Xamarin - apk App Size : <p>So, after all the hard-work developing the app using Xamarin.Forms, when I tried to create a release build today, I was shocked to see the app size is ~25MB - ~31MB (after SDK Only Linking, ProGuard, Creating apk for each abi). My resource folder is only in KBs. The apk actually was just 5MB in debug mode and was so happy to see it. I later realized that this is because of the option "Use Shared Runtime" which we are not supposed to use in Release Mode.</p>

<p>I then tried creating a blank Xamarin.Android app, but the release build with Linking SDK &amp; User Assemblies, ProGuard, APK for each abi is still ~8MB to ~13MB.</p>

<p>Per the below link the minimum size is 2.9MB with the Hello World app, however I am unable to create such size. <a href="https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/android/advanced_topics/application_package_sizes/" rel="noreferrer">https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/android/advanced_topics/application_package_sizes/</a></p>

<p>For my app and the blank app I created, the necessary dlls seem to be high (example mscorlib.dll is 2.2mb etc, where as the link says after linking it will become 1 mb) Here is what I see as my assembly folder after extracting the apk
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ILtQx.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ILtQx.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>In one of the recent Microsoft tech conferences I happened to know that "9 News" app (link below) was built using xamarin, and the creators were present on the stage. However I was surprised with it's app size. It is only 5.85 MB. I am unsure how that is achieved?</p>

<p>Can any one help me with these?</p>

<p><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com" rel="noreferrer">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com</a></p>

<p>I am also curious to know if Microsoft doing something to improve app package sizes? Or will this be resolved if they bring .NET core to xamarin?</p>
