As a developer discovers a unique kernel fix, the Google Pixel's intermittent stuttering issues may soon be resolved.

AI methods have allowed Google's Pixel smartphones to shine, but software performance has always been a problem. Since the Pixel 6 series, stuttering or microstuttering has been an issue with Pixel smartphones. Nevertheless, modern hardware (such as the most recent Pixel 9 series) somehow compensates for what is known to be a kernel-related problem. The same has been brought up in a recent topic on Google's official Issue Tracker, which has been active since April 2024 (along with two other duplicates), and Google has yet to provide a remedy. Lastly,A developer took matters into his own hands and devised a solution that, ideally, will be made available to everyone through Google's official software channels.

The micro stutters on the Pixel appear to have been fixed by a developer named Sultan Alsawaf, who provides a modified kernel for certain Pixel variants. According to the developer, the issue is essentially one of bandwidth control. The improper application of the "lock" or "turn-taking rule," which restricts the quantity of OS queries on a certain path, is the cause of this.

Because the term "lock" is not strictly enough in practice (btsdev->lock vs. a mutex_lock), he says Google uses it wrongly. Similar to a traffic jam created by too many cars blocking a street, this permits an excessive number of operating system elements to share the same path at any given time. The creator claims that this chokes the operating system, causing stuttering at unpredictable times. We have already covered this subject in our Pixel reviews.

Additionally, the developer asserts that he has discovered a solution and has incorporated it into his own kernel, which can be flashed on compatible devices. By properly using "lock," the fix prevents overloading and provides more accurate bandwidth calculations for the CPU to complete by limiting the amount of OS objects.

Google has already received Alsawaf's solution to the problem. Therefore, it is hoped that Google would incorporate the kernel modifications into a future update for all of its Pixel handsets. Although there is a definite risk of losing your data or having a bricked phone, those who are interested in flashing the developer's own kernel can still do so. Thus, it's best to just wait for Google to provide an official