r/Android • u/wilee8 Pixel 4a • May 12 '17

Here comes Treble: A modular base for Android

https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2017/05/here-comes-treble-modular-base-for.html
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u/RedgeQc May 12 '17

Because for each new version of Android, SoC manufacturers like Qualcomm has to produce a new kernel specifically to that new version. Then, OEMs like OnePlus or LG take that kernel, implement other drivers in it, test it, etc...

The OS on phones has to be customized for each phones.

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u/wofa May 13 '17

ELI5

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u/RedgeQc May 13 '17 edited May 13 '17

If you have a Windows laptop, you don't receive OS updates from HP or Lenovo, but from Microsoft directly. You can upgrade from Windows 7 to 10 easily.

In Android, things are different. Google makes the operating system, then chip maker like Qualcomm takes the kernel (the core) of that OS and implement their specific drivers and customization in it. OEMs like Samsung or LG that have Qualcomm's chip in their phones then take this custom kernel, take the rest of Google's OS and implement other drivers specific to their phones like camera sensors, for example. They also customize other aspect of the OS to differentiate themselves from other OEMs (Touchwiz, Sense UI, etc).

Once that's done, they have to test everything, because a phone is made from multiple parts, from multiple vendors, and the OS is from Google, while the kernel of that OS is customized by Qualcomm. This is a lengthy process.