Google might be permanently discontinuing support for 32-bit on Android OS. The organization is creating its future Pixel Tablet with compatibility for only the 64-bit variant of Android 13, which will be unveiled at Google I/O 2022 in May. Mishaal Rahman discovered the proof on the official development materials.
A commit states to only 64-bit tangor. The new Google tablet is known as Tangor in the Uninitiated. It is not totally verified that the next Pixel Tablet will not support the 32-bit variant of Android 13 because the resources don’t provide any additional information on this issue. Google might be experimenting with it, and the final version of the product might support both builds.
We wouldn’t be shocked if the device is 64-bit only, though. This has been simmering for a while. In 2019, Google required 64-bit functionality for all Android applications distributed through the Play Store. Last year, the company debuted 64-bit-only builds with Android 12. Although no Android product lacking 32-bit compatibility is currently available, Google may soon define the standard.
Advertisement If everything works out as expected, the Pixel Tablet might be a lot more RAM-efficient. Of course, it won’t run 32-bit-only applications, but the majority of applications already support 64-bit. Therefore, that shouldn’t be a huge issue.
Soon, Android OS might stop supporting 32-bit-only applications. Google continues to provide 32-bit support on Android OS despite requiring 64-bit support for Android apps for a number of reasons. One, this regulation only covers apps that are made available through the Play Store. Developers are free to limit their programs to 32-bit exclusively in regions like China where the Play Store is not available. Later this year, 32-bit-only programs are expected to no longer be supported, according to reports about Chinese app vendors. This modification would greatly aid Google’s efforts.
The business, however, also needs OEM to join soon. The majority of phone manufacturers include pre-installed apps on their devices that aren’t found in the Play Store. As a result, those are exempt from the 64-bit rule. However, OEMs might not wait long to update their first-party apps if Google decides to stop supporting 32-bit apps on Android. Even ARM is getting ready to phase out its 32-bit chipset lineup.
Advertisement These developments, along with Google’s testing of the 64-bit-only Pixel Tablet, imply that it won’t be long before all Android apps are 64-bit-only. Perhaps Mishaal has previously discovered commits indicating that this might occur with Android 14 the following year. If this is the case, in the following months we need to see more specific proof of it.
