Andy Rubin’s Essential has just announced that the Essential Phone is skipping the Android 8.0 update and going straight to Android 8.1. The company has been running a beta program for Android 8.0 on the handset.
The reason that Android 8.0 is being skipped on the handset is due to apparent stability issues, these issues are not present in Android 8.1.
An update on the public release of Oreo: pic.twitter.com/fPJRtX7kvY
— Essential (@essential) January 30, 2018
Why Skip Android 8.0?
The decision to skip Android 8.0 and move directly to Android 8.1 is primarily due to stability issues that were identified during the beta testing phase. Users participating in the beta program reported various bugs and performance problems that could potentially affect the overall user experience. Essential has decided that it would be more beneficial to its users to bypass these issues by adopting the more stable Android 8.1 version.
Android 8.1 offers several improvements over its predecessor, including better memory management, enhanced battery life, and a more refined user interface. These enhancements are expected to provide a smoother and more reliable experience for Essential Phone users. By focusing on Android 8.1, Essential aims to deliver a more polished and stable software update.
What to Expect from Android 8.1 on the Essential Phone
The Android 8.1 update brings a host of new features and improvements that will enhance the functionality and performance of the Essential Phone. Some of the key features include:
1. Improved Autofill Framework: Android 8.1 enhances the Autofill framework introduced in Android 8.0, making it easier for users to fill in forms and passwords across different apps.
2. Neural Networks API: This API allows apps to take advantage of hardware acceleration for machine learning operations, enabling more advanced AI features and improved performance.
3. Battery Life Enhancements: Android 8.1 includes various optimizations to improve battery life, such as limiting background activity for apps and better managing power-hungry processes.
4. Notification Improvements: The update brings more granular control over notifications, allowing users to manage notification channels and prioritize important alerts.
5. User Interface Tweaks: Android 8.1 introduces subtle changes to the user interface, including updated icons, a refreshed settings menu, and improved navigation gestures.
This means that it will take a couple of weeks more before the Essential Phone gets the Android Oreo update. The company is releasing a new beta software for the device in the form of Android 8.1 Oreo.
As yet there are no details on exactly when the Android Oreo update will land on the handset, as soon as we get some more information, we will let you guys know.
Source Engadget
Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
