Important Note: The Payload Dumper tool can only be used to extract the Payload.bin file from full OTA packages. But now, these update packages come with a single ‘ Payload.bin‘ file that contains the individual partition images. Earlier, these update files or packages came with partition images, which could easily be extracted and used for manual flashing.
This new A/B update mechanism also introduced a new format for the Android OTA/Firmware update files. XDA posted a detailed write-up on A/B partitions and how it affects the custom development scene. Also, it drastically reduces post-OTA failures that could make the device unusable. For one, the updates are installed seamlessly without rebooting the phone into the recovery mode. Of course, the new update mechanism offers several benefits. Google introduced the concept of A/B (Seamless) System Updates back with Android Oreo.
