One of the best Android One smartphones released this year, the Nokia 7 Plus, is also one of the very first smartphones to make the jump to Android 9 Pie.
Android 9 Pie is no stranger to the Nokia 7 Plus, though. The device, alongside others from the likes of Oppo, OnePlus, Sony, Essential, etc, has been part of the developer preview rolled out by Google shortly upon announcing Pie back in May.
Users of the device in Kenya, where it has been available on sale for the last 5 months, will be happy to note that the region is one of the very first where the final release of Android 9 Pie on the Nokia 7 Plus is already seeding.
According to HMD Global’s chief product officer, Juho Sarvikas, the update rollout process is staggered so, in case you don’t get it immediately, don’t worry, it’s on its way.
“We are doing a phased roll-out to ensure quality. We will start with open markets and operators will follow shortly due to required approval process. Also note that we will roll out first 10% of install base and then expand but dont worry, you wont have to wait long,” noted Sarvikas in a tweet.
While this is definitely a piece of good news, users who were crossing their fingers in the hopes that the 7 Plus would be gaining universal face unlock, a feature we’ve seen on many devices launched this year, will be disappointed as it doesn’t make the cut. Whether face unlock will ever show up on the 7 Plus, at least in an official capacity, to a wider user base, is still anyone’s guess. With rumours of the device’s successor hitting fever pitch, it’s wise to not have our hopes up.
Here is a quick run of some of the features that Nokia 7 Plus users (and especially those who were patient enough to wait and not jump on the beta) can expect to see when the update finally hits their devices according to a statement from the company’s publicists:
- App actions – Helps you get things done faster by predicting your next move and displaying the right action on your phone
- Slices – Identifies relevant information of your favourite apps to make them more easily accessible when you need them
- Adaptive battery – Uses deep learning to understand usage patterns and prioritise battery power on important apps
- Adaptive brightness – Automatically adapts phone brightness by learning from your interactions with different settings
- New System navigation – Features a single home button that provides intelligent predictions and suggestions (user enabled)
The above features are accompanied by another notable Android Pie feature, Digital Wellbeing, which became available to Nokia 7 Plus devices running the Android 9 Pie beta just a week ago through an update on Google Play.
In addition to the Nokia 7 Plus, HMD Global has committed to updating its entire smartphone lineup to Android 9 Pie.
