Google is now rolling out Android 10 stable update to its Pixel smartphone owners. The update, which is available via both OTA and factory images, is currently rolling out to the Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL. The forthcoming Pixel 4 series are also expected to come with Android 10 out of the box. Alongside Google, Chinese smartphone brand, OnePlus also released first OxygenOS Open Beta Build based on Android 10 to the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro smartphones. Before the stable update rollout, Google released five beta versions of Android 10 to the Pixel smartphones. As for the features, Android 10 brings the much-awaited Dark Mode, new gestural navigation, new privacy controls and it also supports foldable smartphones.
Android 10 Stable Update Features Detailed
According to Google, Android 10 brings ten major features to the table. Android 10 ships with new features like Live Caption, Smart Reply, Sound Amplifier, Gesture Navigation, Dark Theme, Privacy Controls, Location Controls, Security Updates through Google Play Store, Focus Mode (launched in Beta for Pixel phones) and Family Link which will be available later this year.
Ever since Apple announces gesture navigation with the iPhone X, Google has been making changes on how the stock Android gesture navigation works. With every beta of Android 10, Google made changes to the gesture navigation. Here's how the final gesture navigation works- users can swipe on the left or right edges to go back, they can go back to Home by swiping from the bottom of the screen, and the app switch can be down by swiping left or right from the bottom edges.
As noted, Android 10 also brings the much-awaited Dark Theme to Android as well. That being said, app developers are working hard on implementing a dark theme to their apps right now. Even the majority of Google apps don't have a dark theme right now, so there's a lot of work left.
Android 10: Supported Devices List
For the first time ever, Google did not give any dessert name to Android, so it will be called just Android 10 this time around. Talking about the supported devices list, the entire Google Pixel range of phones are already getting the update via OTA. Alternatively, Pixel users can manually install the Android 10 update by flashing the factory image.
Essential Phone is also getting the update starting today alongside the Google Pixel phones, which is a good thing to see. OnePlus also announced the first Open Beta update based on Android 10 to the OnePlus 7 and 7 Pro smartphones. Being an Open Beta release, it will be more stable than the previous Developer Preview versions. Xiaomi is also recruiting testers for Android 10 on the Redmi K20 Pro, so it may receive the update as well in the next few weeks. HMD Global's Nokia 8.1 could receive the update by the end of September, considering how good the manufacturer is when it comes to rolling out software updates.
Some other popular smartphones like the Mi A3 may also get the update in the near future, but we don't have an exact timeline for the same.
