The Mate 20 Pro gets Huawei's Android Q Beta treatment

At the start of Google I/O 2019 (May 7-9 2019), support for the third and newest beta of Android Q on 16 non-Pixel devices was announced. Some of these made the beta available to users even before the conference ended; they include the OnePlus 6 series and the Xiaomi Mi 9. Now, another device has joined them in pushing this ROM out for testing. It is the single Huawei phone on the list: the Mate 20 Pro.

Android Q Beta 3 on this 2018 flagship may be accessed by downloading and accepting the terms and conditions of the Huawei Beta Club App. Thereafter, the user can navigate to the relevant Huawei Friendly User Test and apply to the OEM's Android Q Developer Recruitment process. As this name suggests, Huawei is looking for those familiar with working on systems and software that are works in progress.

The beta's new features and updates point to the concessions Huawei may have made in order to get this level of early access to the new version of Android from Google. For example, the Q Beta 3 on the Mate 20 Pro complies with this OS' upgraded user privacy protection. This involves abolishing the usual level of cross-app data collection typically found on this OEM's phones.

Android Q also offers more along the same lines, such as new permissions regarding access to device identifiers that the user may be able to revoke, as well as the randomization of MAC addresses on devices. Successful applicants to the new Friendly User Test may also be able to enjoy system-wide dark mode and enhanced Digital Wellbeing on their Huawei Mate 20 Pros.