Thread: Why is KOA2 soft-float while KOA3 supports hard-float?
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Old 12-28-2025, 09:14 AM   #1
bozza111
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Join Date: May 2018
Device: KOA2
Why is KOA2 soft-float while KOA3 supports hard-float?
I’m trying to understand why the Kindle Oasis 2 (KOA2) appears to be limited to soft-float (armel) userland, while the Kindle Oasis 3 (KOA3) runs newer firmware that supports hard-float (armhf), even though the two devices are, as far as I can tell, essentially identical in hardware (same SoC, RAM, screen, etc., with KOA3 only adding the adjustable warm light and a slightly larger battery).

KOA2 seems to top out at firmware 5.16.2.1.1, while KOA3 can run 5.16.3+, which is where the hard-float transition appears to happen.

My questions are:
  • Does anyone know why Amazon never shipped a hard-float firmware for KOA2, despite the hardware being capable?
  • Is there any known way to run hard-float (armhf) apps on KOA2 (e.g. via chroot, custom userland, or other hacks)?
  • Or is there any way to update or port newer firmware (5.16.3+) to KOA2, even unofficially?

Thanks
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