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Android 9.0 Pie update tracker: What we know so far (Updated September 4)

Android 9 Pie review Quick Settings light

The next major version of Android, Android 9.0 Pie, has already made its way to the Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, and Pixel 2 XL. Google announced this official Android 9.0 update on August 6, 2018, and began rolling it out to Pixel phones the same day.

But what about other devices? What will happen to the other non-Pixel Android phones that were a part of the Android Beta program? Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Android 9.0 Pie update schedule, which devices are compatible with Android Pie, how to install Android Pie updates, and more.

Android 9.0 Pie review: Closing the gap

How to install Android 9.0 Pie on your phone right now

Download: Android 9.0 Pie factory images and OTA files for Pixel devices

Digital Wellbeing hands-on: Prepare to be scared of your phone forever

Key Android Pie update features

We have a complete overview of all the new features in our Android 9 Pie review. We’d suggest checking out that article to see what’s new in Android Pie, what new features it brings, all the design tweaks, and more.

  • Gesture navigation
  • Redesigned app overview screen
  • New look for quick settings
  • Optional dark/light themes
  • Digital Wellbeing
  • Adaptive Brightness
  • Adaptive Battery
  • App Actions and Slices
  • Improved notifications
  • Improved Do Not Disturb mode

More coming soon

While Android Pie is already available on Pixels, not all the features that Google teased are coming right away. Digital Wellbeing, a major Google initiative for this year, will arrive this fall, likely with the Pixel 3. Pixel owners can sign up for a beta program for Digital Wellbeing, but it won’t roll out to everyone until later this year. Meanwhile, App Slices, which provide quick access to specific features inside apps, will also arrive this fall.

Android Go Pie edition

A week after the official launch of Android 9.0 Pie, Google announced the Pie version of Android Go. The company claims it’s even smaller, faster, and more secure than the Oreo version. The OS will free up even more space on smartphones, as shown in the image below:

Google

The Pie version of Android Go also offers faster boot times, security features like verified boot, and a dashboard for tracking data consumption.

Google Pie update

Google began rolling out the Android 9.0 Pie update to its Pixel smartphones on Monday, August 6, 2018. All four Pixel phones, whether they were enrolled in the Android Beta program or not, received the update on the same day. Android Pie factory images and OTA files are available on Google’s website. We also have a handy how to install Android Pie article if you need help sideloading the update manually.

Below, you’ll find a list of Pixel factory images and OTA files:

Google Pixel 2 XL

Factory images

OTA files

Google Pixel 2

Factory images

OTA files

Google Pixel XL

Factory images

OTA files

Google Pixel

Factory images

OTA files

What about the other Android manufacturers?

This year, the Android Pie rollout was a bit different from other major OS releases. Thanks to Google’s efforts with Project Treble, seven other phone makers — Nokia, OnePlus, Oppo, Sony, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Essential — were able to enroll their smartphones in the Android Beta program alongside Pixels. Google says all non-Pixels enrolled in the Android Beta program will receive the official Android Pie updates by the end of fall 2018 (which could be as late as November 31). Additionally, “qualifying Android One devices” will also be updated by the end of the fall, though Google never specified what “qualifying” means.

We’ve reached out to each one of the manufacturers listed above to see when their smartphones will receive the Android 9.0 Pie update.

Essential Pie update

Essential has always been extremely fast at issuing Android updates, and this release is no different. Minutes after Google announced Pie, Essential already started rolling out the update to the Essential Phone. Some of us actually received the update on our Essential Phones quicker than our Pixels. Not bad!

Essential also announced via Twitter that the Android Pie update has been released for Sprint customers on August 13. A few weeks later (August 27), the update also started rolling out to Telus variants of the device.

OnePlus Pie update

OnePlus said in a statement that it looks forward to bringing Android Pie to the OnePlus 6, OnePlus 5/5T and OnePlus 3/3T, but stopped short of offering any details:

OnePlus is driven by the idea of giving people the best possible hardware and software experience and that’s why we’ve been excited about Android P for some time now, having worked closely with the Android Beta Program. We’re looking forward to bringing Android P to OnePlus 6, as well as updating OnePlus 5/5T, and OnePlus 3/3T, ensuring OnePlus users all over the world can continue to enjoy new features.

According to XDA-Developers, unofficial AOSP ports of the latest Android version are already available for some OnePlus devices. These include the OnePlus 3 and 3T, as well as the older OnePlus X and OnePlus 2.

