Xiaomi's promise of updating its first Android One device, the Xiaomi Mi A1 to Android 8.0 Oreo before the end of 2017 seems to be on track as the company has started testing the software. Recently, Xiaomi asked the Mi A1 users across the world to answer a few questions to get into the Android Oreo beta program. Xiaomi has already finalised the users and has rolled out Oreo beta update to the Mi A1 users.
Although the company is testing the upcoming OS with select Mi Community and Mi Forums users, it is to be noted that the stable update roll out might happen in a few days. It is also rumoured that the update might start rolling out to all users in the next two days as Xiaomi is finalising the testing process.
The Xiaomi Mi A1 will be amongst the few budget smartphones to receive Android Oreo update. Currently, Android Oreo is present on 0.4% of devices and is actively growing. As of now, no budget smartphone has received the update. The Nokia 5, HMD Global's budget smartphone also entered the Oreo beta testing program recently.
Xiaomi launched the Mi A1 in partnership with Google as part of the Android One program. But software updates will be rolled out by Xiaomi itself, instead of Google. The Chinese company will be making modifications to the camera application, and a couple of other Xiaomi apps comes preinstalled as well.
Xiaomi, yesterday introduced a Red colour variant of the Mi A1 and is prepping for the No. 1 Mi Fans sale on December 20 and December 21. During the sale, popular smartphones from the house of Xiaomi such as Mi A1, Redmi Note 4, Mi Max 2, Mi Mix 2 will be up for sale at discounted rates. It would be great if Xiaomi rolls out the Android Oreo update to the Mi A1 during these sale days. In other words, the company also started an Android Oreo Beta program for its flagship phone Mi Mix 2 in China.