diff --git a/.github/workflows/android.yml b/.github/workflows/android.yml
index 0d20ba79ee6..2ba9e84dcb8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/android.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/android.yml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Android
 
-# spell-checker:ignore (people) reactivecircus juliangruber
-# spell-checker:ignore (shell/tools) TERMUX nextest udevadm pkill
+# spell-checker:ignore (people) reactivecircus dtolnay
+# spell-checker:ignore (shell/tools) TERMUX nextest udevadm pkill sccache
 # spell-checker:ignore (misc) swiftshader playstore DATALOSS noaudio
 
 on:
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ on:
     branches:
       - '*'
 
-
 permissions:
   contents: read # to fetch code (actions/checkout)
 
@@ -21,35 +20,26 @@ concurrency:
 
 env:
   TERMUX: v0.118.0
-  KEY_POSTFIX: nextest+rustc-hash+adb+sshd+upgrade+XGB+inc18
   COMMON_EMULATOR_OPTIONS: -no-metrics -no-window -noaudio -no-boot-anim -camera-back none -gpu off
-  EMULATOR_DISK_SIZE: 12GB
-  EMULATOR_HEAP_SIZE: 2048M
-  EMULATOR_BOOT_TIMEOUT: 1200 # 20min
+  EMULATOR_DISK_SIZE: 6GB
+  EMULATOR_HEAP_SIZE: 1024M
+  EMULATOR_BOOT_TIMEOUT: 600
+  EMULATOR_RAM_SIZE: 3072M
+  EMULATOR_CORES: 4
 
