Google has finally launched the much-awaited version of its phone operating system, the Android 9 Pie. As of now, the Android Pie update has only been released for the Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL and the Essential phone. Google has said that it will keep on adding more names to the list of eligible devices. Notably, the beta version of Android P had been rolled out to a lot of users before this, after the completion of the testing program, this is the first time that Google is releasing the stable build of the OS. Also, another thing to keep in mind is that Google will hold back on some critical features until fall.
Like it was revealed back in May, the new Android P comes with latest features like a “Digital Wellbeing” dashboard, a new gesture-based navigation system, and other AI-enhanced improvements to the UI. The new OS also comes with a redesigned status bar which will be more supportive for phones with the notch. Also, the UI has also been tweaked for good.
Although Google has released the beta build of the software, it has kept away some features from the public. The main missing functionality will be the “slices” which lets applications show their most prominent features on the device search itself. Also, the wellbeing dashboard along with the “wind down” mode will only make its place as beta apps for now on the Pixel devices.
Talking about the Beta participants, Google said “Devices that participated in the Beta program from Sony Mobile, Xiaomi, HMD Global, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus, and Essential, as well as all qualifying Android One devices, will receive this update by the end of this fall! We are also working with many other partners to launch or upgrade devices to Android 9 this year.”
Users owning the Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL and Essential Phone can update their devices to Android P by going to Settings > System > System Update and tapping on ‘download and install’. In the coming days, the Android Pie update will be rolled out to the OnePlus 6 and Nokia 7 Plus as both the smartphones are on the latest Developer Preview. Essential Phone users, meanwhile, can install the update starting today.
