Activated via an Android Oreo update
Being an Android One phone, Xiaomi’s Mi A1 is due for an Android Oreo update. Following the launch of an Android Oreo Beta program last month, users of the beta build found that the new update improved the overall performance of the Mi A1. These include a faster fingerprint detection, quicker app loading, and smoother animations. Aside from these improvements, the Mi A1 Android Oreo update added one extra feature: Quick Charging support, which was noticeably absent in the Mi A1 in its Android Nougat build.
What’s interesting about this is that the Mi A1 joins a number of Android smartphones that have some hardware functions activated via a software update. Previously, we have Google promising that it will activate the Pixel 2’s Visual Core Chip with Android 8.1, and OnePlus promising that it will enable Face Unlock for the OnePlus 5 in a future update. Let’s not forget Sony adding new camera features in its Android Oreo update for the Xperia XZ Premium.
This is relevant, as activating some features via a software update ensures that smartphones (mostly flagship-level handsets and select mid-range models) are up to date, making them last longer in spite of a flurry of smartphone releases.
Should other brands follow the example made by Xiaomi, Google, OnePlus, and Sony? We really, really hope so.
Source: GSM Arena
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