Let the countdown begin as we all await the official release and name of Android P. Notorious leaker Evan Blass tweeted out an auspicious photo of a calendar with a large P over August 20th today. Of course, this could mean only one thing, that is Android P is on the way.
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 2, 2018
Evan is a reputable source for insider info, known for showing off leaked devices and sharing other exclusives on his Evleaks Twitter account. Considering the final developer preview was released recently, and Android Oreo launched last year on August 20th makes this appear even more credible.
What to expect
Now that we know when it’s coming, let’s take a look at some of the key features Android P will bring to the table. First off, Android has received the largest UI makeover since Lollipop. The quick toggles, notification shade, and recent apps menu have all gotten a revamp with a new style and new features.
The recent apps view in particular stands out. No longer will you have a Rolodex view of your apps when switching. In Android P they are now full-sized previews that use horizontal scrolling and allow you to interact with the app.
The volume slider has also been moved to the side where the volume buttons reside making it easier to reach. Then we have native support for the notch to deal with the new onslaught of phones that include it. Even the Pixel 3 looks to include this notch forcing them to move the clock to the left side now.
Not only has the UI changed but so has the way you navigate your phone. Android P brings along native gestures for navigating your phone. With the gestures enabled you’ll be able to swipe your way around your phone instead of using the age old back, home, and recents navigation keys.
Some of the under the hood changes such as adaptive battery aren’t as visible but just as exciting. Using deep mind AI learning Android P will help you conserve battery life by managing your apps better and making them behave.
This only scratches the surface of the changes and improvements that will come with Android P. Here are a few of the other standsouts and for a more complete list you can refer to this list on Android Police.
- Inline photos and smart replies
- Screenshot editing
- Zoom lens for text selection
- Calendar events on the lockscreen
When can you get it
Unfortunately, for most people, you won’t be seeing Android P and these features anytime soon after August 20th. Those lucky few who own Pixel devices should see it immediately. That’s if you didn’t participate in the beta in which case you’re already using Android P. A few other select phones such as the Essential Phone and OnePlus 6 should see it sooner though.
