Despite the benefits, there are a few trade-offs to consider:
: For systems with >4GB storage and frequent OTA requirements, A/B or Virtual A/B is superior to legacy recovery-based models. ab multiboot
Not all modern Android devices use AB. Google Pixel 1 through 7 use it. Samsung Galaxy devices (with One UI) generally use true AB seamless updates (they use a hybrid called "Virtual AB" or "VABC" on Android 13+). Most Xiaomi, Oppo, and Realme phones from 2019 onward use VABC. Despite the benefits, there are a few trade-offs
| Advantage | Explanation | |-----------|-------------| | | The user can continue using the device during download and installation. | | Robust rollback | If the new update fails to boot, the system automatically reverts to the previous working slot. | | Reduced brick risk | Failed or interrupted updates leave the currently running slot untouched. | | No recovery mode required | Traditional “apply update from ADB” is bypassed for normal OTAs. | Samsung Galaxy devices (with One UI) generally use