Update: While it announced that the first Android Pie beta for the POCO F1 will be arriving in December, Xiaomi has now released a new MIUI 10 Global Beta ROM 8.11.15 based on Android 9.0 Pie for the POCO F1. Many testers suggest the build is quite stable, which means there is now a good chance that the stable update might be released before the end of the year.
POCO F1 owners can soon expect to try out Android Pie on their smartphones. Xiaomi has officially confirmed that it plans to release the Android Pie open beta for the POCO F1 in December. The final test is running currently, so there is a good chance that the Android Pie stable update for the POCO F1 could begin rolling out early next year. Xiaomi has also reconfirmed that Dark mode support for the POCO launcher will be available as part of a beta update on the Google Play Store starting next week.
Table of Contents
Xiaomi POCO F1 to Receive Android Pie Open Beta Next Month
In its latest weekly update on POCO F1 (review) software issues, Xiaomi has confirmed that it is making good progress with the Android Pie testing for the POCO F1. If everything goes as planned, the Pie open beta for POCO F1 will be released in December. It usually takes a few weeks after the release of the public beta for the stable update to be ready. This means the POCO F1 may not be updated to Android Pie before the end of the year. Instead, it looks more likely that the stable Pie update for the handset will begin rolling out early next year. However, Xiaomi will be releasing a new update soon with a fix for the touch lag and wrong touch issue.
Apart from confirming the Android Pie open beta release timeframe, Xiaomi has provided a few other updates as well. POCO F1 owners will be able to try out the Dark mode in POCO launcher starting next week with the beta update from the Google Play Store. Xiaomi has also resolved the bug with the battery icon when charging in the development version. We expect it to be included in an upcoming software update for the handset. Some of the other issues that have been fixed by Xiaomi include Android Auto issues as well as Asphalt 8 and Asphalt 9 compatibility on Google Play. Another feature that Xiaomi is currently working on is allowing full screen mode with the notch hidden for some apps.
POCO F1 Still the Best Mid-Range ‘Flagship’ Smartphone on Sale in India
When it comes to software, the POCO F1 does suffer from a few issues. Fortunately, Xiaomi is actively working on solving most of them by the end of the year. Many of the major issues that were plaguing the smartphone, have, in fact, been fixed. In terms of hardware, however, the POCO F1 is hard to fault. It may not be the most premium-looking smartphone in its segment but it does offer a robust build. Under the hood, POCO F1 runs on a Snapdragon 845 octa-core processor clocked at 2.8 GHz with LiquidCool technology to deliver sustained peak performance. The POCO F1 is also among the few smartphones in India to offer Quick Charge 4.0 support.
In the camera department, POCO F1 is a significant upgrade over most of its key rivals priced under INR 30,000. It comes with a 12MP + 5MP dual-camera setup at the rear and a 20MP selfie camera on the front. In addition to supporting AI Portrait Mode, the 20MP snapper comes with IR Face Unlock as well, which means you can use the facial recognition feature even in the dark. The POCO F1 is fueled by a large 4000mAh capacity battery, allowing it to deliver impressive battery life.
