Why Transition to 64-bit Applications
Using Android phones, how many 64-bit APPs have you installed? If you don’t know before downloading and installing from the store, then you can install LibChecker for local software 32-bit, 64-bit layout situations to view.
Back to the beginning of the topic, we know that Apple has fully shifted to 64-bit Applications since iOS 11 in 2017. however, Android’s progress is much slower, but with Google, ARM, and other restrictions from hardware and software, the pace of 64-bit is greatly accelerated.
In December 2017, Google first issued a reminder to Android developers around the world to “move to 64-bit apps”, which was also an important start for the full 64-bit transformation of the entire Android ecosystem. Nearly two years later, Google Play will require all uploaded apps to have 64-bit versions starting August 1, 2019. By August 2021, this requirement will be further tightened, and all 64-bit hardware-based smart devices will no longer be able to download 32-bit apps from Google Play.
Today, MediaTek stated that, as an ecological partner of Android and Arm, MediaTek also supports the migration of the mobile computing ecosystem to 64-bit. MediaTek says the transition to 64-bit for the Android ecosystem is the best way to achieve next-generation compute-intensive workloads and experiences on mobile devices.
In terms of application launch speed, the results of tests conducted by MediaTek Labs based on the Dimensity 9000 mobile platform show that 64-bit applications can bring a 13% – 60% improvement in cold launch speed compared to 32-bit applications, a difference that users can perceive.
In terms of game performance, which is of interest to gamers, the results of the Unity Engine “Armies” demo show that compiling games to 64-bit versions can bring a 16% increase in frame rate compared to 32-bit.
According to Arm Labs, 64-bit computing on smartphones can deliver over 90% performance gains when compressing files and nearly 80% speed gains when decompressing them compared to 32-bit computing.
In terms of power consumption, 64-bit applications have better power performance than 32-bit. Compared to 32-bit computing environments, mainstream mobile processor architectures can achieve a 13.2% to 35.2% improvement in energy efficiency in 64-bit computing environments, which means that processors can perform the same computing tasks with less power consumption.
To further promote the transition of domestic Android application ecology to 64-bit architecture, OPPO, Vivo, and Xiaomi have jointly announced that since April 2022, new applications on the OPPO, Vivo, and Xiaomi app stores will not be allowed to shelve 32-bit application packages alone, and can support the use of compatible packages or dual-package upload; game applications are not restricted for the time being.
Facing the trend of 64-bit mobile computing’s full popularity and transformation, MediaTek is driving the design direction of flagship 64-bit mobile SoCs to help the rapid diffusion of advanced technologies to continuously upgrade the user experience.
