Pixel phones usually offer a smooth experience overall, but there are times when, out of nowhere, the UI stutters while you scroll through apps. This can be quite annoying, especially now that prices have gone up. That said, a developer claims to have found the reason for the Pixel stutter and has notified Google.
The problem is not exactly new, as there has been an open thread on Google’s official Issue Tracker since April 2024. Since then, the problem has been present in every subsequent Android update for Pixel phones, with no solution in sight. Google even acknowledged the existence of the bug, but it seems that they have not managed to find a fix. This is quite striking considering all the resources that the Mountain View giant has.
The reason for the Google Pixel stutter issue and how a kernel developer solved it
Sultan Alsawaf is a developer who, among his works, offers a custom kernel for some Pixel models. Alsawaf claims to have detected the reason behind the annoying “Pixel stutter” issue that plagues many.
According to the developer, Google’s implementation of Android has a bandwidth management problem due to the incorrect use of “lock” or “turn-taking rule.” The type of “lock” can restrict the number of OS items utilizing a specific path. Imagine the amount of available bandwidth on a street, where the buildup of traffic will cause congestion.
Well, the “lock” incorrectly used by Google (btsdev->lock) is not strict enough. It basically allows too many OS items to take the same path at the same time. It also negatively impacts the calculations of how much bandwidth each OS item actually requires. This results in sudden UI stutters with no apparent explanation while using your device for common tasks.
The developer fixed the issue by implementing the right kind of “lock” (mutex_lock) that limits the number of OS items that can take a certain path at once, avoiding “overloading” the available bandwidth and allowing more precise bandwidth calculations to the CPU.
Fix available on developer’s custom Kernel for Pixel 8; Suggested changes sent to Google
Alsawaf says he already sent his suggested code changes to Google. In the meantime, he implemented them in his custom kernel for the Pixel 8 series. However, installing a third-party kernel requires some knowledge and involves potential risks. So, let’s hope Google implements the changes quickly on its Pixel phones.
2025-02-05 15:05:25