Android 9 Pie: all the new features in AI, design, and digital wellbeing

Android 9 Pie. That is the final name of the ninth version of Android. After several months in which we have been able to see how it developed thanks to the previous versions for developers, Google begins to distribute the final version.

The name: Android 9 Pie is the chosen one

FloorCake. Continuing the tradition of naming its different Android versions after sweets, Google has decanted by Android 9 Pie for its latest version of the operating system. This short and direct name reinforces the idea of a more modern system. simple , near and focused on the user, but without sacrificing the profound improvements that come under the hood.

And what does this offer? Android P refreshOver the past few months, we've been sharing all the relevant details with each Developers Preview, which we've linked below:

Looking ahead to this final version, Google is clear about his approach: Artificial Intelligence applied to almost every level of the system. This intelligent layer is combined with a visual redesign, a new gesture navigation system, and a comprehensive suite of features. digital well-being, which aim to encourage you to use your mobile phone more consciously.

Next, we break down what Google considers to be main novelties, along with many other features that have appeared in the beta versions and that mark a significant leap forward compared to Android 8 Oreo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GImQV_WRfPU

The key: Artificial Intelligence takes a step forward

Android 9 uses the power of artificial intelligence to give you more with your phone. Now it's smarter, faster and adapts to how you use it.

So defines Google Android 9 Pie is available on its official website. The philosophy is clear: the system learns from your usage habitsIt detects patterns and adapts both performance and the interface to make everything feel smoother, more efficient, and personalized. It's not just about isolated features, but a set of improvements that utilize machine learning algorithm in the background to anticipate your needs.

In turn, in the release note They go into more detail about some of the new features, as we point out below, and expand with practical examples to better understand how it affects your daily life.

Adaptive Battery and Adaptive Brightness: Keeping Your Uses in Mind

Your Android 9 Pie phone will learn from how you use it, and two of the main benefits will be noticeable in the new features of Adaptive battery y Adaptive brightnessThe first one will learn from your uses to know what Apps need energy at any given time, and which apps can be limited in the background because you almost never open them. This way, energy is prioritized for what you actually use and reduces those so-called "bad battery days" when your phone runs out of power for no apparent reason.

The second is an improved version of the current automatic brightness, which learns how you set the brightness in different environments. Android no longer just looks at the ambient light sensorbut also your preferences: if you always lower the brightness at night or raise it to the maximum when you're in the sun, the system will remember and apply those settings automatically, achieving a balance between visual comfort y energy savings.

App Actions: direct actions in the drawer

The system will try to overtake you with the new App ActionsThese are direct app functions that appear in the app drawer, right below your frequently used apps. The idea is for your phone to detect your daily routines and put in the foreground what you are likely to do next.

For example, if you plug in your headphones and open your favorite music app every morning, you'll get a direct suggestion to play your usual playlistIf you usually call a specific contact at a certain time, you'll see an action to initiate that call with a single tap. And when it's almost time to leave home, you'll often see an App Action to open Google Maps with your route to work already prepared.

As the days go by, Android Pie refines these predictions, so the system becomes more accurate. Speed y Management by reducing touches and navigation times between screens.

Slices: direct actions in search

Slices would be translated by Pieces of cakeThe idea is simple: if you start searching for something, Google will not only show search results, but also interactive fragments apps that allow you to perform specific actions without fully opening them.

For example, if you start searching for a transportation service, Android might display a "slice" with the option to Order a vehicle delivered directly to your homewith the address already configured. Or if you search for the name of a food delivery app, you might see shortcuts to repeat your last order or check the status of one in progress. All of this is integrated into the system search engine and in the Google search engine.

New gesture navigation system

From Google They claim that the new gesture navigation system is easier and more intuitive, and that the growth of mobile screens practically necessitates it. Android 9 Pie replaces one of the three classic navigation bar buttons with a central capsule which serves as a starting point for most gestures.

With one tap, you return to the home screen; with a short swipe up, you access the new recent apps menu; with a long swipe, you directly open the app drawerIn addition, by swiping sideways on the capsule you can quickly switch between open apps, making switching between them much easier. Speed than before

The most noticeable change will be in the new recent apps menu, now called OverviewPlaced horizontally, it also stands out for the option of select text directly from this menu, without entering the app in question, as well as the possibility of copying images or fragments of content from one app to another more directly.

Also noteworthy are the new ones Quick Settingswith circular icons and a cleaner layout, new controls for NotificationsA redesigned volume control that now appears on the side and focuses on multimedia audio, and the new tool for edit screenshots called Markup, which allows you to crop, draw, or highlight information before sharing it.

Digital well-being: control how long you use your smartphone

Android 9 Pie It will make it much easier for you to disconnect thanks to the new digital wellbeing tools, one of the areas that Google has emphasized the most to encourage a more conscious use of mobile phones.

