Android key: KEYCODE_VOICE_ASSIST		 All. Can be triggered in any instance. Input: Short or long press
Output: Launch voice command
  • [7.8.2.2/H-1-2] MUST trigger ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG upon a plug insert, but only after the USB audio interfaces and endpoints have been properly enumerated in order to identify the type of terminal connected.

When the USB audio terminal types 0x0302 is detected, they:

  • [7.8.2.2/H-2-1] MUST broadcast Intent ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG with "microphone" extra set to 0.

When the USB audio terminal types 0x0402 is detected, they:

  • [7.8.2.2/H-3-1] MUST broadcast Intent ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG with "microphone" extra set to 1.

When API AudioManager.getDevices() is called while the USB peripheral is connected they:

  • [7.8.2.2/H-4-1] MUST list a device of type AudioDeviceInfo.TYPE_USB_HEADSET and role isSink() if the USB audio terminal type field is 0x0302.

  • [7.8.2.2/H-4-2] MUST list a device of type AudioDeviceInfo.TYPE_USB_HEADSET and role isSink() if the USB audio terminal type field is 0x0402.

  • [7.8.2.2/H-4-3] MUST list a device of type AudioDeviceInfo.TYPE_USB_HEADSET and role isSource() if the USB audio terminal type field is 0x0402.

  • [7.8.2.2/H-4-4] MUST list a device of type AudioDeviceInfo.TYPE_USB_DEVICE and role isSink() if the USB audio terminal type field is 0x603.

  • [7.8.2.2/H-4-5] MUST list a device of type AudioDeviceInfo.TYPE_USB_DEVICE and role isSource() if the USB audio terminal type field is 0x604.

  • [7.8.2.2/H-4-6] MUST list a device of type AudioDeviceInfo.TYPE_USB_DEVICE and role isSink() if the USB audio terminal type field is 0x400.

  • [7.8.2.2/H-4-7] MUST list a device of type AudioDeviceInfo.TYPE_USB_DEVICE and role isSource() if the USB audio terminal type field is 0x400.

  • [7.8.2.2/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED upon connection of a USB-C audio peripheral, to perform enumeration of USB descriptors, identify terminal types and broadcast Intent ACTION_HEADSET_PLUG in less than 1000 milliseconds.

If Handheld device implementations declare android.hardware.audio.output and android.hardware.microphone, they:

  • [5.6/H-1-1] MUST have a Mean Continuous Round-Trip latency of 300 milliseconds or less over 5 measurements, with a Mean Absolute Deviation less than 30ms, over the following data paths: "speaker to microphone", 3.5 mm loopback adapter (if supported), USB loopback (if supported).

  • [5.6/H-1-2] MUST have an average Tap-to-tone latency of 300 milliseconds or less over at least 5 measurements over the speaker to microphone data path.

If Handheld device implementations include at least one haptic actuator, they:

A linear resonant actuator (LRA) is a single-mass spring system which has a dominant resonant frequency where the mass translates in the direction of desired motion.

If Handheld device implementations include at least one general purpose 7.10 linear resonant actuator, they:

Start new requirements

  • [7.10/H] SHOULD position the placement of the actuator near the location where the device is typically held or touched by hands.

End new requirements

  • [7.10/H] SHOULD move the haptic actuator in the X-axis (left-right) of the device’s natural portrait orientation.

If Handheld device implementations have a general purpose haptic actuator which is X-axis linear resonant actuator (LRA), they:

  • [7.10/H] SHOULD have the resonant frequency of the X-axis LRA be under 200 Hz.

If handheld device implementations follow haptic constants mapping, they:

2.2.2. Multimedia

Handheld device implementations MUST support the following audio encoding and decoding formats and make them available to third-party applications:

  • [5.1/H-0-1] AMR-NB
  • [5.1/H-0-2] AMR-WB
  • [5.1/H-0-3] MPEG-4 AAC Profile (AAC LC)
  • [5.1/H-0-4] MPEG-4 HE AAC Profile (AAC+)
  • [5.1/H-0-5] AAC ELD (enhanced low delay AAC)

Handheld device implementations MUST support the following video encoding formats and make them available to third-party applications:

  • [5.2/H-0-1] H.264 AVC
  • [5.2/H-0-2] VP8

Start new requirements

  • [5.2/H-0-3] AV1

End new requirements

Handheld device implementations MUST support the following video decoding formats and make them available to third-party applications:

  • [5.3/H-0-1] H.264 AVC
  • [5.3/H-0-2] H.265 HEVC
  • [5.3/H-0-3] MPEG-4 SP
  • [5.3/H-0-4] VP8
  • [5.3/H-0-5] VP9

Start new requirements

  • [5.3/H-0-6] AV1

End new requirements

2.2.3. Software

Handheld device implementations:

