I’m a huge fan of the Mi A1, Xiaomi’s first (and hopefully not last) Android One-powered device. Launched with Android 7.1 Nougat and subsequently pushed Android 8.0 Oreo later, the much-anticipated Android 8.1 Oreo update is finally rolling out.
Being a stock Android device, the Mi A1 is one of the fastest to get Android updates and that’s one of the reasons why it’s a popular device.
The 1.1GB update with June security patches is rolling out globally as we speak, with markets like India and Philippines reportedly already getting the OTA. I did a quick check on my Mi A1 but unfortunately no update is available, yet.
You can check if an update is available on your device by heading to Settings > Check for updates.
Android 8.1 Oreo doesn’t introduce new features per se but does have minor UI tweaks and bug fixes.
The most notable changes include enhancements to the Power menu, an updated Launcher3, a SystemUI theme that adapts to the colour of your wallpaper, and updated GApps.
XDA senior member joeyhuab has posted some findings based on initial impressions of the update.
Unofficial Changelog:
Pros
- Power menu is different
- Tint when power menu is open
- Settings/SystemUI theme adapts to color of wallpaper
- Sound is better
- Updated Launcher3 version
- Updated Gapps (probably)
Cons
- No Treble support
- No camera2 (unless used setprop before updating)
- No EIS (unless used setprop before updating)
- No native FM Radio app (LineageOS and custom ROMs win cause of this)
- Old Modem/Baseband version
- Safetynet is broken
- Status bar wifi and data indicators are still there
On the downside, some users are reporting that they have lost their entire SMS history. It apparently happens when you swipe away the messages app. If SMSes are vital to you, install an app called SMS Backup & Restore to properly back your SMS before you run the OTA update.
Introduced last year, the Mi A1 was a surprise to many because it came with stock Android. At the time, it was the most powerful Android One device.
Based on Xiaomi’s own Mi 5X, the Mi A1 offered plenty of kit including a 5.5-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 625 chipset, and a commendable 12MP dual-camera system.
Check out the review here.
At MYR1,099 it was a compelling buy from the get go. Xiaomi later offered the device for under MYR700 and now you can even pick one up for MYR599 (32GB version).
With assurance of at least two generations of Android updates, the Mi A1 continues to be almost a no-brainer purchase. Pick one up from Lazada Malaysia.
Source: XDA-Developers