 jobs:
   test_android:
     name: Test builds
-    timeout-minutes: 90
+    timeout-minutes: 45
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        os: [ubuntu-latest] # , macos-latest
-        cores: [4] # , 6
-        ram: [4096]
+        os: [ubuntu-latest]
         api-level: [28]
         target: [google_apis_playstore]
-        arch: [x86_64] # ,x86 ,arm64-v8a
+        arch: [x86_64]
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
-    env:
-      EMULATOR_RAM_SIZE: ${{ matrix.ram }}
-      EMULATOR_CORES: ${{ matrix.cores }}
-      RUNNER_OS: ${{ matrix.os }}
-      AVD_CACHE_KEY: "set later due to limitations of github actions not able to concatenate env variables"
     steps:
-    - name: Concatenate values to environment file
-      run: |
-        echo "AVD_CACHE_KEY=${{ matrix.os }}-${{ matrix.cores }}-${{ matrix.ram }}-${{ matrix.api-level }}-${{ matrix.target }}-${{ matrix.arch }}+termux-${{ env.TERMUX }}+${{ env.KEY_POSTFIX }}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
     - name: Collect information about runner
       if: always()
       continue-on-error: true
@@ -78,84 +68,39 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/checkout@v7.0.1
       with:
         persist-credentials: false
-    - name: Collect information about runner
-      if: always()
-      continue-on-error: true
-      run: |
-        free -mh
-        df -Th
-    - name: Restore AVD cache
-      uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
-      id: avd-cache
-      continue-on-error: true
-      with:
-        path: |
-          ~/.android/avd/*
-          ~/.android/avd/*/snapshots/*
-          ~/.android/adb*
-          ~/__rustc_hash__
-        key: avd-${{ env.AVD_CACHE_KEY }}
-    - name: Collect information about runner after AVD cache
-      if: always()
+    - name: Run sccache-cache
+      id: sccache-setup
+      uses: mozilla-actions/sccache-action@v0.0.11
       continue-on-error: true
+    - name: Export sccache
+      if: steps.sccache-setup.outcome == 'success'
       run: |
-        free -mh
-        df -Th
-        ls -lah /mnt/data
-        du -sch /mnt/data
-    - name: Delete AVD Lockfile when run from cache
-      if: steps.avd-cache.outputs.cache-hit == 'true'
-      run: |
-        rm -f \
-          ~/.android/avd/*.avd/*.lock \
-          ~/.android/avd/*/*.lock
-    - name: Create and cache emulator image
-      if: steps.avd-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-      uses: reactivecircus/android-emulator-runner@v2.38.0
-      with:
-        api-level: ${{ matrix.api-level }}
-        target: ${{ matrix.target }}
-        arch: ${{ matrix.arch }}
-        ram-size: ${{ env.EMULATOR_RAM_SIZE }}
-        heap-size: ${{ env.EMULATOR_HEAP_SIZE }}
-        disk-size: ${{ env.EMULATOR_DISK_SIZE }}
-        cores: ${{ env.EMULATOR_CORES }}
-        force-avd-creation: true
-        emulator-options: ${{ env.COMMON_EMULATOR_OPTIONS }} -no-snapshot-load
-        emulator-boot-timeout: ${{ env.EMULATOR_BOOT_TIMEOUT }}
-        script: |
-          util/android-commands.sh init "${{ matrix.arch }}" "${{ matrix.api-level }}" "${{ env.TERMUX }}"
-    - name: Save AVD cache
-      if: steps.avd-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-      uses: actions/cache/save@v6
-      with:
-        path: |
-          ~/.android/avd/*
-          ~/.android/avd/*/snapshots/*
-          ~/.android/adb*
-          ~/__rustc_hash__
-        key: avd-${{ env.AVD_CACHE_KEY }}
-    - uses: juliangruber/read-file-action@v1
-      id: read_rustc_hash
-      with:
-        # ~ expansion didn't work
-        path: ${{ runner.os == 'Linux' && '/home/runner/__rustc_hash__' || '/Users/runner/__rustc_hash__' }}
-        trim: true
-    - name: Restore rust cache
-      id: rust-cache
-      uses: actions/cache/restore@v6
+        echo "RUSTC_WRAPPER=sccache" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+        echo "SCCACHE_GHA_ENABLED=true" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+    - name: Set up Rust
+      uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
       with:
-        path: ~/__rust_cache__
-        # The version vX at the end of the key is just a development version to avoid conflicts in
-        # the github cache during the development of this workflow
-        key: ${{ matrix.arch }}_${{ matrix.target}}_${{ steps.read_rustc_hash.outputs.content }}_${{ hashFiles('**/Cargo.toml', '**/Cargo.lock') }}_v3
-    - name: Collect information about runner resources
-      if: always()
-      continue-on-error: true
+        targets: x86_64-linux-android
+    - name: Install cargo-nextest on host
+      uses: taiki-e/install-action@cargo-nextest
+    - name: Cross-compile coreutils and tests for Android
       run: |
-        free -mh
-        df -Th
-    - name: Build and Test
+        export ANDROID_NDK_ROOT=${ANDROID_NDK_LATEST_HOME:-$ANDROID_NDK_HOME}
+        export TOOLCHAIN=$ANDROID_NDK_ROOT/toolchains/llvm/prebuilt/linux-x86_64
+        export CARGO_TARGET_X86_64_LINUX_ANDROID_LINKER=$TOOLCHAIN/bin/x86_64-linux-android28-clang
+        export CARGO_TARGET_X86_64_LINUX_ANDROID_AR=$TOOLCHAIN/bin/llvm-ar
+        export CC_x86_64_linux_android=$TOOLCHAIN/bin/x86_64-linux-android28-clang
+        export CXX_x86_64_linux_android=$TOOLCHAIN/bin/x86_64-linux-android28-clang++
+        export AR_x86_64_linux_android=$TOOLCHAIN/bin/llvm-ar
+
+        mkdir -p target/nextest-target
+
+        echo "=== Cross-compiling cargo-nextest for Android ==="
+        cargo install cargo-nextest --target x86_64-linux-android --root target/nextest-target --locked
+
+        echo "=== Cross-compiling coreutils & archiving tests with nextest ==="
+        cargo nextest archive --target x86_64-linux-android --features feat_os_unix_android --archive-file target/test-archive.tar.zst
+    - name: Run Android Emulator and Tests
       uses: reactivecircus/android-emulator-runner@v2.38.0
       with:
         api-level: ${{ matrix.api-level }}
@@ -166,33 +111,17 @@ jobs:
         disk-size: ${{ env.EMULATOR_DISK_SIZE }}
         cores: ${{ env.EMULATOR_CORES }}
         force-avd-creation: false
-        emulator-options: ${{ env.COMMON_EMULATOR_OPTIONS }} -no-snapshot-save -snapshot ${{ env.AVD_CACHE_KEY }}
+        emulator-options: ${{ env.COMMON_EMULATOR_OPTIONS }}
         emulator-boot-timeout: ${{ env.EMULATOR_BOOT_TIMEOUT }}
-        # This is not a usual script. Every line is executed in a separate shell with `sh -c`. If
-        # one of the lines returns with error the whole script is failed (like running a script with
-        # set -e) and in consequences the other lines (shells) are not executed.
         script: |
-          util/android-commands.sh sync_host
-          util/android-commands.sh build
+          util/android-commands.sh init "${{ matrix.arch }}" "${{ matrix.api-level }}" "${{ env.TERMUX }}"
+          util/android-commands.sh sync_tests target/test-archive.tar.zst target/nextest-target/bin/cargo-nextest
           util/android-commands.sh tests
-          if [ "${{ steps.rust-cache.outputs.cache-hit }}" != 'true' ]; then util/android-commands.sh sync_image; fi; exit 0
-    - name: Collect information about runner resources
-      if: always()
-      continue-on-error: true
-      run: |
-        free -mh
-        df -Th
-    - name: Save rust cache
-      if: steps.rust-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
-      uses: actions/cache/save@v6
-      with:
-        path: ~/__rust_cache__
-        key: ${{ matrix.arch }}_${{ matrix.target}}_${{ steps.read_rustc_hash.outputs.content }}_${{ hashFiles('**/Cargo.toml', '**/Cargo.lock') }}_v3
     - name: archive any output (error screenshots)
       if: always()
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v7
       with:
-        name: test_output_${{ env.AVD_CACHE_KEY }}
+        name: test_output_${{ matrix.arch }}_${{ matrix.api-level }}
         path: output
     - name: Collect information about runner resources
       if: always()
diff --git a/util/android-commands.sh b/util/android-commands.sh
index 63adf0ec422..0be462c123e 100755
--- a/util/android-commands.sh
+++ b/util/android-commands.sh
@@ -326,19 +326,17 @@ init() {
     api_level="$2"
     termux="$3"
 
