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These beta builds are for developers.
In October, Google officially confirmed that its new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro were the first Android phones to support only 64-bit apps, which should offer several benefits. However, with the recent release of Android 13, those with a Pixel 4a or later can also give it a try.
Please note that these 64-bit updates for older devices are considered “beta builds” and Google only recommends that developers use the software to test apps and services. That being said, anyone interested in going 64-bit on an older phone can now do so. A move that hints at the future of Android releases.
For those wondering, by removing support for 32-bit code, Android phones and apps run faster and perform better. According to Google, 64-bit applications “run faster because they have access to additional registers and instructions that are not available to 32-bit applications.” And by removing 32-bit support, Android saves up to 150MB of RAM used by the operating system. As a result, this results in fewer background apps being killed, smooth performance, and “fewer crashes”.
Switching to 64-bit only improves device and app performance. At first, not all Android apps could work this way, so Google warned that some Pixel 7 owners might not be able to install and use all apps. This wasn’t much of a problem though, and it’s now expanding access to older devices.
as seen by AndroidPoliceGoogle now offers beta builds and factory images of Android 13 in 64-bit only for Pixel 4a to Pixel 6. These factory files are available to download from the Android developer website.
Remember that this is beta software and you can’t get it via a regular over-the-air software update. Instead, users must manually update the factory image files. Google says these “The images provide a strict 64-bit-only environment for testing 64-bit application compatibility. These 64-bit only configurations are for developer use only.”
While we wouldn’t recommend regular users flashing these Android 13 builds on a Pixel phone, you can if you want. They are mainly available for developers. That said, it’s likely that Google will update select older devices to only 64-bit in the future.
via android police
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