When it comes to rolling out software updates, HMD Global remains a front runner. Most of the smartphone brands in the industry are struggling to provide iterative Android updates, HMD Global has updated even its two-year-old smartphones to Android 9 Pie. Just yesterday, Google announced Android 10 (Go Edition) with some new features. Today, HMD Global's CPO Juho Sarvikas confirmed on Twitter that it would provide the Android 10 (Go Edition) update to its Android Go smartphones. Right now, HMD Global has three Android Go smartphones- Nokia 1, Nokia 1 Plus and the Nokia 2.1. The Nokia 1 Plus was launched earlier this year and the newest model in the list. All the three Android Go phones from HMD Global are currently on Android Pie (Go Edition), but in 2020, they will be updated to Android 10 (Go Edition).
Android 10 (Go Edition) Coming to Nokia Android Go Smartphones
For the unaware, HMD Global is a major partner to Google and all its smartphones are part of Android One and Android Go programmes. While the full-fledged smartphones will come with Android One certifications, the entry-level Nokia phones ship with Android Go Edition software. The first Android Go smartphone from HMD Global was the Nokia 1 and it was unveiled at MWC 2018 last year. Launched with Android Oreo (Go Edition), the Nokia 1 received Android Pie (Go Edition) earlier this year in June. The second Android Go smartphone from HMD Global was Nokia 2.1 and it also shipped with Android Oreo (Go Edition), but later on, it received Android Pie update. The latest Android Go smartphone from HMD Global is the Nokia 1 Plus that was announced at the MWC 2019 alongside the Nokia 9 PureView.
Thankfully, HMD Global has revealed the timeline as well on when these phones will receive the update. Being the latest one of the three, the Nokia 1 Plus will receive the Android 10 (Go Edition) update first and that will happen in Q1 2020. The remaining two smartphones will get the update sometime in Q2 2020.
HMD Global Will Also Push Android 10 Update to Several Nokia Smartphones
Last year, HMD Global was the leader when it comes to software updates, however, this year, the crown was taken by OnePlus. OnePlus became the second manufacturer after Essential to push Android 10 update to the OnePlus 7 series. Also, it launched the world's first smartphone- the OnePlus 7T with Android 10 out of the box. Last year, HMD Global was the first OEM to roll out Android 9 Pie update and the first phone to get the update was Nokia 7 Plus. HMD Global is yet to roll out Android 10 update to the Nokia 8.1, which is part of the Google's Android 10 Developer Preview programme.
Also, the Finnish company is yet to reveal its Android 10 update rollout timeline. We're expecting the upcoming phones from HMD Global will ship with Android 10 out of the box and the popular Nokia phones like Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 7.2, Nokia 8, Nokia 9 PureView, Nokia 6.1 Plus and so on will be updated to Android 10 sometime later this year.
The first Nokia smartphone to get Android 10 update will surely be the Nokia 8.1 because it's part of the Android 10 Developer Preview programme. As part of the beta programme, HMD Global released a total of four updates to Nokia 8.1 based on Android 10, so we believe that the update for Nokia 8.1 will now be in final stages already.
In other news, HMD Global is facing the heat from its Chinese counterparts in India and the recently launched Nokia 7.2 with Snapdragon 660 SoC at Rs 19,990 could turn out a disappointment for the brand.
