There was a brief period, during the ill-fated Google ownership of Motorola, where having a recent Moto phone was a great way to ensure rapid Android updates.
While that’s not quite the case anymore, Moto custodian Lenovo is still keen to deliver the Android 9 Pie update to as many handsets as possible. As thus, the company has announced eight of its existing phones will receive the update this autumn.
Motorola isn’t focusing on the flagship handsets, with Moto Z, Moto X and Moto G series handsets all getting the update initially.
The full list of eight is below as follows: Moto Z3, Moto Z3 Play, Moto Z2 Force Edition, Moto Z2 Play, Moto X4, Moto G6 Plus, Moto G6, Moto G6 Play.
Related: How to download and install Android Pie
The list does have a couple of notable absentees. The 2018 Moto E5 will not be afforded the latest version of Android initially. Likewise, the 2017 Moto G5, which one of the company’s most popular legacy devices, is also missing out on a slice of Pie.
Unfortunately, that means Moto E5 and G5 owners (among others) will be missing out on flagship new features like the revamped Android notifications, the improved Do Not Disturb mode, the new Recent app and battery life optimisation.
In its blog post, Motorola doesn’t say whether more handsets will get the update later on in the cycle, but judging by the language, this appears to be it.
Android 9 Pie was announced earlier this month and is currently available on Google Pixel phones. Handsets that participated in the third-party beta program will also get the update in the near future.
Given the poor reputation the platform and its manufacturers have for delivering updates on time, it appears hardware providers are being more proactive with Pie updates. Whether that will play out with actual rollouts remains to be seen.
Are you disappointed not to see your Moto handset listed among those receiving Android 9 Pie? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
