Google recently announced a new option for Android developers: the ability to switch between 4KB and 16KB memory page sizes. Put simply, this change could improve application performance by up to 10%. Page sizes represent units of memory managed by the processor, and the switch to 16 KB will enable new generations of processors to operate more efficiently.
To facilitate this transition, Google is also working on tools and emulators compatible with 16 KB pages. These changes should improve video quality, game performance and overall application fluidity.
However, this transition will not be immediate. Developers will have to adapt their applications and learn how to use the new tools. What’s more, many devices don’t yet support these 16 Kb pages, which could delay their widespread adoption.
Despite these challenges, applications that make the transition will offer a significantly improved user experience. As support for 16 KB pages becomes more widespread, more and more high-end phones will benefit from these enhancements, making devices like the Pixel 8 even more capable in the long term.
