The Nokia 8.1 gets upgraded to Android 10

HMD Global released the Nokia 8.1 about 11 months ago; now, it is in line for an update to Android 10. This is not much of a surprise as it is the first of a short-list of devices from this brand to be included in the Q Beta program that acted as a fore-runner for this significant OS upgrade. However, it remains that it is the first Snapdragon 710 device to access the new features contained within it.

Android 10 for the Nokia 8.1 adds a system-wide dark theme; more extensive per-app location and privacy permissions; new gesture-based navigation options and the more or less up-to-date September 2019 security patch level. These updates will also presumably apply to the Nokia 9 PureView and 7.1 when they also see the same new OS later this year.

This update for the late 2018 mid-ranger was introduced by HMD Global's Chief Product Officer, Juho Sarvikas, today (October 9, 2019) via Twitter. It accordingly continues Nokia's relatively excellent record for software updates, even in its older phones. Ironically, however, some units of its latest release the 7.2 remain on Android 9.0 (Pie). (Nokia 8 Unlocked on sale now at Amazon)