  • [3.2.3.1/H-0-1] MUST have an application that handles the ACTION_GET_CONTENT, ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT, ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT_TREE, and ACTION_CREATE_DOCUMENT intents as described in the SDK documents, and provide the user affordance to access the document provider data by using DocumentsProvider API.
  • [3.2.3.1/H-0-2]* MUST preload one or more applications or service components with an intent handler, for all the public intent filter patterns defined by the following application intents listed here.
  • [3.2.3.1/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to preload an email application which can handle ACTION_SENDTO or ACTION_SEND or ACTION_SEND_MULTIPLE intents to send an email.
  • [3.4.1/H-0-1] MUST provide a complete implementation of the android.webkit.Webview API.
  • [3.4.2/H-0-1] MUST include a standalone Browser application for general user web browsing.
  • [3.8.1/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to implement a default launcher that supports in-app pinning of shortcuts, widgets and widgetFeatures.
  • [3.8.1/H-SR-2] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to implement a default launcher that provides quick access to the additional shortcuts provided by third-party apps through the ShortcutManager API.
  • [3.8.1/H-SR-3] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to include a default launcher app that shows badges for the app icons.
  • [3.8.2/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to support third-party app widgets.
  • [3.8.3/H-0-1] MUST allow third-party apps to notify users of notable events through the Notification and NotificationManager API classes.
  • [3.8.3/H-0-2] MUST support rich notifications.
  • [3.8.3/H-0-3] MUST support heads-up notifications.
  • [3.8.3/H-0-4] MUST include a notification shade, providing the user the ability to directly control (e.g. reply, snooze, dismiss, block) the notifications through user affordance such as action buttons or the control panel as implemented in the AOSP.
  • [3.8.3/H-0-5] MUST display the choices provided through RemoteInput.Builder setChoices() in the notification shade.
  • [3.8.3/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to display the first choice provided through RemoteInput.Builder setChoices() in the notification shade without additional user interaction.
  • [3.8.3/H-SR-2] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to display all the choices provided through RemoteInput.Builder setChoices() in the notification shade when the user expands all notifications in the notification shade.
  • [3.8.3.1/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to display actions for which Notification.Action.Builder.setContextual is set as true in-line with the replies displayed by Notification.Remoteinput.Builder.setChoices.
  • [3.8.4/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to implement an assistant on the device to handle the Assist action.

If Handheld device implementations support MediaStyle notifications they:

  • [3.8.3.1/H-SR-2] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to provide a user affordance (for example, output switcher) accessed from system UI that allows users to switch among appropriate available media routes (for example, Bluetooth devices and routes provided to MediaRouter2Manager) when an app posts a MediaStyle notification with a MediaSession token.

Start new requirements

If device implementations including the recents function navigation key as detailed in section 7.2.3 alter the interface, they:

  • [3.8.3/H-1-1] MUST implement the screen pinning behavior and provide the user with a settings menu to toggle the feature.

End new requirements

If Handheld device implementations support Assist action, they:

  • [3.8.4/H-SR-2] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to use long press on HOME key as the designated interaction to launch the assist app as described in section 7.2.3. MUST launch the user-selected assist app, in other words the app that implements VoiceInteractionService , or an activity handling the ACTION_ASSIST intent.

If Handheld device implementations support conversation notifications and group them into a separate section from alerting and silent non-conversation notifications, they:

  • [3.8.4/H-1-1]* MUST display conversation notifications ahead of non conversation notifications with the exception of ongoing foreground service notifications and importance:high notifications.

If Android Handheld device implementations support a lock screen, they:

  • [3.8.10/H-1-1] MUST display the Lock screen Notifications including the Media Notification Template.

If Handheld device implementations support a secure lock screen, they:

If Handheld device implementations include support for ControlsProviderService and Control APIs and allow third-party applications to publish device controls, then they:

  • [3.8.16/H-1-1] MUST declare the feature flag android.software.controls and set it to true.
  • [3.8.16/H-1-2] MUST provide a user affordance with the ability to add, edit, select, and operate the user’s favorite device controls from the controls registered by the third-party applications through the ControlsProviderService and the Control APIs.
  • [3.8.16/H-1-3] MUST provide access to this user affordance within three interactions from a default Launcher.

  • [3.8.16/H-1-4] MUST accurately render in this user affordance the name and icon of each third-party app that provides controls via the ControlsProviderService API as well as any specified fields provided by the Control APIs.

  • [3.8.16/H-1-5] MUST provide a user affordance to opt out of app designated auth-trivial device controls from the controls registered by the third-party applications through the ControlsProviderService and the Control Control.isAuthRequired API.

Start new requirements

End new requirements

Conversely, If Handheld device implementations do not implement such controls, they:

If handheld device implementations are not running in lock task mode, when content is copied to the clipboard they:

  • [3.8.17/H-1-1] MUST present a confirmation to the user that data has been copied to the clipboard (e.g., a thumbnail or alert of “Content copied.”). Additionally, include here an indication if clipboard data will be synced across devices.

Handheld device implementations:

  • [3.10/H-0-1] MUST support third-party accessibility services.
  • [3.10/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to preload accessibility services on the device comparable with or exceeding functionality of the Switch Access and TalkBack (for languages supported by the preinstalled Text-to-speech engine) accessibility services as provided in the talkback open source project.
  • [3.11/H-0-1] MUST support installation of third-party TTS engines.
  • [3.11/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to include a TTS engine supporting the languages available on the device.
  • [3.13/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to include a Quick Settings UI component.

If Android handheld device implementations declare FEATURE_BLUETOOTH or FEATURE_WIFI support, they:

  • [3.16/H-1-1] MUST support the companion device pairing feature.

If the navigation function is provided as an on-screen, gesture-based action:

  • [7.2.3/H] The gesture recognition zone for the Home function SHOULD be no higher than 32 dp in height from the bottom of the screen.

If Handheld device implementations provide a navigation function as a gesture from anywhere on the left and right edges of the screen:

  • [7.2.3/H-0-1] The navigation function's gesture area MUST be less than 40 dp in width on each side. The gesture area SHOULD be 24 dp in width by default.

If Handheld device implementations support a secure lock screen and have greater than or equal to 2GB of memory available to the kernel and userspace, they:

  • [3.9/H-1-2] MUST declare the support of managed profiles via the android.software.managed_users feature flag.

If Android handheld device implementations declare the support for camera via android.hardware.camera.any they:

If device implementation's settings application implements a split functionality, using activity embedding, then they:

Start new requirements

If device implementations allow users to place calls of any sort, they

End new requirements

2.2.4. Performance and Power

  • [8.1/H-0-1] Consistent frame latency. Inconsistent frame latency or a delay to render frames MUST NOT happen more often than 5 frames in a second, and SHOULD be below 1 frames in a second.
  • [8.1/H-0-2] User interface latency. Device implementations MUST ensure low latency user experience by scrolling a list of 10K list entries as defined by the Android Compatibility Test Suite (CTS) in less than 36 secs.
  • [8.1/H-0-3] Task switching. When multiple applications have been launched, re-launching an already-running application after it has been launched MUST take less than 1 second.

