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Yet another modest Nokia smartphone is receiving Android 9.0 Pie

By Adrian Diaconescu

Published: Feb 26, 2019, 5:22 AM

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Yet another modest Nokia smartphone is receiving Android 9.0 Pie

You may have expected Nokia to slow down its crazy pace of updating old smartphones to the newest Android flavor at least for the duration of the MWC 2019 trade show, where the company's latest flagship model was unveiled alongside a bunch of refreshed low to mid-enders.

But after kicking off stable Android 9.0 Pie rollouts for the original Nokia 6 version and entry-level 2.1 in the days leading up to Barcelona's Mobile World Congress, the revived Finnish brand is now already deploying the same goodie pack for the Nokia 3.1 Plus. This fairly modest 6-incher actually received a jumbo-sized sequel with a notch on Sunday, so in a way, you could say the handset was overdue for a major OS promotion.

The wait is over! Get ready to feast on a sweeter smartphone experience with Android 9 Pie on Nokia 3.1 Plus. Nokia smartphones get smarter with time #GetSmart #Nokiamobile pic.twitter.com/8wG544OAEk
— Juho Sarvikas (@sarvikas) February 26, 2019

At the same time, we can't help but point out how far behind Nokia other mobile device vendors are when it comes to official Android 9.0 updates. We've literally lost count of how many Nokia-branded phones have made the switch from Oreo to Pie since September. It's easier to remember how many are left to receive these UI revisions and performance enhancements until June anyway. That number is four. Namely, the Nokia 3.1, 5.1, Nokia 3, and Nokia 1.

Meanwhile, Samsung is yet to send the update to a single mid-range device, the Moto Z3 Play got the ball rolling in the US a measly couple of weeks ago, and the ultra-high-end Razer Phone 2 still hasn't completed its internal beta testing program.

Granted, the Nokia 3.1 Plus is more technologically "impressive" than the 2.1, but that MediaTek Helio P22 processor under its hood remains a featherweight. Stateside, the low-end, no-notch phone is exclusively available through Cricket Wireless in a variant that actually runs Android Pie out the box. You can start checking for the update everywhere else and expect noticeable improvements in general UI fluidity, as well as privacy and security, accessibility, battery life, and even camera capabilities.

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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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