Google just gave TV app developers a deadline: by August 1, 2026, any new Google TV or Android TV app that uses native code must come with a 64-bit version. Translation? Google is paving the way for a new generation of 64-bit TV devices, and that could finally mean smoother apps, faster performance, and maybe even more RAM to power those endless binge sessions.
Now, as someone who owns the Chromecast with Google TV 4K, I’ll admit: this is long overdue. My little Chromecast still runs on 32-bit apps, and even Google’s new Google TV Streamer is guilty of the same. That’s the flagship device, mind you! Out of the box, it runs a 32-bit build of Android TV 14, even though its MediaTek MT8696 chip is fully capable of handling 64-bit software. It even packs 4GB of RAM. But because it’s locked into a 32-bit OS, apps can’t fully take advantage of the hardware. It feels a bit like buying a sports car and then being told you can’t go past third gear.
So, what’s changing? Well, 64-bit apps run faster, launch quicker, and handle memory more efficiently. They’re also essential for taking advantage of newer hardware. Google isn’t ditching 32-bit apps overnight (your old devices will still work), but developers will now be forced to build 64-bit versions alongside their 32-bit ones. The timing is no accident, it’s Google telling us: “Hey, get ready, because new 64-bit TVs and streamers are coming.”
If you read between the lines, this is also a hint at where hardware is headed. More RAM, bigger storage, and better app performance become possible once devices move fully into 64-bit territory. My bet? The next Chromecast or Google TV box might quietly flip the switch with the next major Google TV/Android TV update, instantly giving all that untapped hardware muscle the room to shine.
For us everyday users, it probably won’t look like a flashy upgrade. You’ll just unbox your next Google TV gadget, open Netflix or YouTube, and notice it’s zippier, more responsive, and less prone to those annoying slowdowns after you’ve installed “just one more app.”
The irony, though, is hard to ignore: the Google TV Streamer already has the hardware, but it’s still stuck living in the 32-bit past. Maybe this announcement is the clearest signal yet that an update is coming, and when it does, the streaming experience is about to get a lot better.
So, while Google hasn’t stood on a stage to promise us “TVs with more RAM,” the clues are lining up. The countdown to August 2026 is on, and the future of Google TV and Android TV is 64-bit. Personally, I can’t wait to see my binge nights get an upgrade.
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