Handheld device implementations:

  • [8.2/H-0-1] MUST ensure a sequential write performance of at least 5 MB/s.
  • [8.2/H-0-2] MUST ensure a random write performance of at least 0.5 MB/s.
  • [8.2/H-0-3] MUST ensure a sequential read performance of at least 15 MB/s.
  • [8.2/H-0-4] MUST ensure a random read performance of at least 3.5 MB/s.

If Handheld device implementations include features to improve device power management that are included in AOSP or extend the features that are included in AOSP, they:

  • [8.3/H-1-1] MUST provide user affordance to enable and disable the battery saver feature.
  • [8.3/H-1-2] MUST provide user affordance to display all apps that are exempted from App Standby and Doze power-saving modes.

Handheld device implementations:

  • [8.4/H-0-1] MUST provide a per-component power profile that defines the current consumption value for each hardware component and the approximate battery drain caused by the components over time as documented in the Android Open Source Project site.
  • [8.4/H-0-2] MUST report all power consumption values in milliampere hours (mAh).
  • [8.4/H-0-3] MUST report CPU power consumption per each process's UID. The Android Open Source Project meets the requirement through the uid_cputime kernel module implementation.
  • [8.4/H-0-4] MUST make this power usage available via the adb shell dumpsys batterystats shell command to the app developer.
  • [8.4/H] SHOULD be attributed to the hardware component itself if unable to attribute hardware component power usage to an application.

If Handheld device implementations include a screen or video output, they:

Handheld device implementations:

  • [8.5/H-0-1] MUST provide a user affordance in the Settings menu to see all apps with either active foreground services or user-initiated jobs, including the duration of each of these services since it started as described in the SDK document. and the ability to stop an app that is running a foreground service or a user-initiated job.with the ability to stop an app that is running a foreground service and display all apps that have active foreground services and the duration of each of these services since it started as described in the SDK document.
    • Some apps MAY be exempted from being stopped or being listed in such a user affordance as described in the SDK document.

Start new requirements

  • [8.5/H-0-2]MUST provide a user affordance to stop an app that is running a foreground service or a user-initiated job.

End new requirements

2.2.5. Security Model

Handheld device implementations:

  • [9/H-0-1] MUST declare the android.hardware.security.model.compatible feature.
  • [9.1/H-0-1] MUST allow third-party apps to access the usage statistics via the android.permission.PACKAGE_USAGE_STATS permission and provide a user-accessible mechanism to grant or revoke access to such apps in response to the android.settings.ACTION_USAGE_ACCESS_SETTINGS intent.

Start new requirements

If device implementations declare support for android.hardware.telephony, they:

  • [9.5/H-1-1] MUST NOT set UserManager.isHeadlessSystemUserMode to true.

End new requirements

Handheld device implementations:

  • [9.11/H-0-2] MUST back up the keystore implementation with an isolated execution environment.
  • [9.11/H-0-3] MUST have implementations of RSA, AES, ECDSA, and HMAC cryptographic algorithms and MD5, SHA1, and SHA-2 family hash functions to properly support the Android Keystore system's supported algorithms in an area that is securely isolated from the code running on the kernel and above. Secure isolation MUST block all potential mechanisms by which kernel or userspace code might access the internal state of the isolated environment, including DMA. The upstream Android Open Source Project (AOSP) meets this requirement by using the Trusty implementation, but another ARM TrustZone-based solution or a third-party reviewed secure implementation of a proper hypervisor-based isolation are alternative options.
  • [9.11/H-0-4] MUST perform the lock screen authentication in the isolated execution environment and only when successful, allow the authentication-bound keys to be used. Lock screen credentials MUST be stored in a way that allows only the isolated execution environment to perform lock screen authentication. The upstream Android Open Source Project provides the Gatekeeper Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) and Trusty, which can be used to satisfy this requirement.
  • [9.11/H-0-5] MUST support key attestation where the attestation signing key is protected by secure hardware and signing is performed in secure hardware. The attestation signing keys MUST be shared across large enough number of devices to prevent the keys from being used as device identifiers. One way of meeting this requirement is to share the same attestation key unless at least 100,000 units of a given SKU are produced. If more than 100,000 units of an SKU are produced, a different key MAY be used for each 100,000 units.

Note that if a device implementation is already launched on an earlier Android version, such a device is exempted from the requirement to have a keystore backed by an isolated execution environment and support the key attestation, unless it declares the android.hardware.fingerprint feature which requires a keystore backed by an isolated execution environment.

When Handheld device implementations support a secure lock screen, they:

  • [9.11/H-1-1] MUST allow the user to choose the shortest sleep timeout, that is a transition time from the unlocked to the locked state, as 15 seconds or less.
  • [9.11/H-1-2] MUST provide user affordance to hide notifications and disable all forms of authentication except for the primary authentication described in 9.11.1 Secure Lock Screen. The AOSP meets the requirement as lockdown mode.

Start new requirements

If device implementations have a secure lock screen and include one or more trust agent, which implements the TrustAgentService System API, they:

  • [9.11.1/H-1-1] MUST challenge the user for one of the recommended primary authentication methods (eg: PIN, pattern, password) more frequently than once every 72 hours.

End new requirements

If Handheld device implementations include multiple users and do not declare the android.hardware.telephony feature flag, they:

  • [9.5/H-2-1] MUST support restricted profiles, a feature that allows device owners to manage additional users and their capabilities on the device. With restricted profiles, device owners can quickly set up separate environments for additional users to work in, with the ability to manage finer-grained restrictions in the apps that are available in those environments.

If Handheld device implementations include multiple users and declare the android.hardware.telephony feature flag, they:

  • [9.5/H-3-1] MUST NOT support restricted profiles but MUST align with the AOSP implementation of controls to enable /disable other users from accessing the voice calls and SMS.

