The Pixel 10’s enhanced startup performance is attributed to this Android modification.

Pixel 10’s Faster Startup: An Android Boot Process Improvement

• A modification to Android’s boot process, specifically focusing on parallel module loading, has yielded a 30% reduction in module loading time for the Google Pixel 10, as confirmed by a Google engineer’s code review within the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

• This enhancement, detailed in a code change titled “Parallel Module Loading: Add performance mode,” impacts the early boot stage after the Linux kernel loads, optimizing the loading of essential kernel modules that extend the kernel’s functionality.

• While tested on both the Pixel 10 and Pixel Fold, suggesting broader applicability, the exact improvement in overall boot time for end-users remains unclear, though it’s expected to be noticeable.

• This change is likely to be integrated into a future quarterly release of Android 16, benefiting all Android devices by addressing a bottleneck in the multi-stage initialization process and showcasing Google’s ongoing behind-the-scenes optimizations for the Android operating system.

A recent update in Android’s boot process is set to enhance the startup performance of the upcoming Pixel 10. A Google engineer revealed that changes to the loading of kernel modules have resulted in a 30% reduction in module loading time for the device. This improvement could lead to faster boot times for the Pixel 10 and other compatible Android devices, although the exact impact on boot speed remains unclear.

Evidence of this change was discovered in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code, in a section titled “Parallel Module Loading: Add performance mode,” which was specifically tested on the Pixel 10. This marks a rare instance of a specific unreleased hardware reference in AOSP, although leaks had already suggested the existence and design of the Pixel 10 before this confirmation.

The change also indicates that it has been tested on the Pixel Fold, suggesting its applicability beyond the Pixel 10 series and potentially benefiting all Android devices once incorporated into the open-source codebase, likely in a future Android 16 quarterly update.

The alteration addresses a critical phase in the Android OS’s multi-stage boot initialization process, which takes place after the Linux kernel is loaded and is vital for preparing the environment for the subsequent boot stages. During this phase, essential kernel modules are loaded—these are code segments that enhance the functionality of the kernel and can be managed based on demand. The proposed modification aims to eliminate a bottleneck in the existing method of loading these modules, thereby improving loading times.

However, it is important to note that this 30% reduction in loading time for kernel modules does not equate to a proportionate decrease in overall boot times, as the change only affects one part of the entire boot process. The actual improvement in startup time for end-users is still uncertain.

Overall, while the detailed workings of Android releases are often not highlighted publicly, this update sheds light on the continuous enhancements being made to improve user experience, particularly regarding device startup speed.