On September 3, the company released the Open Beta 1 for the OnePlus 6, which brings Android 9.0 Pie to the device. To try it out, click here to read instructions and get links to download the software. But before you do, keep in mind that as this is a beta update, some things — including Google Pay — won’t work properly. And if you don’t like the software and want to go back to the stable Oreo version of Android, you’ll have to wipe your OnePlus 6 and then reinstall the OS — which means you’ll lose all the data that’s not backed up.

Oppo Pie update

Oppo reached out to Android Authority to say that it does not yet have a target release date for Android Pie.

Vivo Pie update

Vivo told Android Authority that it plans to release Android Pie in Q4 2018:

Designing for consumers’ needs continues to be Vivo’s top priority. Upgrading to the latest Android Pie operating system to deliver better mobile experience is therefore an area Vivo is working on bringing to consumers as soon as possible. Consumers can expect this update to come out in Q4 this year. We will keep you updated once we have more details to share.

Sony Pie update

Sony published a blog post detailing the nine devices in its roster that will get Android 9.0 Pie. They are:

The update process will kick off in November for the XZ devices and then start in early 2019 for the XA2 line.

HTC Pie update

HTC took to Twitter to announce that it’s bringing Android Pie to four of its smartphones: U12 Plus, U11 Plus, U11, and the Android One variant of the U11 Life. Unfortunately, there’s no word on when the updates will be available. HTC said this will be announced in “due course.”

Huawei Pie update

At the beginning of August, Huawei revealed on Weibo that it’s conducting internal testing of the Android 9.0 Pie update for the Mate 10 Pro, Huawei P20, Honor 10, and Honor V10. Recently, the company has shared more details about its plans. A Huawei South Africa spokesperson told MyBroadband that the manufacturer will release its EMUI 9.0 skin based on Android Pie at the IFA trade show in Berlin, which kicked off August 31.

The spokesperson also said the company will roll out Android Pie to the Huawei P20 series in September, followed by the Mate series shortly after. We expect loads of other Huawei devices to get the update as well, although the company didn’t mention which ones and when.

Huawei kept its promise and announced EMUI 9.0 at IFA, which is based on Android Pie. It also kicked off its beta program, allowing users of select Huawei devices to try out the software before it is officially released. These devices include:

To sign up for the program, go to Huawei’s Friendly User Test page, download the Huawei Beta app, go to Personal > Join project, select the EMUI 9 beta program, and tap “Sign Up.” Keep in mind that Huawei may choose to limit the number of users it accepts in the program — learn more here.

Motorola Pie update

On August 15, Motorola revealed which devices would receive the Android Pie update. Starting this fall, Android Pie will make its way to these phones:

It’s worth noting that the Moto E5 lineup isn’t on that list (despite being announced only months ago), and the entire Moto G5 lineup isn’t on the list either.

Nokia Pie update

HMD Global promised that all Android-running Nokia phones will be updated to Android P — now Android Pie — back in May. On August 21, Chief Product Officer Juho Sarvikas went a step further confirming at a New Dehli event that the Nokia 7 Plus will be the first of its devices to be updated to Android 9.0 this September. This shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as the Nokia 7 Plus was part of the Android P beta scheme.

Looking back at the Android P beta rollout

Android 9 Pie review app overview recent apps

Google released the first Android P developer preview on March 7, 2018. Following that alpha release, Google revealed the first Android P beta build (developer preview 2) at Google I/O 2018 on May 8, also announcing other non-Pixel devices would be compatible with the Android P beta.

The third Android P preview (beta 2) released June 6, 2018. This build featured the final APIs and official SDK. Following that, the fourth Android P preview launched on July 2, 2018. It included the latest Android security patches as well as some bug fixes and minor tweaks.

Google released the fifth Android P developer preview (beta 4) on July 25. This release candidate build includes final APIs and system behaviors. Google released the final, public version of Android 9.0 Pie on August 6.

You can see an overview of what each build featured:

The Android P beta was available for the following devices:

Additionally, Nokia brought the Android P update (beta) to three of its other phones: the Nokia 6.1, Nokia 7, and Nokia 8 Sirocco, though only in China.

That’s everything we know about the Android 9.0 Pie update so far. Did we miss anything? Sound off in the comments!

Android 9.0 Pie recent news:



from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2NeO5fE
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