Start new requirements

If Handheld device implementations set UserManager.isHeadlessSystemUserMode to true, they

  • [9.5/H-4-1] MUST NOT include support for eUICCs, nor for eSIMs with calling capability.
  • [9.5/H-4-2] MUST NOT declare support for android.hardware.telephony.

End new requirements

Android, through the System API VoiceInteractionService supports a mechanism for secure always-on hotword detection without mic access indication and always-on query detection, without mic or camera access indication.

If Handheld device implementations support the System API HotwordDetectionService or another mechanism for hotword detection without mic access indication, they:

  • [9.8/H-1-1] MUST make sure the hotword detection service can only transmit data to the System, ContentCaptureService, or on-device speech recognition service created by SpeechRecognizer#createOnDeviceSpeechRecognizer().
  • [9.8/H-1-2] MUST make sure the hotword detection service can only transmit mic audio data or data derived from it to the system server through HotwordDetectionService API, or to ContentCaptureService through ContentCaptureManager API.
  • [9.8/H-1-3] MUST NOT supply mic audio that is longer than 30 seconds for an individual hardware-triggered request to the hotword detection service.
  • [9.8/H-1-4] MUST NOT supply buffered mic audio older than 8 seconds for an individual request to the hotword detection service.
  • [9.8/H-1-5] MUST NOT supply buffered mic audio older than 30 seconds to the voice interaction service or similar entity.
  • [9.8/H-1-6] MUST NOT allow more than 100 bytes of data to be transmitted out of the hotword detection service on each successful hotword result except for audio data passed through HotwordAudioStream.
  • [9.8/H-1-7] MUST NOT allow more than 5 bits of data to be transmitted out of the hotword detection service on each negative hotword result.
  • [9.8/H-1-8] MUST only allow transmission of data out of the hotword detection service on a hotword validation request from the system server.
  • [9.8/H-1-9] MUST NOT allow a user-installable application to provide the hotword detection service.
  • [9.8/H-1-10] MUST NOT surface in the UI quantitative data about mic usage by the hotword detection service.
  • [9.8/H-1-11] MUST log the number of bytes included in every transmission from the hotword detection service to allow inspectability for security researchers.
  • [9.8/H-1-12] MUST support a debug mode that logs raw contents of every transmission from the hotword detection service to allow inspectability for security researchers.
  • [9.8/H-1-14] MUST display the microphone indicator, as described in section 9.8.2, when a successful hotword result is transmitted to the voice interaction service or similar entity.

Start new requirements

  • [9.8/H-1-15] MUST ensure that audio streams provided on successful hotword results are transmitted one-way from the hotword detection service to the voice interaction service.

End new requirements

  • [9.8/H-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to notify users before setting an application as the provider of the hotword detection service.
  • [9.8/H-SR-2] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to disallow the transmission of unstructured data out of the hotword detection service.
  • [9.8/H-SR-3] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to restart the process hosting the hotword detection service at least once every hour or every 30 hardware-trigger events, whichever comes first.

If device implementations include an application that uses the System API HotwordDetectionService, or similar mechanism for hotword detection without mic usage indication, the application:

  • [9.8/H-2-1] MUST provide explicit notice to the user for each hotword phrase supported.
  • [9.8/H-2-2] MUST NOT preserve raw audio data, or data derived from it, through the hotword detection service.
  • [9.8/H-2-3] MUST NOT transmit from the hotword detection service, audio data, data that can be used to reconstruct (wholly or partially) the audio, or audio contents unrelated to the hotword itself, except to the ContentCaptureService or on-device speech recognition service.

Start new requirements

If Handheld device implementations support the System API VisualQueryDetectionService or another mechanism for query detection without mic and/or camera access indication, they:

  • [9.8/H-3-1] MUST make sure the query detection service can only transmit data to the System, or ContentCaptureService, or on-device speech recognition service (created by SpeechRecognizer#createOnDeviceSpeechRecognizer()).
  • [9.8/H-3-2] MUST NOT allow any audio or video information to be transmitted out of the VisualQueryDetectionService, except to ContentCaptureService or on-device speech recognition service.
  • [9.8/H-3-3] MUST display a user notice in System UI when device detects user intent to engage with the Digital Assistant Application (e.g by detecting user presence via camera).
  • [9.8/H-3-4] MUST display a microphone indicator and display the detected user query in the UI right after the user query is detected.
  • [9.8/H-3-5] MUST NOT allow a user-installable application to provide the visual query detection service.

End new requirements

If Handheld device implementations declare android.hardware.microphone, they:

  • [9.8.2/H-4-1] MUST display the microphone indicator when an app is accessing audio data from the microphone, but not when the microphone is only accessed by HotwordDetectionService, SOURCE_HOTWORD,ContentCaptureService or apps holding the roles called out in section 9.1 with CDD identifier [C-4-X].
  • [9.8.2/H-4-2] MUST display the list of Recent and Active apps using microphone as returned from PermissionManager.getIndicatorAppOpUsageData(), along with any attribution messages associated with them.

If Handheld device implementations declare android.hardware.camera.any, they:

  • [9.8.2/H-5-1] MUST display the camera indicator when an app is accessing live camera data, but not when the camera is only being accessed by app(s) holding the roles called out in section 9.1 with CDD identifier [C-4-X].
  • [9.8.2/H-5-2] MUST display Recent and Active apps using camera as returned from PermissionManager.getIndicatorAppOpUsageData(), along with any attribution messages associated with them.

2.2.6. Developer Tools and Options Compatibility

Handheld device implementations (* Not applicable for Tablet):

  • [6.1/H-0-1]* MUST support the shell command cmd testharness.

