For a few reasons, Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro are important mobile phones, but one of the biggest reasons why they are important is how they support apps. The Pixel 7 series delivers the first Android phones that block support for apps that aren’t 64-bit. Now, what does it mean for all of us? Let’s discuss it.
What’s the history and reason behind this –
Google has been working towards a better and smart future where Android is a 64-bit OS (operating system), opposite to one that still supports 32-bit software. Now the question arises, what’s the difference between these two?
The 64-bit operating system can access more memory addresses which results in improvements, in both performance and security, which is comparatively, logically, and technically better than the 32-bit operating system/software.
In 2011, Android decided to support 64-bit apps with the launch of Android 5.0. In 2019, Google moved to make 64-bit support a requirement for all apps distributed through the Google Play Store, but later Android’s primary source of apps ended up serving apps with Play Store, which either didn’t support 64-bit or didn’t have a 64-bit version.
Now, Google is stepping forward by delivering Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro with 64-bit only support for apps, but not through a firm block. Mishaal Rahman has confirmed that the Pixel 7 series only supports 64-bit apps, through a Twitter post.
The devices are not running on a 64-bit-only version of Android, though, instead only blocking the installation of 32-bit apps with a message “app not installed as the app isn’t compatible with your phone” when a user attempts to install a 32-bit app.
What does it mean for all of us?
Theoretically, Google’s change, of supporting only 64-bit apps on the Pixel 7 series will have no noticeable impact on your/our experience. This all is because of the groundwork Google has laid out over the past decade on building up support for 64-bit in Android.
Flash-in-the-pan-hit Flappy Bird is the only app that comes to mind as a 32-bit-only app, which hasn’t been updated since the game’s monumental success and still shocking closure. Rahman also pointed out that a version of the Pebble smartwatch app doesn’t support 64-bit, which means that the older smartwatches, which are technically still functional, though unsupported, can’t be paired to Google’s latest Pixel mobile phones.
The positive impact of this change –
If we think properly, there’s also a positive point that comes from this, which is that, benchmarks for power efficiency and performance on devices with more than 4GB of RAM jump by 5-10%.
