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App Bundles vs Universal APK

Developers should use App Bundles when publishing Android apps to the Google Play Store, as it is required for new apps since August 2021 and helps reduce app size by up to 20-30%, leading to faster downloads and better user experience meets developers should use universal apk when targeting a broad audience across diverse android devices with different cpu architectures, especially for smaller apps or in development/testing phases where managing multiple apks is cumbersome. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

App Bundles

Developers should use App Bundles when publishing Android apps to the Google Play Store, as it is required for new apps since August 2021 and helps reduce app size by up to 20-30%, leading to faster downloads and better user experience

App Bundles

Nice Pick

Developers should use App Bundles when publishing Android apps to the Google Play Store, as it is required for new apps since August 2021 and helps reduce app size by up to 20-30%, leading to faster downloads and better user experience

Pros

  • +It is particularly beneficial for apps with multiple languages, screen densities, or CPU architectures, as it automatically generates tailored APKs for each device, eliminating the need for developers to manage multiple APK variants manually
  • +Related to: android-development, google-play-console

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Universal APK

Developers should use Universal APK when targeting a broad audience across diverse Android devices with different CPU architectures, especially for smaller apps or in development/testing phases where managing multiple APKs is cumbersome

Pros

  • +It's ideal for apps distributed outside Google Play (e
  • +Related to: android-app-bundle, apk-signing

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use App Bundles if: You want it is particularly beneficial for apps with multiple languages, screen densities, or cpu architectures, as it automatically generates tailored apks for each device, eliminating the need for developers to manage multiple apk variants manually and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Universal APK if: You prioritize it's ideal for apps distributed outside google play (e over what App Bundles offers.

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The Bottom Line
App Bundles wins

Developers should use App Bundles when publishing Android apps to the Google Play Store, as it is required for new apps since August 2021 and helps reduce app size by up to 20-30%, leading to faster downloads and better user experience

Disagree with our pick? nice@nicepick.dev