Handheld device implementations (* Not applicable for Tablet):

  • Perfetto
    • [6.1/H-0-2]* MUST expose a /system/bin/perfetto binary to the shell user which cmdline complies with the perfetto documentation.
    • [6.1/H-0-3]* The perfetto binary MUST accept as input a protobuf config that complies with the schema defined in the perfetto documentation.
    • [6.1/H-0-4]* The perfetto binary MUST write as output a protobuf trace that complies with the schema defined in the perfetto documentation.
    • [6.1/H-0-5]* MUST provide, through the perfetto binary, at least the data sources described in the perfetto documentation.
    • [6.1/H-0-6]* The perfetto traced daemon MUST be enabled by default (system property persist.traced.enable).

2.2.7. Handheld Media Performance Class

See Section 7.11 for the definition of media performance class.

2.2.7.1. Media

If Handheld device implementations return android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.T for android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.MEDIA_PERFORMANCE_CLASS, then they:

Start new requirements

If Handheld device implementations return android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.U for android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.MEDIA_PERFORMANCE_CLASS, then they:

  • [5.1/H-1-1] MUST advertise the maximum number of hardware video decoder sessions that can be run concurrently in any codec combination via the CodecCapabilities.getMaxSupportedInstances() and VideoCapabilities.getSupportedPerformancePoints() methods.
  • [5.1/H-1-2] MUST support 6 instances of 8-bit (SDR) hardware video decoder sessions (AVC, HEVC, VP9, AV1, or later) in any codec combination running concurrently with 3 sessions at 1080p resolution@30 fps and 3 sessions at 4K resolution@30fps. AV1 codecs are only required to support 1080p resolution, but are still required to support 6 instances at 1080p30fps.
  • [5.1/H-1-3] MUST advertise the maximum number of hardware video encoder sessions that can be run concurrently in any codec combination via the CodecCapabilities.getMaxSupportedInstances() and VideoCapabilities.getSupportedPerformancePoints() methods.
  • [5.1/H-1-4] MUST support 6 instances of 8-bit (SDR) hardware video encoder sessions (AVC, HEVC, VP9, AV1, or later) in any codec combination running concurrently with 4 sessions at 1080p resolution@30 fps and 2 sessions at 4K resolution@30fps. AV1 codecs are only required to support 1080p resolution, but are still required to support 6 instances at 1080p30fps.
  • [5.1/H-1-5] MUST advertise the maximum number of hardware video encoder and decoder sessions that can be run concurrently in any codec combination via the CodecCapabilities.getMaxSupportedInstances() and VideoCapabilities.getSupportedPerformancePoints() methods.
  • [5.1/H-1-6] MUST support 6 instances of 8-bit (SDR) hardware video decoder and hardware video encoder sessions (AVC, HEVC, VP9, AV1, or later) in any codec combination running concurrently with 3 sessions at 4K@30fps resolution, out of which at most 2 are encoder sessions and 3 sessions at 1080p resolution. AV1 codecs are only required to support 1080p resolution, but are still required to support 6 instances at 1080p30fps.
  • [5.1/H-1-19] MUST support 3 instances of 10-bit (HDR) hardware video decoder and hardware video encoder sessions (AVC, HEVC, VP9, AV1, or later) in any codec combination running concurrently at 4K@30fps resolution out of which at most 1 is an encoder session, which could be configured in RGBA_1010102 input format through a GL surface. HDR metadata generation by the encoder is not required if encoding from the GL surface. AV1 codec sessions are only required to support 1080p resolution even when this requirement calls for 4K.
  • [5.1/H-1-7] MUST have a codec initialization latency of 40 ms or less for a 1080p or smaller video encoding session for all hardware video encoders when under load. Load here is defined as a concurrent 1080p to 720p video-only transcoding session using hardware video codecs together with the 1080p audio-video recording initialization. For Dolby vision codec, the codec initialization latency MUST be 50 ms or less.
  • [5.1/H-1-8] MUST have a codec initialization latency of 30 ms or less for a 128 kbps or lower bitrate audio encoding session for all audio encoders when under load. Load here is defined as a concurrent 1080p to 720p video-only transcoding session using hardware video codecs together with the 1080p audio-video recording initialization.
  • [5.1/H-1-9] MUST support 2 instances of secure hardware video decoder sessions (AVC, HEVC, VP9, AV1, or later) in any codec combination running concurrently at 1080p resolution@30 fps for both 8-bit (SDR) and 10-bit HDR content.
  • [5.1/H-1-10] MUST support 3 instances of non-secure hardware video decoder sessions together with 1 instance of secure hardware video decoder session (4 instances total) (AVC, HEVC, VP9, AV1, or later) in any codec combination running concurrently with 3 sessions at 4K resolution@30 fps which includes one secure decoder session and 1 nn-secure session at 1080p resolution@30fps where at most 2 sessions can be in 10-bit HDR. AV1 codec sessions are only required to support 1080p resolution even when this requirement calls for 4K.
  • [5.1/H-1-11] MUST support a secure decoder for every hardware AVC, HEVC, VP9 or AV1 decoder on the device.
  • [5.1/H-1-12] MUST have a codec initialization latency of 40 ms or less for a 1080p or smaller video decoding session for all hardware video decoders when under load. Load here is defined as a concurrent 1080p to 720p video-only transcoding session using hardware video codecs together with the 1080p audio-video playback initialization. For Dolby vision codec, the codec initialization latency MUST be 50 ms or less.
  • [5.1/H-1-13] MUST have a codec initialization latency of 30 ms or less for a 128 kbps or lower bitrate audio decoding session for all audio decoders when under load. Load here is defined as a concurrent 1080p to 720p video-only transcoding session using hardware video codecs together with the 1080p audio-video playback initialization.
  • [5.1/H-1-14] MUST support AV1 hardware decoder Main 10, Level 4.1 and film grain.
  • [5.1/H-1-15] MUST have at least 1 hardware video decoder supporting 4K60.
  • [5.1/H-1-16] MUST have at least 1 hardware video encoder supporting 4K60.
  • [5.3/H-1-1] MUST NOT drop more than 1 frame in 10 seconds (i.e less than 0.167 percent frame drop) for a 4K 60 fps video session under load.
  • [5.3/H-1-2] MUST NOT drop more than 1 frame in 10 seconds during a video resolution change in a 60 fps video session under load for a 4K session.
  • [5.6/H-1-1] MUST have a tap-to-tone latency of 80 milliseconds or less using the CTS Verifier tap-to-tone test.
  • [5.6/H-1-2] MUST have a round-trip audio latency of 80 milliseconds or less over at least one supported data path.
  • [5.6/H-1-3] MUST support >=24-bit audio for stereo output over 3.5 mm audio jacks if present and over USB audio if supported through the entire data path for low latency and streaming configurations. For the low latency configuration, AAudio should be used by the app in low-latency callback mode. For the streaming configuration, a Java AudioTrack should be used by the app. In both the low latency and streaming configurations, the HAL output sink should accept either AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_24_BIT, AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_24_BIT_PACKED, AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_32_BIT or AUDIO_FORMAT_PCM_FLOAT for its target output format.
  • [5.6/H-1-4] MUST support >=4 channel USB audio devices (This is used by DJ controllers for previewing songs.)
  • [5.6/H-1-5] MUST support class compliant MIDI devices and declare the MIDI feature flag.
  • [5.6/H-1-9] MUST support at least 12 channel mixing. This implies the capability to open an AudioTrack with 7.1.4 channel mask and properly spatialise or downmix all channels to stereo.
  • [5.6/H-SR] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to support 24 channel mixing with at least support for 9.1.6 and 22.2 channel masks.
  • [5.7/H-1-2] MUST support MediaDrm.SECURITY_LEVEL_HW_SECURE_ALL with the below content decryption capabilities.
Minimum Sample size 4 MiB
Minimum Number of Subsamples - H264 or HEVC 32
Minimum Number of Subsamples - VP9 9
Minimum Number of Subsamples - AV1 288
Minimum subsample buffer size 1 MiB
Minimum Generic crypto buffer size 500 KiB
Minimum Number of concurrent sessions 30
Minimum Number of keys per session 20
Minimum Total Number of Keys (all sessions) 80
Minimum Total Number of DRM Keys (all sessions) 6
Message Size 16 KiB
Decrypted Frames per Second 60 fps
  • [5.1/H-1-17] MUST have at least 1 hardware image decoder supporting AVIF Baseline Profile.
  • [5.1/H-1-18] MUST support AV1 encoder which can encode up to 480p resolution at 30fps and 1Mbps.
  • [5.12/H-1-1] MUST [5.12/H-SR] Are Strongly Recommended to support support the Feature_HdrEditing feature for all hardware AV1 and HEVC encoders present on the device.
  • [5.12/H-1-2] MUST support RGBA_1010102 color format for all hardware AV1 and HEVC encoders present on the device.
  • [5.12/H-1-3] MUST advertise support for the EXT_YUV_target extension to sample from YUV textures in both 8 and 10-bits.
  • [7.1.4/H-1-1] MUST have at least 6 hardware overlays in the Display processing unit (DPU), with at least 2 of them capable of displaying 10-bit video content.

