The Pixel 10 will have faster startup performance thanks to this Android change

Because of some early leaks, we all know what most telephones within the Google Pixel 10 sequence will appear like. We’re nonetheless months away from the launch of the Pixel 10 sequence, although, so there’s rather a lot we nonetheless don’t know in terms of the brand new Pixel-only options they’ll have. Whereas I don’t have any data to share on new Pixel software program options, I did spot proof that the Pixel 10 sequence will function quicker startup efficiency.

Whereas I used to be looking the Android Open Supply Venture (AOSP) code evaluate final week, I noticed a code change that explicitly references the Pixel 10. Within the description for the code change titled “Parallel Module Loading: Add efficiency mode,” a Google engineer says the change was examined on a Pixel 10, leading to a 30% discount in “loading time.”

It’s uncommon — however not completely exceptional — to see express references to unreleased {hardware} in AOSP; so far as I do know, that is the primary public point out of the Pixel 10 exterior of leaks, although it’s not like we didn’t already realize it existed.

The change was additionally examined on a Pixel Fold, although, which implies it isn’t particular to next-generation {hardware}. As an alternative, it’ll impression all Android-based units as soon as it makes its technique to Android’s open supply codebase, doubtless in a quarterly launch of Android 16. That’s as a result of it impacts a key a part of the bootup course of shared by all Android units.

With out getting too technical, Google is making a change that accelerates an early a part of the Android OS’s multi-stage initialization course of. The stage in query occurs after the Linux kernel is loaded, and it units up the essential surroundings crucial for later levels of the boot course of to happen. Throughout this stage, Android masses important kernel modules, that are items of code that reach the kernel’s performance and which could be loaded and unloaded on demand. The change that Google is proposing tweaks how Android masses these modules to take away a bottleneck that beforehand existed, leading to a noticeable enchancment in module loading occasions.

In fact, since this transformation solely impacts one a part of the bootup course of, it means the 30% discount in loading time doesn’t translate to a 30% speedup in boot occasions. We don’t know precisely how a lot this transformation interprets to improved startup occasions, assuming it’s even noticeable by the top consumer. In any case, it’s nonetheless attention-grabbing to peel the curtain again on these behind-the-scenes adjustments, as Google makes a ton of them each Android launch however not often if ever publicizes them.