Confused: Why 32bit only OS on Moto G5 64bit hardware?

[Hero002]

Hi!

If I understand things correctly, my Moto G5 phone is born with an Android OS version that only accepts 32bit code, although the hardware is 64bit?

Why did Moto do that? It sounds like selling a car with a 6 or 8 cylinders engine, and only use 4 of them...?!
And on top of that, I discovered they stopped updating that (primitive 32bit) Android 8.1.0 OS in February 2019...

Should I switch to a custom 64bit ROM? NB!: Stability and robustness is more important to me than fancy new features...!
I found 2 lists of 'Best ROMs for Moto G5'. The shortest recommends 8 here:
https://romsx.com/best-custom-roms-for-moto-g5/
So which should I choose?
NB: Moto G5 only has 16 GB.

 

[TheFixItMan]

Hi!

If I understand things correctly, my Moto G5 phone is born with an Android OS version that only accepts 32bit code, although the hardware is 64bit?

Why did Moto do that? It sounds like selling a car with a 6 or 8 cylinders engine, and only use 4 of them...?!
And on top of that, I discovered they stopped updating that (primitive 32bit) Android 8.1.0 OS in February 2019...

Should I switch to a custom 64bit ROM? NB!: Stability and robustness is more important to me than fancy new features...!
I found 2 lists of 'Best ROMs for Moto G5'. The shortest recommends 8 here:
https://romsx.com/best-custom-roms-for-moto-g5/
So which should I choose?
NB: Moto G5 only has 16 GB.

You will have to ask Motorola for the answer to the first part

As for custom 64bit roms:
Lineage 17.1
Lineage mint (based on lineage 17.1)
ASOP android 10

Are the latest custom roms for this device (see dev section)

All will have the same issue with regards to camera/video recording not working fully

 

[Hero002]

You will have to ask Motorola for the answer to the first part

As for custom 64bit roms:
Lineage 17.1
Lineage mint (based on lineage 17.1)
ASOP android 10

Are the latest custom roms for this device (see dev section)

All will have the same issue with regards to camera/video recording not working fully

Thank you for your reply!

But what about ROMs that have been more tested in real life, where camera and video etc. work?

Yes - it is Motorola that should answer my first questions. I don't expect any answer from them... But others might have a comment...

 

[TheFixItMan]

Thank you for your reply!

But what about ROMs that have been more tested in real life, where camera and video etc. work?

Yes - it is Motorola that should answer my first questions. I don't expect any answer from them... But others might have a comment...

All 64bit roms will have the camera issue as Motorola have not released updated camera libs

The roms I listed above are the latest roms which will have the camera bug minimised but you will still experience issues in some apps like only being able to take a certain amount of photos before the app freezes, camera not working in low light, green tint, video not recording/saving and so on. You can use various other apps but nothing is perfect and you may still experience issues

The only fully functioning custom rom with no bugs will be the 32bit lineage 14.1

 

[Hero002]

All 64bit roms will have the camera issue as Motorola have not released updated camera libs

The roms I listed above are the latest roms which will have the camera bug minimised but you will still experience issues in some apps like only being able to take a certain amount of photos before the app freezes, camera not working in low light, green tint, video not recording/saving and so on. You can use various other apps but nothing is perfect and you may still experience issues

The only fully functioning custom rom with no bugs will be the 32bit lineage 14.1

That is the most useful information I have yet seen about custom ROMs - thank you!

But according to https://forum.xda-developers.com/g5/development/7-1-x-lineageos-14-1-moto-g5-t3611973 LineageOS 14.1 for Moto G5 is:

ROM OS Version: 7.1.x Nougat
Last Updated 2018-03-18

And the 'stock' OS on my Moto G5 is Android 8.1.0 updated in February 2019.

My intention was to UPgrade my OS, not DOWNgrade it... !
So THAT LineageOS 14.1 doesn't really seem relevant.

And on https://download.lineageos.org/ there doesn't seem to be a version for Moto G5(?) There are versions for G4 and G6, but not G5. (Neither under Lenovo - the actual producer.)

But thanks anyway!

 

[TheFixItMan]

That is the most useful information I have yet seen about custom ROMs - thank you!

But according to https://forum.xda-developers.com/g5/development/7-1-x-lineageos-14-1-moto-g5-t3611973 LineageOS 14.1 for Moto G5 is:

ROM OS Version: 7.1.x Nougat
Last Updated 2018-03-18

And the 'stock' OS on my Moto G5 is Android 8.1.0 updated in February 2019.

My intention was to UPgrade my OS, not DOWNgrade it... !
So THAT LineageOS 14.1 doesn't really seem relevant.

And on https://download.lineageos.org/ there doesn't seem to be a version for Moto G5(?) There are versions for G4 and G6, but not G5. (Neither under Lenovo - the actual producer.)

But thanks anyway!

Only official versions will be on the lineageos website

There is no difference between an official and unofficial version except the official versions are built on the lineage servers every week with any lineage side changes (not device side unless merged by maintainer)
However official versions have to meet certain criteria in terms of everything that works in stock rom must work in the unofficial lineage build submitted to become official.

As the camera doesn't work as it does in stock in lineage 17.1 it will never become official in its current state

They are listed under Motorola because that is the company that makes the phones
Lenovo is the parent company that owns Motorola

 

[Hero002]

Only official versions will be on the lineageos website

There is no difference between an official and unofficial version except the official versions are built on the lineage servers every week with any lineage side changes (not device side unless merged by maintainer)
However official versions have to meet certain criteria in terms of everything that works in stock rom must work in the unofficial lineage build submitted to become official.

As the camera doesn't work as it does in stock in lineage 17.1 it will never become official in its current state

They are listed under Motorola because that is the company that makes the phones
Lenovo is the parent company that owns Motorola

Thank you.

But I am not 100% sure about whether you are confirming that the stock ROM on Moto G5 is the newest available Android OS version where everything works?

 

[TheFixItMan]

Thank you.

But I am not 100% sure about whether you are confirming that the stock ROM on Moto G5 is the newest available Android OS version where everything works?

Stock rom will be the latest os version where everything works 100%

All 64bit custom roms have camera issues due to no updated propriety sources

 

[Hero002]

Stock rom will be the latest os version where everything works 100%

All 64bit custom roms have camera issues due to no updated proprietary sources

That's sad.
So when I want to buy a phone in the future:
Which other smart phone brands will probably not leave their customers with 'a choice between plague or cholera'...?

 

[TheFixItMan]

That's sad.
So when I want to buy a phone in the future:
Which other smart phone brands will probably not leave their customers with 'a choice between plague or cholera'...?

Samsung will have the most community support as they are the most popular phones
Google pixel will obviously have longevity
Xiaomi might be the best budget choice other than later Motorola models