If Handheld device implementations return android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.U for android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.MEDIA_PERFORMANCE_CLASS and they include support for a hardware AVC or HEVC encoder, then they:

End new requirements

2.2.7.2. Camera

If Handheld device implementations return android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.T for android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.MEDIA_PERFORMANCE_CLASS, then they:

Start new requirements

If Handheld device implementations return android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.U for android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.MEDIA_PERFORMANCE_CLASS, then they:

  • [7.5/H-1-1] MUST have a primary rear facing camera with a resolution of at least 12 megapixels supporting video capture at 4K@30fps. The primary rear-facing camera is the rear-facing camera with the lowest camera ID.
  • [7.5/H-1-2] MUST have a primary front facing camera with a resolution of at least 6 megapixels and support video capture at 1080p@30fps. The primary front-facing camera is the front-facing camera with the lowest camera ID.
  • [7.5/H-1-3] MUST support android.info.supportedHardwareLevel property as FULL or better for back primary and LIMITED or better for front primary camera.
  • [7.5/H-1-4] MUST support CameraMetadata.SENSOR_INFO_TIMESTAMP_SOURCE_REALTIME for both primary cameras.
  • [7.5/H-1-5] MUST have camera2 JPEG capture latency < 1000 900 ms for 1080p resolution as measured by the CTS camera PerformanceTest under ITS lighting conditions (3000K) for both primary cameras.
  • [7.5/H-1-6] MUST have camera2 startup latency (open camera to first preview frame) < 500 ms as measured by the CTS camera PerformanceTest under ITS lighting conditions (3000K) for both primary cameras.
  • [7.5/H-1-8] MUST support CameraMetadata.REQUEST_AVAILABLE_CAPABILITIES_RAW and android.graphics.ImageFormat.RAW_SENSOR for the primary back camera.
  • [7.5/H-1-9] MUST have a rear-facing primary camera supporting 720p or 1080p @ 240fps.
  • [7.5/H-1-10] MUST have min ZOOM_RATIO < 1.0 for the primary cameras if there is an ultrawide RGB camera facing the same direction.
  • [7.5/H-1-11] MUST implement concurrent front-back streaming on primary cameras.
  • [7.5/H-1-12] MUST support CONTROL_VIDEO_STABILIZATION_MODE_PREVIEW_STABILIZATION for the primary back camera.
  • [7.5/H-1-13] MUST support LOGICAL_MULTI_CAMERA capability for the primary rear-facing camera if there are more than 1 RGB rear-facing cameras.
  • [7.5/H-1-14] MUST support STREAM_USE_CASE capability for both primary front and primary back camera.
  • [7.5/H-1-15] MUST support Bokeh & Night mode extensions via both CameraX and Camera2 extensions for primary cameras.
  • [7.5/H-1-16] MUST support DYNAMIC_RANGE_TEN_BIT capability for the primary cameras.
  • [7.5/H-1-17] MUST support CONTROL_SCENE_MODE_FACE_PRIORITY and face detection (STATISTICS_FACE_DETECT_MODE_SIMPLE or STATISTICS_FACE_DETECT_MODE_FULL) for the primary cameras.

