Difference Between arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a, and x86 in Android

Some apps are released as Universal, meaning they run on every type of CPU.
But many apps are built separately for different CPU architectures, such as:

• arm64-v8a – arm64 – aarch64 → modern ARM 64-bit processors
• armeabi-v7a – arm – aarch → older ARM 32-bit processors
• x86 → for Intel 32-bit devices (almost extinct)
• x86_64 → for Intel 64-bit devices (basically 🦖)

Key differences

armeabi-v7a 32bit

• Runs only on 32-bit CPUs
• RAM usage limited to around 3~4 GB
• Slower compared to 64-bit versions

arm64-v8a 64bit

• More complete and faster
• Can run both 64-bit and 32-bit apps
• Access to 4GB and higher RAM and better performance
• Almost all devices from the last 5 years are this architecture

x86 and x86_64

• For Intel-based processors
• Belong to the 🦖 dinosaur era of phones/tablets
• Thankfully, extinct now

Cross-installation

On an arm64-v8a phone 64bit

• Can install arm64-v8a (recommended, optimized)
• Can also run armeabi-v7a, just slightly slower

On an armeabi-v7a phone 32bit

• Cannot install arm64-v8a apps
• Cannot install x86 versions either

Universal version

• Includes all libraries (arm64, armeabi, x86, x86_64)
• But file size is larger, takes longer to download, and uses more storage

Suggestion

If your phone is arm64-v8a or armeabi-v7a, why bother downloading a Universal version which is twice as heavy and contains even x86 libraries that you’ll never use?
Check your CPU architecture here once, and always download only the optimized version.

Performance impact

• If your phone is 64-bit, but you install the 32-bit version:
• The app will run, ✔️
• But performance is reduced (10–30% slower in games or heavy processing).
• RAM usage is capped at 4GB.
• Less secure than the 64-bit version.

How to check your phone’s CPU architecture

1. From inside Telegram

Open Telegram → go to Settings → scroll to the bottom → you can see the CPU architecture listed (marked in this screenshot):

2. Using helper apps

• CPU-Z
• CPU-X
• Device Checker

In the SYSTEM tab, look for the field Kernel Architecture.

3. With Termux

Run this command in Termux to display the primary CPU ABI:

getprop ro.product.cpu.abi

Or for more details, run:

getprop | grep abi

Compatibility table

CPU Architecture	Compatible Installs 🟢	Incompatible Installs 🔴
armeabi-v7a (32bit)	armeabi-v7a 🟢	arm64-v8a 🔴 x86 🔴 x86_64 🔴
arm64-v8a (64bit)	arm64-v8a 🟢 armeabi-v7a 🟢	x86 🔴 x86_64 🔴
x86 (32bit Intel)	x86 🟢	others 🔴
x86_64 (64bit Intel)	x86_64 🟢 x86 🟢	others 🔴

Conclusion

• Old phones 32bit → Only use armeabi-v7a
• Modern phones 64bit → Prefer arm64-v8a (fallback to armeabi-v7a if needed)
• Universal version → Mostly useless, just wastes download size + storage

Stay curious 🩶✋🏿