Google Bars Pixel 9 and Z Fold 7 From Gemini Intelligence Over 12GB RAM, Nano v3
Updated
Updated · 9to5Google · May 15
Google Bars Pixel 9 and Z Fold 7 From Gemini Intelligence Over 12GB RAM, Nano v3
9 articles · Updated · 9to5Google · May 15
Google’s new Gemini Intelligence tier currently leaves out the Pixel 9 lineup and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 because the features require Gemini Nano v3, 12GB of RAM and a flagship-class chip.
Those requirements also include AI Core support, at least five Android OS upgrades, six years of security updates and device-quality thresholds such as crash-rate standards.
Google’s developer listings show Nano v3 support concentrated in mostly 2026 phones, including the Pixel 10 series and Galaxy S26 family, while many recent premium devices remain on Nano v2.
The cutoff is not fully settled: the cited page refers to Prompt API support rather than the model itself, and it is unclear whether future software updates could bring some devices into compliance.
Google says Gemini Intelligence will debut on Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices later this year, with one report pointing to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 as an early launch device.
Is Google's new AI creating a two-tier Android system, leaving recent flagship phones behind?
With Apple using Gemini and the EU investigating, can Google's exclusive AI ecosystem truly dominate?
As AI agents handle our tasks, are we sacrificing user control for the convenience of an 'intelligence system'?
Gemini Intelligence 2026: Why 12GB RAM and Gemini Nano v3 Are Now the Standard for Android AI
Overview
On May 15, 2026, Google unveiled its Gemini Intelligence suite, marking a major step forward in mobile AI. This new technology will first appear on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, highlighting its premium status and the advanced hardware needed. Gemini Intelligence aims to bring powerful AI features directly to Android devices, especially Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones, to improve user experience with on-device intelligence. While the announcement showed Google’s focus on integrating advanced AI into the Android ecosystem, it did not detail the specific hardware requirements, leaving questions about which devices will fully support these new capabilities.