Dashboard: Thanks to this new home screen, you can see and control how much time you spend in each app. This new settings screen will help you understand how engaged you are with your phone, showing you statistics such as the number of times you unlock it, the notifications you receive, and the time spent on social media and games.
Timer app: You can set a time limit on your apps. When the time you've set is up, the icon will turn gray and a notification will tell you that you can no longer access it—a very effective way to reduce dependency to certain applications.
Do Not Disturb Mode: It's been improved to be more intuitive. By default, it already blocks all visual alerts, and now it can also completely hide notifications so you don't get distracted. Learn more about this mode in our do not disturb mode guide.
Winddown: Which could be translated as Relax. Activate the Night light, Do Not Disturb mode and the grayscale To use your smartphone before bed without disrupting your sleep, you can reduce the screen's bright colors, making the content less appealing and encouraging you to put the device down.

This set of tools, named as Digital WellbeingIt not only informs you about your habits, it also gives you actual controls to change the way you use your mobile phone, something especially useful on devices used by children or teenagers.

Interface, notifications, and controls: Android is becoming more and more like Google.

Throughout its history, Android has undergone several different design changes, and with Android 9 Pie, the so-called Google Material ThemeThis style favors more streamlined lines roundedFloating cards, light backgrounds, and Google Sans typography give the system a look more consistent with Google apps.

The Quick Settings It has been redesigned with circular icons and brighter colors. The clock has moved to the left side of the status bar, a feature specifically designed for phones with notchAnd the Always On Display mode now shows more information, such as the time, date, notification icons and, on some devices, contextual data such as the weather or your next event.

Messaging notifications are now more richThey show part of the conversation, larger shared images, and, in compatible apps, suggestions for smart answers These suggestions are generated using machine learning, similar to those already appearing in Gmail. This allows you to reply to a simple message without opening the app, simply by tapping one of the suggested responses.

In addition, Android 9 Pie lets you see what Apps send more notifications and easily disable them, which helps reduce the constant noise that often prevents us from concentrating. The system can even suggest silencing apps whose notifications you tend to dismiss without reading.

Another small but important improvement is the button manual rotationWhen you have automatic rotation disabled and you rotate the device, an icon appears in the navigation bar to force the screen to rotate only at that moment, preventing unwanted orientation changes.

Security, performance and multimedia: less visible, but key changes

Android 9 Pie also represents a significant leap in to maximise security and your enjoyment. y privacyThe system protects confidential data with a dedicated chip in many devices, improving privacy with TLS by default For network traffic, enter DNS over TLS and it tightens permissions for access to the microphone, camera, and sensors when apps are running in the background.

Backups are now encrypted with the user's credentials, so to restore your data on a new device you need to enter your PIN, pattern or password. Furthermore, the function of lock mode It allows you to quickly disable biometric unlocking methods and Smart Lock, leaving only the access code as a valid method in situations where you want maximum protection.

In the multimedia section, Android 9 Pie adds support for the image format HEIFwhich offers better compression than JPEG while maintaining quality. It also improves support for HDR VP9 for video and enhances high-resolution audio, as well as reminding you of the independent volume level for each Bluetooth device, which prevents surprises when switching headphones or speakers.

Nor should we forget the internal improvements to system performance, with an optimized ART Runtime that speeds up application launches and reduces resource consumption. Thanks to these improvements, tools like Adaptive batteryAndroid Pie manages to offer a more stable experience even on devices with modest hardware.

Mobile phones: where can you install Android 9 Pie now? Where can you install it in a few months?

As expected, the first mobiles to receive the OTA with Android 9 Official Pie it's the phones pixel from Google. If you have one, now is the time to try updating the system and get the new version of Android to enjoy it from day one when it arrives in your region.

In addition, Google indicates that Android P is coming to mobile phones from Sony, Xiaomi, Nokia, Oppo, Vivo, OnePlus and Essential that have participated in the beta, as well as mobile devices Android One compatible. In fact, it is already available in the Essential PhoneThanks to initiatives like Project Treble, deployment is faster than in previous versions, bringing the simultaneous update experience closer between different manufacturers.

Thus, the complete list The following list of terminals that we can consider safe, compiled by our colleagues at another blog:

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
Oppo R15 Pro
OnePlus 6
Sony Xperia XZ2
Vivo X21
Nokia 7 Plus
Xiaomi Mi A2
Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite
Xiaomi Mi A1
BQ Aquaris X2
BQ Aquaris X2 Pro
Nokia 8 Sirocco
Nokia 7 Plus
Nokia 6
HTC U11 Life
Motorola Moto X4

These models are joined by other devices from brands such as Samsung, Huawei, LG, Razer, Transsion And more manufacturers are releasing the update according to their own schedules. In many cases, devices with Android One or those participating in beta programs receive the new versions first, while custom models with manufacturer skins may take a little longer.

The new version of Android, named Android 9 PieIt is already available for a growing number of phones and continues to expand to more devices over time, solidifying Android as a more unified platform, with less fragmentation and focused on artificial intelligence as the main driver of the user experience.