Android App Bundles (AAB) are the standard for publishing on Google Play. Unlike APKs, they allow Play Store to generate optimized APKs for each user's specific device configuration, but only if you configure your build correctly.

ResConfigs for Language Bloat

If your app doesn't support 50 languages, don't ship them! Libraries often bundle dozens of translations you don't need. Use resConfigs to tell Gradle exactly which locales to keep.

build.gradle (Module) defaultConfig {
...
resConfigs "en", "fr", "de"
}

Splitting by Density and ABI

Ensure your bundle configuration is set to split resources. This ensures a user with a 1080p screen doesn't download 4K assets, and an ARM64 user doesn't download x86 binaries.

Bundle Configuration bundle {
language { enableSplit = true }
density { enableSplit = true }
abi { enableSplit = true }
}

The Golden Rule

Use the App Bundle Explorer in the Play Console to see the "Estimated download size per device". If the difference between your largest and smallest APK is minor, you likely have monolithic assets that aren't being split.

Summary

Configuring your bundle correctly can reduce app size by up to 50%. Less bloat means more installs and happier users!