Search engine giant Google announced the key features of the Android Q at the recently concluded I/O 2019 event. It also revealed that 21 devices from 13 brands are eligible to get Android Q aka Android 10 beta right away on the official developers' website.
Google has partnered with top mobile-makers include OnePlus, Xiaomi, Huawei, Nokia, Vivo, Oppo, Asus, LG in addition to Sony and Tecno.
Samsung, despite being the world's biggest smartphone maker, is not part of the Android Q beta programme. But, rest assured its flagship phones such as Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e, even the 2018-series Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9, S9+ will get Android Pie successor OS. And, also select Galaxy A and M series phones would also get treated with Android Q, but in late 2020. It can be noted that Samsung will offer Android Q (Android 10) under the OneUI interface.
Even Motorola too, will bring Android 10 to Moto G7, Moto One series and select models later in the year or early 2020.
Android Q: Key features you should know
Google has promised that Android Q will have a big upgrade in terms of user-interface, improved security to protect user-privacy, bring new capabilities to the Assistant and more.
With folding phones expected to become a norm in the second half of 2019, Android Q will offer new gesture-based navigation to enable users to make full use of the flexible-cum-tablet-like big display to complete any particular tasks.
Also, Google is bringing a dark theme with the Android Q, which will vastly improve the battery life of devices.
Android Q comes with the Live caption feature that will transcribe the video with texts below the screen in real-time on YouTube and select a video service app. It will be coming to all apps in the near future.
In a bid to improve security, Google is bringing all privacy options under one roof and also top of the Android Q' Settings tab. Also, there will be new permission controls so that the user can share their location (or not) with apps on their own terms.
Android Q improves upon on digital wellbeing feature of the Pie by bringing new Focus Mode, which will help users get things done without distraction. Users can select the apps he or she wants to stay active and pausing everything they don't.
Like the Gmail app, the Android message app will get a Smart Reply option in addition to the quick action feature. For instance, if your friend sends a message containing an address, the app automatically offers the address search option linking to Google maps in the message.
Further, Google is bringing the Family Link part of every device that has Digital Wellbeing to help children and families find a better balance with technology.
In 2018, Google's Project Treble was initiated to fast track software roll-out to all Android phones, but it was not fully successful except for select phone models. Now, Google is taking things a step further with the new Project Mainline for Android Q.
With this, Google will take the responsibility to upgrade core OS components to the device directly without a full OS update via Play store update. The rest of the features will be released later via incremental updates by affiliate OEM.
Brand | Confirmed to get Android Q | May or may not get Android Q |
Pixel 3, 3 XL, 3a, 3a XL, Pixel 2, 2 XL, Pixel (1st gen), Pixel XL (1st gen) | --------------- | |
Xiaomi | Redmi K20, K20 Pro, Mi Mix 3 5G, Mi 9 (Android Q beta is available) | Redmi Note 7 Pro, note 6 Pro, Note 7, Note 5 Pro, Redmi 7, Redmi y3 |
OnePlus | OnePlus 6T (Android Q beta available) and OnePlus 6 | OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T |
Huawei | Mate 20 Pro (Android Q beta available), P20 Pro, P30 Pro | P30 Lite |
Honor | Honor View 20, Honor 20 | Honor Play, Honor 8X |
Nokia |
| ------- |
Vivo | Android Q beta already available to Vivo Nex S, Nex A, and X27 | Vivo V15 Pro, Vivo V11 Pro |
Oppo | Reno (Android Q beta available) | Oppo F11 Pro, F11 |
Realme | Realme 3 Pro (Android Q beta available) | Realme 3 |
Sony | Xperia 1 & 5 to Android 10 in December 2019 Xperia 10, 10 Plus, XZ2, XZ2 Compact, XZ2 Premium, and XZ3 devices are confirmed to get Android 10 early 2020 onwards | ------------------ |
Tecno | Spark 3 Pro | Note 5 (Android One) |
LG | LG G8 (Android Q beta is available) | G7, G6 |
Essential | Essential Phone | ------------------ |
Asus | Zenfone 5Z | Zenfone Max Pro M2, Zenfone Max M2 |
Samsung | Most likely to get Android Q: Galaxy S10, S10+, S10e, Galaxy A9, Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9, S9+, Galaxy A70, Galaxy A50, Galaxy A30, A20 | Galaxy M30, M20 |
Motorola | Most likely to get Android Q: Moto G7 series, Moto Z3 | ------------ |
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