Google Pixel tablets may be the first Android device to dump support for 32-bit apps: What this means and why its important – Times of India

The tech world currently knows very little about the Google Pixel tablet which is expected to release in 2023. Google offered a sneak at the upcoming device during the I/O 2022 event and now some new information about the tablet has surfaced. According to a report by AndroidPolice, the Google Pixel tablet is likely to launch with a special version of Android 13 that will only run a 64-bit architecture. If this happens, Google Pixel tablet would be the first device from the company to completely remove support for 32-bit architecture.
As per the report, the new project was recently spotted in Google’s development resources. The company is currently experimenting with a 64-bit-only build of Android 13 for a device named “Tangor,” which is also the codename for the Pixel tablet.

Importance of moving to a 64-bit-only build
The report claims that removing support for 32-bit apps may help reduce RAM usage, but at the same time it also means that the tablet will not be able to run any 32-bit applications. However, this shouldn’t be much of a problem as most apps in the Play Store currently support 64-bit architecture. Google has long been working towards a 64-bit-only version of Android so the switch is “right in line with the current trajectory of Android app development,” the report adds.
Android 12 was the first version of the OS to be compiled with 64-bit-only components. The same is with the recently-released Android 13.
Why Google is so late to the 64-bit club that Apple entered in 2017
Apple adopted the 64-bit-only architecture for its App Store way back in 2017. The move was not that tough for Apple as the company controls its software, hardware and apps market. This makes it easier to make developers adopt changes.
On the other hand, Google’s open-source operating system depends on several distribution options and device manufacturers that the company needs to take into account before announcing any major transition.
The report also states that the Chinese market has been a big problem for a long time as it offers multiple coexisting app stores. This makes it difficult for the company to enforce a major change like this. However, these stores have now reportedly agreed to phase out 32-bit app support for the convenience of Android users worldwide.
How the chipmakers might have forced the change
According to the report, most mobile processors are based on ARM chip design and they may have forced the company to adopt 64-bit only architectures. These companies are steadily moving to 64-bit-only architectures as they have introduced “unsymmetrical chips” where only a minority of cores support 32-bit apps.
Moreover, ARM has recently introduced the Cortex-X3 and Cortex-A715 which only supports 64-bit processes. Apart from this, the company has even redesigned Cortex-A510 to only offer optional 32-bit compatibility at special request, the report notes.
How will this change impact Pixel phones
The report suggests that the company might want to use the Pixel tablet to test the reaction of consumers and app developers to 64-bit-only machines, before adopting the same for its “most important hardware product lineup.” However, Google might also want to move its whole product lineup over to 64-bit only in 2023, which is possible if the company uses its custom Tensor SoCs.
However, the end users might not notice much of a difference as the Play Store has started mandating 64-bit releases in 2019. In 2021, this requirement was extended to all apps so a 64-bit only device will be able to run all the recently updated apps.