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More about 32- vs 64-bit on low memory devices, Android 15 compatibility rules.
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John Dallman
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As of the Android 14 compatibility rulesAndroid 15 compatibility rules, devices with 2GB RAM or less physical RAM are required to only run 32-bit applications, and devices with 2GB to 4GB are strongly recommended to only run 32-bit applications. Of course, running 32-bit applications requires having processor cores that can run 32-bit code, and that capability is missing from newer cores. This will confine 32-bit devices to using older and slower processor cores, causing them to gradually fade away.

More precisely, devices with less than 2GB of RAM available to the operating system (some is always used for other purposes) must only support one ABI, and 32-bit is the sane choice. Supporting both the 32- and 64-bit APIs takes up more RAM, because many libraries would have to be provided in both 32- and 64-bit forms. Supporting only 64-bit is technically allowed, but would be foolish, because 64-bit code uses more memory for data.

As of the Android 14 compatibility rules, devices with 2GB RAM or less physical RAM are required to only run 32-bit applications, and devices with 2GB to 4GB are strongly recommended to only run 32-bit applications. Of course, running 32-bit applications requires having processor cores that can run 32-bit code, and that capability is missing from newer cores. This will confine 32-bit devices to using older and slower processor cores, causing them to gradually fade away.

As of the Android 15 compatibility rules, devices with 2GB RAM or less physical RAM are required to only run 32-bit applications, and devices with 2GB to 4GB are strongly recommended to only run 32-bit applications. Of course, running 32-bit applications requires having processor cores that can run 32-bit code, and that capability is missing from newer cores. This will confine 32-bit devices to using older and slower processor cores, causing them to gradually fade away.

More precisely, devices with less than 2GB of RAM available to the operating system (some is always used for other purposes) must only support one ABI, and 32-bit is the sane choice. Supporting both the 32- and 64-bit APIs takes up more RAM, because many libraries would have to be provided in both 32- and 64-bit forms. Supporting only 64-bit is technically allowed, but would be foolish, because 64-bit code uses more memory for data.

Clarify 2GB rule.
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John Dallman
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As of the Android 14 compatibility rules, devices with less than 2GB RAM or less physical RAM are required to only run 32-bit applications, and devices with 2GB to 4GB are strongly recommended to only run 32-bit applications. Of course, running 32-bit applications requires having processor cores that can run 32-bit code, and that capability is missing from newer cores. This will confine 32-bit devices to using older and slower processor cores, causing them to gradually fade away.

As of the Android 14 compatibility rules, devices with less than 2GB RAM are required to only run 32-bit applications, and devices with 2GB to 4GB are strongly recommended to only run 32-bit applications. Of course, running 32-bit applications requires having processor cores that can run 32-bit code, and that capability is missing from newer cores. This will confine 32-bit devices to using older and slower processor cores, causing them to gradually fade away.

As of the Android 14 compatibility rules, devices with 2GB RAM or less physical RAM are required to only run 32-bit applications, and devices with 2GB to 4GB are strongly recommended to only run 32-bit applications. Of course, running 32-bit applications requires having processor cores that can run 32-bit code, and that capability is missing from newer cores. This will confine 32-bit devices to using older and slower processor cores, causing them to gradually fade away.

More Tango.
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John Dallman
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Xiaomi ships a 32-bit to 64-bit binary translator on some devices called "Tango." This allows 64-bit only hardware, such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro, to run 32-bit apps. It does this by translating their 32-bit native code libraries into 64-bit native code. News story here. More details under tango in the tag wiki.

Xiaomi ships a 32-bit to 64-bit binary translator on some devices called "Tango." This allows 64-bit only hardware, such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro, to run 32-bit apps. It does this by translating their 32-bit native code libraries into 64-bit native code. News story here

Xiaomi ships a 32-bit to 64-bit binary translator on some devices called "Tango." This allows 64-bit only hardware, such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro, to run 32-bit apps. It does this by translating their 32-bit native code libraries into 64-bit native code. News story here. More details under tango in the tag wiki.

Tango
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John Dallman
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Spelling.
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John Dallman
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Android TV, Wear OS links
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John Dallman
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Wear OS 64-bit.
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John Dallman
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Update answer.
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John Dallman
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Android compatibility definitions.
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John Dallman
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Add Google Tensor SoCs
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John Dallman
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Exynos 2400
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John Dallman
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Improve answer.
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John Dallman
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Exynos 2200
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John Dallman
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MediaTek Dimensity 9300, ART bitishness.
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John Dallman
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Clarify native code transition rules.
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John Dallman
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Confirmed Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is 64-bit only.
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John Dallman
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Added references, clarified Dalvik, added more about 64-bit-only Android, Wear OS and Android TV.
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John Dallman
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Added references, clarified Dalvik, added more about 64-bit-only Android.
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John Dallman
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Added references, clarified Dalvik.
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John Dallman
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Added references.
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John Dallman
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Clarify a point
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John Dallman
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John Dallman
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