Newsletter
Around two weeks back, HTC shared its schedule for the Android 9 Pie rollout and as promised, the HTC U11 has now started to receive the latest version of Android. However, right now, only the users in the company’s home country of Taiwan are getting the update but hopefully, it wouldn’t be too long before other customers also get to upgrade from Oreo.
As HTC had said on its social media pages earlier this month, the HTC U11+ and the HTC U12+ will also join the bandwagon next month. The mid-range U11 Life has already received the Pie update, thanks to its inclusion in the Android One program. So far, HTC hasn’t said if any phone other than the aforementioned ones will also get a taste of the Pie.
As with any other software update, it is recommended that you make sure your device is all juiced up before proceeding. The update weighs around 1.36GB, so make sure you have the required storage space. Other than that, it is also a better idea to download the latest software version over WiFi, otherwise, you will most likely be charged for using mobile data.
Once you are done, you will be treated to a host of new changes, including gesture navigation, screenshot editing, smarter app search results, and Digital Wellbeing. Along with that, the update also promises system enhancements. As HTC points out, following the update, Google+ will be removed from BlinkFeed because Google has shut it down.
Google announced Android Pie back in August 2018 but most devices weren’t too quick to catch up. However, HTC stands out as it is noticeably late to the party. After all, flagship devices from other vendors have now started receiving Android Q beta. It is especially surprising to see that newer devices like the U11+ and U12+ are still running Android Oreo. There was once a time when HTC used to roll out timely updates. However, those days are long over, and the company is clearly struggling right now.
HTC has not been doing well since the last few years. Google has acquired most of its smartphone-making division and the beleaguered manufacturer hasn’t been very active since then. The future of its U-series handsets also seem uncertain and it hasn’t released a phone since the U12+.
That’s not to say that HTC has exited the smartphone market. Per reports, the company has a smartphone codenamed ‘HTC 2Q741’ in the pipeline. The mystery device will apparently be fueled by the MediaTek Helio P35 SoC. And that’s not all, as rumor mills also say that two more phones are in the works, including a 5G flagship that is tipped to be released in the second half of the year, and a Snapdragon-710 powered device.
The company has also confirmed that it will release a successor to the Exodus 1, its first blockchain phone. The decision was presumably spurred by the fact that the first generation device performed as expected. However, a blockchain phone will attract niche users at best, and thus, the company will also have to work harder on a mainstream device to attract the masses.
Of course, that’s easier said than done, as the smartphone shipments have been declining since the last few years and the competition has intensified. But then again, HTC has seen better days, and it will surely not go down without a fight.