HMD Global is back to rolling out OS upgrades after taking a break for a few months. The last OS upgrade was for the Nokia 1 in early July. Now, it has announced that Android 10 (Go Edition) is now available for the Nokia 2.1.

The Nokia 2.1 was released in 2018 and it ran Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition) out of the box. HMD Global had promised the update will be available in the second quarter of the year, but as you can see, it has arrived late.

Android 10 (Go edition) rollout for Nokia 2.1 starts today. Check here for more details and the availability in different countries – https://t.co/fbyk98TNCP pic.twitter.com/dKpewa5lAw

— Nokia Mobile (@NokiaMobile) September 2, 2020

The update brings new features such as smart reply, dark mode, and Adiantum Encryption for Android go devices. It should also include a security patch. It will begin rolling out to users in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Ten percent of users in these countries should get it today and everyone should get it by September 7.

The Nokia 2.1 has a 5.5-inch HD display with the now-abandoned 16:9 aspect ratio. There is a Snapdragon 425 processor under the hood along with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of expandable storage. The phone has front-facing stereo speakers, an audio jack, an 8MP rear camera, a 5MP selfie camera, and packs a 4000mAh battery.

This is the second major OS upgrade for the device but it should still get one more going by HMD Global’s tradition.

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Google’s Android Go operating system is designed for phones with 1GB of RAM or less. However, there are a few phones with 2GB of RAM that also run Android Go such as the Wiko Y80. Beginning next quarter, Google says all phones with 2GB RAM or less must launch as Android Go devices.

The info comes from a leaked copy of Google’s Android 11 Go Edition Device Configuration Guide that has an April 24, 2020 date according to XDA Developers. The memo reveals that Google is making Android Go a requirement for new devices with 2GB RAM or less launching as from next quarter. Below are the requirements as stated by the memo:

• Beginning with Android 11, devices with 512MB RAM (including upgrades) are not qualified for preloading GMS.
• All new PRODUCTS launching with Android 11, if they have 2GB RAM or less, MUST return true for ActivityManager.isLowRamDevice() API, and launch as an Android Go device.
• Starting in Q4 2020, all new PRODUCTS launching with Android 10, if they have 2GB RAM or less, MUST return true for ActivityManager.isLowRamDevice() API, and launch as an Android Go device.
• Previously launched 2GB RAM devices in standard GMS configuration SHOULD NOT convert to Android Go configuration via MRs or letter upgrades. They will remain standard Android.

As stated above, Google is saying that it will now be a requirement for devices that will launch with Android 10 or Android 11 with 2GB RAM or less to launch as Android Go.

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Based on this new development, we should see Android Go phones with better performance since the limit has now been raised to 2GB RAM. However, manufacturers may decide not to launch phones with RAM lower than 3GB rather than adopt Android Go so that they can keep their custom UI.

Take for example Xiaomi whose only Android Go phone is the Redmi Go. If it were to adhere to this requirement, it will mean the successors to its entry-level devices such as Redmi 9A and the Redmi 9C will have to run Android Go and not standard Android with MIUI on top. That seems unlikely seeing as the Redmi Go didn’t get a successor and Xiaomi won’t ship one of its best selling series without MIUI.

Another question that this new requirement brings up is “What happens in cases where a phone has other RAM variants?”. Manufacturers will surely not announce a 2GB RAM version of the phone running Android Go while the 3GB RAM version runs standard Android. Time will surely tell if manufacturers adhere to these new rules or find a way to circumvent them.

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When it comes to updates, HMD Global is one of the top manufacturers. Its phones practically get three major OS updates before their end of life; a feat several of its competitors have never attained. Today, it is rolling out an update to the entry-level Nokia 1 that was announced back in 2018.

The Android 10 (Go Edition) update for our affordability champ, Nokia 1 (2018) is now rolling! Get ready to upgrade your entry-level smartphone experience to a new level. Head over to our community for full details and availability by countryhttps://t.co/vwI7r3tSaN #Android10 pic.twitter.com/JUYa7Rwf2V

— Juho Sarvikas (@sarvikas) July 7, 2020

The Nokia 1 is its first Android Go phone and it is no surprise that it is receiving the Go Edition of Android 10.

The new update brings new features such as Dark Mode, gesture navigation, smart replies, and more. One major feature that has been added specially for Android Go devices is Adiantum Encryption which provides secure encryption for phones with low resources. The update also comes with June 2020’s security patch.

The press release says the update will begin rolling out in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, The Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. 10% of the aforementioned countries should get the update today, 50% by July 10, and 100% by July 12. So if you have not yet received the update, give it a few more days.

The Nokia 1 has a 4.5-inch display with a 480 x 854 resolution. It is powered by a MediaTek MT6737M processor paired with 1GB of RAM. There is 8GB of expandable storage, dual SIM support, a 5MP rear camera, and a 2MP selfie camera. It also has an FM radio, an audio jack, a micro-USB port, and a 2150mAh battery.

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(Sources: 1, 2)

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Weeks after Google officially started rolling out the new Android 10 update to its smartphones, the company announced the Android 10 (Go Edition) earlier this week. Now, HMD Global, the company behind Nokia has confirmed the Android 10 update for its entry-level smartphones.

