X

9 reasons why you'll want Android Pie

Android 9.0 Pie is now available for Pixel users.

Jason Cipriani Contributing Writer, ZDNet
Jason Cipriani is based out of beautiful Colorado and has been covering mobile technology news and reviewing the latest gadgets for the last six years. His work can also be found on sister site CNET in the How To section, as well as across several more online publications.
Lexy Savvides Principal Video Producer
Lexy is an on-air presenter and award-winning producer who covers consumer tech, including the latest smartphones, wearables and emerging trends like assistive robotics. She's won two Gold Telly Awards for her video series Beta Test. Prior to her career at CNET, she was a magazine editor, radio announcer and DJ. Lexy is based in San Francisco.
Expertise Wearables, smartwatches, mobile phones, photography, health tech, assistive robotics Credentials
  • Webby Award honoree, 2x Gold Telly Award winner
Lynn La Senior Editor / Reviews - Phones
Lynn La covers mobile reviews and news. She previously wrote for The Sacramento Bee, Macworld and The Global Post.
Jason Cipriani
Lexy Savvides
Lynn La
4 min read
Jason Cipriani/CNET

Google on Monday announced the official release of Android P -- now officially dubbed Android Pie -- for users of its Pixel phones. 

There are plenty of new features in Android Pie, some of which you may think makes the latest flavor so appealing. Here are nine reasons you'll want a piece of Pie.

Watch this: Android P: A slice of 'Pie'

Fresh new look and notifications

android-p-new-look

The notifications shade (left) and Settings menu (right).

Jason Cipriani/CNET

With Android Pie, Google is using rounded corners everywhere it can. A swipe down to view the notification tray and quick settings give you a good idea of where Android is heading aesthetically. There's also a lot more color in the Settings menu.

android-p-message-notifications
Enlarge Image
android-p-message-notifications

Smart replies in notifications are coming soon.

Google

As for notifications, Android already leads the way in its handling of notifications when compared with iOS . With Android Pie, it widens that gap by adding more features in its notifications shade. Messaging apps, in particular, will suggest smart replies and show more information in each notification.

You also can't expand the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth settings from the shade like you can in Oreo.

Official dark mode

dark-theme-android-p
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Google has added an official dark mode option in the Settings app. Instead of relying on the wallpaper in order to trigger the dark mode, as had been the case up until this point, users can now decide whether to always use dark mode, light mode, or let the phone decide for itself. An official dark mode is something Android (and for that matter, iOS) users have been asking for for years. Thanks, Google. 

No stopping the notch

As bezels get smaller, some Android phones are adopting a notch at the top of the screen to accommodate sensors, like on the iPhone X. The Essential Phone , the Huawei P20 and the Asus ZenFone 5 all have one, as does the excellent OnePlus 6.

Anticipating this change, Android Pie gives you a preview of what this might look like after you enable Developer Mode. Scroll down to the Drawing section under developer options, tap "Simulate a display with a cutout," then choose a size. Voila -- you're living the notched life.

Useful screenshot tools

android-p-screenshot-tools
Screenshots by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Taking a screenshot is now as simple as pressing and holding the power button, then tap Screenshot. The old method of holding the power and volume-down in at the same time still works, of course.

In addition to the new screenshot shortcut, Android Pie gains a new edit feature. As soon as your screenshot is saved, the preview notification will display an Edit button. Selecting Edit will open a markup tool for you to draw, crop, or highlight the screenshot before sharing it. 

Dashboard

Android P Dashboard
Google/Screenshot by CNET

Google's plan to curb phone addiction is through its Wellbeing program. The program still isn't quite ready for broad rollout, but interested Pixel owners can sign up to take part in the Digital Wellbeing beta. You'll need to have a Pixel device running Android 9.0 Pie in order to take part. 

Lockdown mode for extra security

android-p-lockdown-mode
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Google is doing much to improve the overall security of your information in Android Pie, but most of that is done under the hood. There is a new feature, though, that locks down your device with the push of a button. When enabled, it lets you disable the fingerprint sensor or trusted voice unlock (reverting to your backup unlock methods such as a PIN or pattern).

Go to Settings Security and Location > Lock Screen Preferences and toggle the Show lockdown option. After you toggle that on, you can now just press the power button, then tap Lockdown.

Gesture navigation

google-io-2018-android-p-7493

With Android Pie, you now have the option to ditch Android's traditional three-button navigation and go with gestures instead. A single home button, actually it looks more like a pill, is your thumb's home base. Tap on the button to go home, swipe right to go back, swipe left to switch between recent apps, or swipe up to view recent apps or your app drawer. Enable gesture navigation and learn about more settings in Android Pie in this post

Rotate only when you want

screenshot-20180328-112821

The rotation icon on the bottom right keeps the landscape orientation locked.

Lynn La/CNET

Instead of just locking down vertical or portrait mode on your phone, Android Pie will display a button to force the screen rotation if it detects your phone has changed orientation.

When you turn the screen to landscape, tap the icon that appears at the bottom to change the orientation. Now when you turn it back to portrait it will stay in landscape unless you tap on the same button again to rotate back. 

Battery status on the ambient display

If you have a Google Pixel , you'll now see the battery percentage at the bottom of the ambient display. This is nothing new, and that feature is already on some Samsung , Motorola , LG and OnePlus phones. Still, it's handy to have the extra info at a quick glance.

Read more: Google's Android Pie is all about notches and notifications

Read nextHow to install Android Pie right now