Pixel 10 Pops Up As Google Prepares Slightly Faster Boot Times For Android

Google is preparing some kernel improvements for Android devices which are said to improve boot times by up to 30% on the Pixel 10, the first semi-official reference to the unreleased smartphone.

Two new commits to AOSP popped up this week regarding “Parallel Module Loading,” with Google making changes to an “early part” of Android’s “multi-stage initialization process,” as Android Authority explains. This process loads “essential kernel modules” which can make changes to the kernel’s functionality on-demand. The commits reference a new “Performance Mode” that speeds up the process, as well as a new “Conservative Mode,” both of which were tested on Pixel 10 hardware.

The “Performance Mode” claims a 30% reduction in loading time on the Pixel 10, with a smaller 25% reduction on “Pixel Fold.” If literal, this refers to 2023’s Pixel Fold, and that would make sense given the lesser improvements, but it’s entirely possible this is referring to another unreleased device as well.

Add the performance mode. It improved parallel module loading performance by enabling the main thread to identify any new independent modules without waiting for subthreads to load all the old independent threads.
Test: Pixel 10 reduces 30% loading time, And Pixel Fold reduces 25%

Meanwhile, “Conservative Mode” leaves the Pixel 10 to “boot normally.” This mode is apparently used for debugging.

Parallel Module Loading: Add conservative mode. It help us to debug or load modules more conservatively.
Test: Pixel 10 can boot normally.

The actual impact these changes would have on boot times for Android devices remains unclear, as the 30% reduction is only referring to one specific part of the boot process.

Google is expected to release the Pixel 10 later this year.