The Finnish company has revealed that the Nokia 1 Plus, which runs Android Pie Go Edition, will be getting the Android 10 Go Edition update in the first quarter of 2020.

Entry level smartphone experience should not be a compromise. #Google proves it with new #Android 10 Go edition offering rich experiences with even better memory mgmt, performance & security. We are working to bring them first on #Nokia smartphones https://t.co/6K9QaYCY2p pic.twitter.com/5jWHrJPV4q

— Juho Sarvikas (@sarvikas) September 27, 2019

Another smartphone is Nokia 2.1, which was released back in August last year running Android 8.1 Oreo (Go Edition). It was the first Android Go Edition phone to get Pie update back in February this year.

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Now, the company has confirmed that the Android 10 update will roll out for the phone in Q2 2020. On the other hand, the Nokia 1 was introduced back in March last year running Android 8.1 (Oreo) Go Edition, and it received Pie update back in June. It is also slated to get the new Android 10 Go Edition update in Q2 2020.

Q1 2020

• Nokia 1 Plus

Q2 2020

• Nokia 2.1
• Nokia 1

As per the reports, the Android 10 (Go Edition) will allow users to switch between applications 10 percent faster, thanks to better memory-efficieny. It also has a new form of encryption, built by Google for entry-level smartphones, called Adiantum that can run without specialised hardware or compromising performance.As usual, exact roll out dates may vary by region due to operator approvals and local variances.

While the company has revealed details about the Android 10 Go Edition update rollout, the exact roll out dates for the smartphone may vary based on regions due to operator approvals and local variances.

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In 2017, Google announced Android Go, a lightweight version of Android for devices with 1GB RAM or less. While Android Go is still a lite version of Android, there is now an Android Go device with 2GB of RAM. Today, Google has announced Android 10 (Go Edition) and it brings Android 10‘s exciting features and more.

Android Go phones will get Dark Mode, new gestures, and some other features of the full version. Google also says app load times are now 10% faster compared to Android Pie (Go Edition).

One major new feature is support for Adiantum Encryption. This is specially made for phones with low resources. It doesn’t require special hardware but keeps Android Go devices secure just like other more powerful Android phones. The encryption process is said to not negatively affect system performance.

Android Go is also smaller than previous versions. Its  Go apps (Google Go, Gallery Go, Files Go) are said to also be smaller in size now, allowing for more space to be available to the user.

We do not know when current devices running Android Pie (Go Edition) or older will get the update as that wasn’t mentioned. However, we will ask you not to raise your hopes. The Redmi Go, which is one of the more popular Android Go smartphones is still running Android Oreo (Go Edition) even though it launched after Android Pie (Go Edition) was released.

At the moment, HMD Global seems like the only manufacturer that will update its existing Android Go phone such as the Nokia 1 Plus to Android 10 (Go Edition). Other manufacturers will probably release new models running it out of the box.

Android Go is available in over 180 countries and on more than 1600+ models with different prices. More devices running the latest version are expected to be announced next year.

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For those of you still heartbroken by Google’s decision not to name the next version of Android after a dessert as has been the tradition for years, you may want to take comfort in the release schedule for Nokia phones which has also been announced.

Before we dive into the release schedule, it is fair to mention that HMD Global has done a good job with respect to updating its devices and we wish several other manufacturers will emulate them.

After being the fastest to upgrade Nokia phones from N to O and O to P, I am super excited to share with you that the Q(ueue) for Nokia phones is moving fast as we get ready to welcome Android 10 on Nokia smartphones – roll out starts in Q4, 2019! #Nokiamobile #android10 pic.twitter.com/qXM4ZXAPBo

— Juho Sarvikas (@sarvikas) August 22, 2019

The Finnish manufacturer will begin rolling out Android 10 (Android Q) to its smartphones this year. Beginning next quarter (Q4 2019), the Nokia 7.1, Nokia 8.1, and Nokia 9 PureView will be the first to receive the update to Android 10.

The update train will then move to the Nokia 6.1, Nokia 6.1 Plus, and the Nokia 7 Plus between Q4 2019 and Q1 2020.

In the first quarter of 2020, Android 10 will be made available for the Nokia 2.2, Nokia 3.1 Plus, Nokia 3.2, and Nokia 4.2. Later the same quarter, the Nokia 1 Plus which runs Android 9 Pie Go Edition, the Nokia 5.1 Plus, and the Nokia 8 Sirocco will also receive Android 10.

The last set of phones which includes the Nokia 2.1, the Nokia 3.1, the Nokia 5.1, and the Nokia 1 which launched with Android 8.1 Oreo Go Edition will be updated to Android 10 (Go Edition) in the second quarter of 2020.

None of the first-gen Nokia phones released in 2017 will be getting updated to Android 10 which explains why the flagship Nokia 8 is missing from the list. Nevertheless, it is sad that HMD Global won’t be updating the flagship to Android 10.

Based on this update schedule, future Nokia smartphones launching henceforth should run Android 10 out of the box. We are not sure about the Nokia 7.2 and Nokia 6.2 which both appeared on Geekbench with Android 9 Pie but we believe they may actually launch with Android Q or get the update right after they go on sale.

(Source)

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