End new requirements

2.2.7.3. Hardware

If Handheld device implementations return android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.T for android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.MEDIA_PERFORMANCE_CLASS, then they:

Start new requirements

If Handheld device implementations return android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.U for android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.MEDIA_PERFORMANCE_CLASS, then they:

  • [7.1.1.1/H-2-1] MUST have screen resolution of at least 1080p.
  • [7.1.1.3/H-2-1] MUST have screen density of at least 400 dpi.
  • [7.1.1.3/H-3-1] MUST have a HDR display supporting at least 1000 nits average.
  • [7.6.1/H-2-1] MUST have at least 8 GB of physical memory.

End new requirements

2.2.7.4. Performance

If Handheld device implementations return android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.T for android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.MEDIA_PERFORMANCE_CLASS, then they:

Start new requirements

If Handheld device implementations return android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.U for android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.MEDIA_PERFORMANCE_CLASS, then they:

  • [8.2/H-1-1] MUST ensure a sequential write performance of at least 150 MB/s.
  • [8.2/H-1-2] MUST ensure a random write performance of at least 10 MB/s.
  • [8.2/H-1-3] MUST ensure a sequential read performance of at least 250 MB/s.
  • [8.2/H-1-4] MUST ensure a random read performance of at least 100 MB/s.
  • [8.2/H-1-5] MUST ensure a parallel sequential read and write performance with 2x read and 1x write performance of at least 50 MB/s.

End new requirements

2.3. Television Requirements

An Android Television device refers to an Android device implementation that is an entertainment interface for consuming digital media, movies, games, apps, and/or live TV for users sitting about ten feet away (a “lean back” or “10-foot user interface”).

Android device implementations are classified as a Television if they meet all the following criteria:

  • Have provided a mechanism to remotely control the rendered user interface on the display that might sit ten feet away from the user.
  • Have an embedded screen display with the diagonal length larger than 24 inches OR include a video output port, such as VGA, HDMI, DisplayPort, or a wireless port for display.

The additional requirements in the rest of this section are specific to Android Television device implementations.

2.3.1. Hardware

Television device implementations:

  • [7.2.2/T-0-1] MUST support D-pad.
  • [7.2.3/T-0-1] MUST provide the Home and Back functions.
  • [7.2.3/T-0-2] MUST send both the normal and long press event of the Back function (KEYCODE_BACK) to the foreground application.
  • [7.2.6.1/T-0-1] MUST include support for game controllers and declare the android.hardware.gamepad feature flag.
  • [7.2.7/T] SHOULD provide a remote control from which users can access non-touch navigation and core navigation keys inputs.

If Television device implementations include a 3-axis gyroscope, they:

  • [7.3.4/T-1-1] MUST be able to report events up to a frequency of at least 100 Hz.
  • [7.3.4/T-1-2] MUST be capable of measuring orientation changes up to 1000 degrees per second.

Television device implementations:

  • [7.4.3/T-0-1] MUST support Bluetooth and Bluetooth LE.
  • [7.6.1/T-0-1] MUST have at least 4 GB of non-volatile storage available for application private data (a.k.a. "/data" partition).

If Television device implementations include a USB port that supports host mode, they:

  • [7.5.3/T-1-1] MUST include support for an external camera that connects through this USB port but is not necessarily always connected.

If TV device implementations are 32-bit:

  • [7.6.1/T-1-1] The memory available to the kernel and userspace MUST be at least 896MB if any of the following densities are used:

    • 400dpi or higher on small/normal screens
    • xhdpi or higher on large screens
    • tvdpi or higher on extra large screens

If TV device implementations are 64-bit:

  • [7.6.1/T-2-1] The memory available to the kernel and userspace MUST be at least 1280MB if any of the following densities are used:

    • 400dpi or higher on small/normal screens
    • xhdpi or higher on large screens
    • tvdpi or higher on extra large screens

Note that the "memory available to the kernel and userspace" above refers to the memory space provided in addition to any memory already dedicated to hardware components such as radio, video, and so on that are not under the kernel’s control on device implementations.

Television device implementations:

  • [7.8.1/T] SHOULD include a microphone.
  • [7.8.2/T-0-1] MUST have an audio output and declare android.hardware.audio.output.

2.3.2. Multimedia

Television device implementations MUST support the following audio encoding and decoding formats and make them available to third-party applications:

  • [5.1/T-0-1] MPEG-4 AAC Profile (AAC LC)
  • [5.1/T-0-2] MPEG-4 HE AAC Profile (AAC+)
  • [5.1/T-0-3] AAC ELD (enhanced low delay AAC)

Television device implementations MUST support the following video encoding formats and make them available to third-party applications:

  • [5.2/T-0-1] H.264
  • [5.2/T-0-2] VP8

Start new requirements

  • [5.2/T-0-3] AV1

End new requirements

Television device implementations:

  • [5.2.2/T-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to support H.264 encoding of 720p and 1080p resolution videos at 30 frames per second.

Television device implementations MUST support the following video decoding formats and make them available to third-party applications:

Start new requirements

End new requirements

Television device implementations MUST support MPEG-2 decoding, as detailed in Section 5.3.1, at standard video frame rates and resolutions up to and including:

  • [5.3.1/T-1-1] HD 1080p at 29.97 frames per second with Main Profile High Level.
  • [5.3.1/T-1-2] HD 1080i at 59.94 frames per second with Main Profile High Level. They MUST deinterlace interlaced MPEG-2 video and make it available to third-party applications.