-    snapshot_name="${AVD_CACHE_KEY}"
-
-    # shellcheck disable=SC2015
-    curl -sLO "https://github.com/termux/termux-app/releases/download/${termux}/termux-app_${termux}+github-debug_${arch}.apk" &&
-        snapshot "termux-app_${termux}+github-debug_${arch}.apk" &&
-        hash_rustc &&
-        exit_termux &&
-        adb -s emulator-5554 emu avd snapshot save "$snapshot_name" &&
-        echo "Emulator image created. Name: $snapshot_name" || {
-        pkill -9 qemu-system-x86_64
-        return 1
-    }
-    pkill -9 qemu-system-x86_64 || true
+    echo "Downloading and installing Termux..."
+    curl -sLO "https://github.com/termux/termux-app/releases/download/${termux}/termux-app_${termux}+github-debug_${arch}.apk"
+    adb install -g "termux-app_${termux}+github-debug_${arch}.apk"
+
+    echo "Initializing SSH connection..."
+    reinit_ssh_connection || return 1
+
+    echo "Installing minimal runtime tools (tar, mount-utils)..."
+    install_packages_via_ssh_using_apt "tar mount-utils"
+
+    echo "Termux initialized successfully."
 }
 
 reinit_ssh_connection() {
@@ -587,6 +585,21 @@ ls -la ${cache_dest}"
     echo "Finished sync image -> host: ${repo}"
 }
 
+sync_tests() {
+    archive="$1"
+    nextest_bin="$2"
+
+    reinit_ssh_connection || return 1
+
+    echo "Running sync tests -> device: archive=${archive}, nextest=${nextest_bin}"
+    run_command_via_ssh "mkdir -p ~/coreutils/target"
+    copy_file_or_dir_to_device_via_ssh "$archive" "$dev_home_dir/coreutils/test-archive.tar.zst"
+    copy_file_or_dir_to_device_via_ssh "$nextest_bin" "$dev_home_dir/coreutils/cargo-nextest"
+    run_command_via_ssh "chmod +x ~/coreutils/cargo-nextest"
+
+    echo "Finished sync tests -> device"
+}
+
 build() {
     echo "Running build"
 
@@ -675,6 +688,17 @@ elif [ $# -eq 2 ]; then
             exit 1
             ;;
     esac
+elif [ $# -eq 3 ]; then
+    case "$1" in
+        sync_tests)
+            sync_tests "$2" "$3"
+            exit_code=$?
+            ;;
+        *)
+            help
+            exit 1
+            ;;
+    esac
 elif [ $# -eq 4 ]; then
     case "$1" in
         init)
diff --git a/util/android-scripts/run-tests.sh b/util/android-scripts/run-tests.sh
index 17eed8808e0..b4fa72a85a4 100755
--- a/util/android-scripts/run-tests.sh
+++ b/util/android-scripts/run-tests.sh
@@ -7,26 +7,9 @@ echo "PATH: $PATH"
 export PATH=$HOME/.cargo/bin:$PATH
 export RUST_BACKTRACE=full
 export CARGO_TERM_COLOR=always
-export CARGO_INCREMENTAL=0
 
 echo "PATH: $PATH"
 
-run_with_retry() {
-    tries=$1
-    shift 1
-
-    for i in $(seq 1 $tries); do
-        echo "Try #$i of $tries: run $*"
-        "$@" && echo "Done in try#$i" && return 0
-    done
-
-    exit_code=$?
-
-    echo "Still failing after $tries. Code: $exit_code"
-
-    return $exit_code
-}
-
 run_tests_in_subprocess() (
 
     # limit virtual memory to 3GB to avoid that OS kills sshd
@@ -41,21 +24,17 @@ run_tests_in_subprocess() (
     }
 
     kill_all_background_jobs() {
-        jobs -p | xargs -I{} kill -- {}
+        jobs -p | xargs -I{} kill -- {} 2>/dev/null || true
     }
 
-    # observe (log) every 2 seconds the system resource usage to judge if we are at a limit
-    watchplus 2 df -h &
-    watchplus 2 free -hm &
-
-    nextest_params=(--profile ci --hide-progress-bar --features feat_os_unix_android)
+    # observe (log) every 5 seconds the system resource usage to judge if we are at a limit
+    watchplus 5 df -h &
+    watchplus 5 free -hm &
 
-    # run tests
+    # run pre-compiled nextest archive on device
     cd ~/coreutils && \
-        run_with_retry 3 timeout --preserve-status --verbose -k 1m 10m \
-            cargo nextest run --no-run "${nextest_params[@]}" &&
         timeout --preserve-status --verbose -k 1m 60m \
-            cargo nextest run "${nextest_params[@]}"
+            ./cargo-nextest nextest run --archive-file test-archive.tar.zst --profile ci --hide-progress-bar
 
     result=$?