Meanwhile, it remains unclear if the company has any plans to continue releasing "mainstream" U-series handsets, but as originally promised more than nine months ago, several existing members of that Android-based family will ultimately receive Pie-flavored updates. The first to leave Oreo behind was the mid-range U11 Life, which benefited from its participation in the Android One program, followed on the OS version 9.0 bandwagon by the high-end U11... after six whole months.
To its credit, HTC waited until just a couple of weeks back to make its first firm promises regarding an Android Pie delivery schedule, technically making good today on its commitment to bring the U11 up to date by the end of the month. The company even mentioned right off the bat this update would be rolled out "starting late May" while cautioning users "certain regions & carrier deployment may affect" the date.
Therefore, it shouldn't be too surprising that the only HTC U11 users allowed to make the jump to Android 9.0 for the time being are those residing in Taiwan. Tipping the scales at 1.36GB, the long-awaited goodie pack is likely to spread its wings to additional regions, including the US, before long, bringing unspecified "system enhancements" to the table apart from your standard slice of Pie, as well as removing the defunct Google+ social network from BlinkFeed.
It goes without saying this is hardly a timely software update, arriving several months after the same makeover for Samsung's Galaxy S8, for instance. The 2017-released HTC U11 was supposed to be a fierce rival for the GS8, but what's even worse is that the U11+ and U12+ are newer, faster, and... still stuck with Android Oreo.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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