If you ever wondered how Nokia-branded smartphones consistently manage to stay ahead of the competition when it comes to timely software updates, you may want to take a look at this neat infographic uploaded to HMD Global’s servers.
HMD is the 2016-founded company behind Nokia’s unlikely resurgence, marketing and distributing Foxconn-manufactured handsets under an iconic name that once dominated the mobile tech scene.
As it turns out, the Finland-based startup follows a fairly standard Android 9 Pie optimization schedule, kicked off months ago with Google’s OS code deployment to chipset vendors. These can then choose to prioritize certain processors for faster updates, so when a specific device powered by a specific SoC takes an unusually long time to receive a major OS makeover, it’s not always the fault of the handset vendor.
The integration of “special Android One features and exclusive experiences for Nokia smartphones” actually happens in step 3 of the software development process, followed by field testing, lab testing, and beta testing.
If you feel that’s not enough tests, fret not, as Pie goodies still need to go through conformance standards testing, quality checks, and operator tests. Now let’s hear you complain about the late Android 9.0 adoption of the Nokia 8 and Nokia 8 Sirocco again.
Mind you, a grand total of eight Nokia smartphones have already cleared every individual stage of Android Pie development, optimization, and testing, with many more to follow. There doesn’t seem to be a secret recipe for the brand’s robust software support, although the lack of bloatware and skins definitely helps speed up the implementation of a new OS version.
The same goes for a successful beta testing program, and so far, more than 120,000 beta lab users have helped Nokia iron out last-minute bugs and “mature every software build.”
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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