Since the Amazon Fire TV 2 was a 64-bit device, many people seem to have assumed that the new Fire TV 3 would also be a 64-bit device. In reality, that’s only partially the case, because while the Fire TV 3 has a 64-bit CPU, the current version of Fire OS 6 running on the device is actually a 32-bit operating system.
The 3rd generation Fire TV has a brand new Amlogic S905Z CPU. It’s so new that not much is known about it. What we do know is that it’s part of the S905 family of processors, which is Amlogic’s first line of 64-bit products. However, trying to install a 64-bit app will result in the installation failing, as many trying to install the 64-bit version of Kodi have learned.
If you run the ADB command
Running the ADB command
Now that we know what’s going on, what does it mean? Not much really, but that’s just my opinion. You can find thousands of pages of forum posts full of people arguing the pros and cons of the 32-bit vs. 64-bit debate, and honestly, I don’t know enough about it to confidently give an opinion. What I do know is that most people are in agreement that a device benefits most from a 64-bit architecture if it has 4GB or more of RAM, which the Fire TV 3 nor any other Fire TV model have.
If had to guess why Amazon put a 32-bit operating system on 64-bit hardware, I’d say it’s because this is the first release of Fire OS 6 and making it universally usable was probably a priority. By making the first version of Fire OS 6 a 32-bit operating system, it means it can be used on both 32-bit and 64-bit devices. Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire Tablet models consist of a mixture of 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. It makes sense to, at first, concentrate on an OS that could theoretically be installed on all devices and then work up to a 64-bit version later.
Amazon’s Fire TV Hardware Specifications page for developers lists whether the CPU of each Fire TV and Fire TV Stick model is 32-bit or 64-bit, but the new listing for the Fire TV 3 is distinctly missing that information. This could be because they don’t yet know if they’ll be updating the Fire TV 3 to a 64-bit version of Fire OS 6 at some point in the future.
For now, all this just means you should stick to choosing a 32-bit app when sideloading, if you have the option to choose between a 64-bit or 32-bit version. Apps installed from the Amazon Appstore will automatically install the correct version, so there’s no need to worry there.
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How much effort is required to develop both a 32 and a 64-bit program for Android? If I did have a 64-bit device and OS, would I need to be concerned that an app wouldn’t work when it works on a 32-bit device/OS? I’m sure large companies like Facebook and Google can easily just develop both versions of an application, but what about real indie devs?
32-bit apps will run perfectly fine on a 64-bit device/OS. There’s no concern with that at all. I’ve yet to come across an app that has a 64-bit version but doesn’t have a 32-bit version.
The difficulty of making a 64-bit version varies greatly on the specific app and how much effort is made to take advantage of the potential benefits of moving to a 64-bit architecture.
Dolphin(Gamecube/Wii) devs refuse to make a 32-bit version because there are features they apparently use in 64-bit that they don’t want to have to manage two separate builds for. And they did it even when there were 0-4 devices with Android 64-bit in the wild.
But, other than that I can’t think of any.
Can you name a “feature” in a 64-bit architecture that is not available in 32-bit? Register widths rarely impact source code.
That’d be up to them to state. Probably something not technically not in 32-bit, but only ever is included in 64-bit devices or OSs.
Hi I have the new firetv (3-GEN) and I have Kodi-17.5.1 ARMV8A (64BIT) running in it with no issues
How exactly did you install it to make it work? no-one else has managed it that I know of.
Could you tell me what software version your Fire TV 3 is running?
Ya how did you manage that i havent been able either tried on 6 brand new ones
Also one app that crashes on Fire TV3 is iViewHD must be 64bit only works fine on all other devices
Honestly, there could be pros to using 32bit. Usually the apps size is smaller for one thing. Unless video decoding is impacted, not sure what advantage making the OS 64bit would have, but I’m not an expert.
I was going to point this out as well. There are a few benefits to 64bit even on low memory devices (much larger address space for ALSR and other security methods) but you have to weigh those benefits against the drawbacks such as larger memory profile and larger app sizes. It is perfectly defensible to go with 32bit if you have 4GB of memory or less and do not need a larger memory address space.
I could nt able to install Stbemu pro on new firetv (3gen). Could you please provide me instructions , any settings to work.
Stbemu worked flawlessly on my previous generation all fire tv devices
Same here
I suspect that simplicity is the main reason, perhaps they only have stable 32bit blobs or theyre building from the same base os and dont want to make a 64bit variant when they have multiple 32bit devices which may be based on the code e.g. Echo, Stick 2, etc.
Considering the main intended use of these devices, they likely see no rush to go 64bit.
Exactly my thoughts. You have to consider the purpose of the device. You wouldn’t want a web server or database server running a 32 bit operating system. You would quickly discover the limits of a 32 bit architecture (not only RAM but much more).
But on a single purpose device (side loading is up to your own risk of course) there is simply no need to rush to 64 bit. The device will perform just as good or even better on 32 bit than it would on 64 bit.
Now the big question, should i stay with my Fire tv 2 or buy the new Fire tv/
Wait for the real Fire TV 3 to be released. This is just a misnamed Stick.
Hi, my kodi 17.5.1. ARMV8A (64BIT) just stop working today, in new firetv (3-GEN) it won’t open after the new update
Hey, my kodi 17.5.1. ARMV8A (64BIT) just stop working today, in my new firetv (3-GEN) it won’t open after the new update
Has anyone worked out yet how to put Google Play onto the Fire TV 3? I know it’s early days but wondered if anyone has had any luck?
Kodi (Leia) 18 is coming out in Feb 2018. It is a 64bit ver. it will run on Xbox One. 32 bit will not run on an Xbox One when using the Amazon FireTv.
My question is the FireTv ver1 is only 32bit. the FireTV 4k ver2 64bit?????
and the FireTv ver3 may be 64bit.
I have the 4k 2nd Ver is it 64 bit. I can not find out what bit the 2nd gen is running. I need to have a 64bit FireTv to run on an Xbox One X. We have been waithing for Kodi to make a Kodi ver that will run on a 64 bit operating Xbox One. Kodi 17.6 (Kryton) is only a 32 bit ver, Kodi 18 (Leia) is going to be a 64 bit ver. Most don’t care if their FireTv is 32 bit or 64 Bit BUT those that are using the Xbox One NEED theit FireTv to be 64 Bit….. Thank you
Bro… the devices aren’t mutually exclusive. It doesn’t matter if your fireTV is 32-bit and your XBox One 64-bit, the apps don’t even work on the wrong system… for instance, APKs are for android based devices like the fireTV. The APK is not meant for XBox One… What are you talking about.
Trying to install Kodi 64bit on fire stick 4K looks like same problem fire OS 6 is 32bit running on 64bit SoC.
So only 32bit APK can be installed.
Sorry my mistake SoC on new fire stick 4K is 32bit ARM v7