| Alternative | Best for | Trade-offs | |------------------------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------| | (open source) | Privacy & custom ROMs | No SafetyNet, some apps crash. | | Google Play Services 11.9.75 | Android 5.0 with slightly newer APIs | More battery usage but better app compatibility. | | Google Play Services 14.8.49 | Android 6.0+ | Heavier, but supports 2018-2019 era apps. | | No GApps (AOSP only) | Extreme low-spec or de-Googled | No Play Store or push notifications. |
Modern Play Services can consume 200–400 MB of RAM. On a device with only 1 GB RAM, this leads to constant launcher redraws and app killing. Version 9.8.79 uses under 80 MB, leaving more memory for your main apps.