Since July 2025, most Android devices have been using an upgraded renderer for
the Maps SDK for Android. This renderer brings many improvements, including support
for Cloud-based maps styling.

The new renderer provides the following benefits:

- [Cloud-based maps styling](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android-sdk/cloud-based-map-styling) features are available with the new renderer.
- [Advanced Polyline Customizations](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android-sdk/shapes.md.txt#polyline-customization) are available with the new renderer.
- Reduced network load, processing demand, and memory consumption.
- Improved gesture handling for better animations, plus smoother panning and zooming.
- More fluid transitions and clearly positioned map labels.
- A more stable and improved user experience.

## Supported devices

To use the upgraded map renderer, devices must meet these criteria:

- Android 5.0 (API level 21) or later
- Using Google Play services version 21.39.14 or later
- Have Play Store enabled

Devices not meeting these criteria continue to use the legacy renderer.