Television device implementations MUST support H.264 decoding, as detailed in Section 5.3.4, at standard video frame rates and resolutions up to and including:

  • [5.3.4/T-1-1] HD 1080p at 60 frames per second with Baseline Profile
  • [5.3.4/T-1-2] HD 1080p at 60 frames per second with Main Profile
  • [5.3.4/T-1-3] HD 1080p at 60 frames per second with High Profile Level 4.2

Television device implementations with H.265 hardware decoders MUST support H.265 decoding, as detailed in Section 5.3.5, at standard video frame rates and resolutions up to and including:

  • [5.3.5/T-1-1] HD 1080p at 60 frames per second with Main Profile Level 4.1

If Television device implementations with H.265 hardware decoders support H.265 decoding and the UHD decoding profile, they:

  • [5.3.5/T-2-1] MUST support the UHD decoding profile at 60 frames per second with Main10 Level 5 Main Tier profile

Television device implementations MUST support VP8 decoding, as detailed in Section 5.3.6, at standard video frame rates and resolutions up to and including:

  • [5.3.6/T-1-1] HD 1080p at 60 frames per second decoding profile

Television device implementations with VP9 hardware decoders MUST support VP9 decoding, as detailed in Section 5.3.7, at standard video frame rates and resolutions up to and including:

  • [5.3.7/T-1-1] HD 1080p at 60 frames per second with profile 0 (8 bit color depth)

If Television device implementations with VP9 hardware decoders support VP9 decoding and the UHD decoding profile, they:

  • [5.3.7/T-2-1] MUST support the UHD decoding profile at 60 frames per second with profile 0 (8 bit color depth).
  • [5.3.7/T-SR1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to support the UHD decoding profile at 60 frames per second with profile 2 (10 bit color depth).

Television device implementations:

  • [5.5/T-0-1] MUST include support for system Master Volume and digital audio output volume attenuation on supported outputs, except for compressed audio passthrough output (where no audio decoding is done on the device).

If Television device implementations do not have a built in display, but instead support an external display connected via HDMI, they:

  • [5.8/T-0-1] MUST set the HDMI output mode to the highest resolution for the chosen pixel format that works with 50Hz or 60Hz refresh rate for the external display, depending on the video refresh rate for the region the device is sold in. MUST set the HDMI output mode to select the maximum resolution that can be supported with either a 50Hz or 60Hz refresh rate.
  • [5.8/T-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to provide a user configurable HDMI refresh rate selector.
  • [5.8] SHOULD set the HDMI output mode refresh rate to either 50Hz or 60Hz, depending on the video refresh rate for the region the device is sold in.

If Television device implementations do not have a built in display, but instead support an external display connected via HDMI, they:

  • [5.8/T-1-1] MUST support HDCP 2.2.

If Television device implementations do not support UHD decoding, but instead support an external display connected via HDMI, they:

  • [5.8/T-2-1] MUST support HDCP 1.4

2.3.3. Software

Television device implementations:

  • [3/T-0-1] MUST declare the features android.software.leanback and android.hardware.type.television.
  • [3.2.3.1/T-0-1] MUST preload one or more applications or service components with an intent handler, for all the public intent filter patterns defined by the following application intents listed here.
  • [3.4.1/T-0-1] MUST provide a complete implementation of the android.webkit.Webview API.

If Android Television device implementations support a lock screen,they:

  • [3.8.10/T-1-1] MUST display the Lock screen Notifications including the Media Notification Template.

Television device implementations:

  • [3.8.14/T-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to support picture-in-picture (PIP) mode multi-window.
  • [3.10/T-0-1] MUST support third-party accessibility services.
  • [3.10/T-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to preload accessibility services on the device comparable with or exceeding functionality of the Switch Access and TalkBack (for languages supported by the preinstalled Text-to-speech engine) accessibility services as provided in the talkback open source project.

If Television device implementations report the feature android.hardware.audio.output, they:

  • [3.11/T-SR-1] Are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to include a TTS engine supporting the languages available on the device.
  • [3.11/T-1-1] MUST support installation of third-party TTS engines.

Television device implementations:

  • [3.12/T-0-1] MUST support TV Input Framework.

2.3.4. Performance and Power

  • [8.1/T-0-1] Consistent frame latency. Inconsistent frame latency or a delay to render frames MUST NOT happen more often than 5 frames in a second, and SHOULD be below 1 frames in a second.
  • [8.2/T-0-1] MUST ensure a sequential write performance of at least 5MB/s.
  • [8.2/T-0-2] MUST ensure a random write performance of at least 0.5MB/s.
  • [8.2/T-0-3] MUST ensure a sequential read performance of at least 15MB/s.
  • [8.2/T-0-4] MUST ensure a random read performance of at least 3.5MB/s.

If Television device implementations include features to improve device power management that are included in AOSP or extend the features that are included in AOSP, they:

  • [8.3/T-1-1] MUST provide user affordance to enable and disable the battery saver feature.

If Television device implementations do not have a battery they:

If Television device implementations have a battery they:

  • [8.3/T-1-3] MUST provide user affordance to display all apps that are exempted from App Standby and Doze power-saving modes.

Television device implementations:

  • [8.4/T-0-1] MUST provide a per-component power profile that defines the current consumption value for each hardware component and the approximate battery drain caused by the components over time as documented in the Android Open Source Project site.
  • [8.4/T-0-2] MUST report all power consumption values in milliampere hours (mAh).
  • [8.4/T-0-3] MUST report CPU power consumption per each process's UID. The Android Open Source Project meets the requirement through the uid_cputime kernel module implementation.
  • [8.4/T] SHOULD be attributed to the hardware component itself if unable to attribute hardware component power usage to an application.
  • [8.4/T-0-4] MUST make this power usage available via the adb shell dumpsys batterystats shell command to the app developer.

2.3.5. Security Model

Television device implementations:

  • [9/T-0-1] MUST declare the android.hardware.security.model.compatible feature.
  • [