Having the minimum compatible version as Android 9 is both unnecessary and severely limiting for those with even moderately older devices that could be used for the Ring app. There is no need to require 9 (ie Pie, which wasn’t even very widespread until 2020) as the minimum since you can target the latest SDK’s (API level 33 for Android 13 as of this writing) and then also include support for much older versions for compatibility. You’re already doing this now with 9 (API level 28), but you’ve just set the minimum API level too high.
Your app can benefit from the latest security features found in Android 13 while still running on much older versions of the Android OS (even going back all the way to 4.X, although just going back to around 7 would be important/helpful for most users). Google themselves state this clearly (from Target API level requirements for Google Play apps - Play Console Help ):
“… users benefit from security, privacy, and performance improvements, while still allowing an app to run on older Android versions (down to the specified minSdkVersion ).”
You just need to set the minimum API level to work with Android 7 and 8 devices (24 rather than 28 where you have it now).
Please consider expanding Android compatibility rather than repeatedly contracting it. The ‘security features’ argument doesn’t apply when you can target the latest SDK’s for Android to access those security and privacy improvements while still supporting older versions.
Having the minimum compatible version as Android 9 is both unnecessary and severely limiting for those with still recent devices that could be used for the Ring app. There is no need to require Android 9 (Pie, which wasn’t even very widespread until 2020) as the minimum since you can target the latest SDK’s (API level 33 for Android 13 as of this writing) and then also include support for much older versions for compatibility. Ring is already doing this now with 9 (API level 28), but the minimum API level is simply set too high.
The Ring app can benefit from the latest security features found in Android 13 while still running on much older versions of the Android OS (even going back all the way to 4.X, although just going back to around 7 would be important/helpful for most users). Google themselves state this clearly (from Target API level requirements for Google Play apps - Play Console Help ):
“… users benefit from security, privacy, and performance improvements, while still allowing an app to run on older Android versions (down to the specified minSdkVersion ).”
Ring just need to set the minimum API level to work with Android 7 and 8 devices (24 rather than 28 where you have it now). This helps prevent e-waste by allowing still common devices to continue to be used and broadens the compatible device base immensely.
Please consider expanding Android compatibility rather than repeatedly contracting it. The ‘security features’ claim doesn’t apply when Ring can target the latest SDK’s for Android to access those security and privacy improvements while still safely supporting older versions.