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Motorola Android 9 Pie Update Details

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This guide goes over everything you need to know about Motorola Android 9 Pie updates. Including what devices have it or will get it next, which updates were canceled and what to expect. Even though Google’s Android 9 Pie update is nearly a year old, Motorola is still slowly sending it to customers.

Popular smartphones from all major manufacturers will get a free update to Android 9 Pie if they haven’t already, as long as they’re a supported device. In total, Motorola confirmed 8 devices will get the update in the near future, but recently announced they’ve canceled Pie for the Moto Z2, seriously. Read on for more details.

Motorola Android 9 Pie Updates

On the official Motorola Blog, the company debuted a list of 8 devices that will get Android 9 Pie first. These are the phones that will get priority, and from what we’re hearing, they’re the only phones that will get Android 9. Here’s the list:

  • Moto Z3 (Available Now)
  • Moto Z3 Play (Available Now)
  • Moto Z2 Force (Verizon only, Lenovo canceled the Z2 Pie update for all others)
  • Moto Z2 Play (no clue)
  • Moto X4
  • Moto G6 (Available Now, select regions)
  • Moto G6 Plus
  • Moto G6 Play

As you can see, Motorola plans to deliver Android 9 Pie updates to some of its most popular and most recent smartphones. Plus, a few already got it, depending on your region. However, there are some major problems with this list. For one, the extremely popular Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus are missing and they’re just over a year old. Even worse, the newest Moto E5 announced in April of 2018 isn’t included either. That means Motorola will never upgrade one of its phones that’s not even a year old. That’s troubling.

Furthermore, Motorola’s flagship Moto Z2 and Z2 Force from 2017 will NOT get Android 9 Pie, and they’re not even two years old yet. Only the Verizon Z2 will get Pie, while the AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile models will not. This is unacceptable, but there’s nothing we can do. That’s like Samsung choosing not to update the Galaxy S8. Bad move Motorola, bad move.

Read: 20 Best Moto Mods for the Moto Z

There is a chance we could see other phones added to the list as 2019 continues, but that’s doubtful given the slow delivery and recent cancellations.

Motorola Android 9 Update Release Date

So when will your Motorola phone get the Android 9 Pie update? We’re not really sure. This is another gray area for the company. The announcement did mention the phones above will get a slice of Google’s Android 9 Pie update starting “this fall” but that’s all they had to say.

That said, Motorola recently released the Moto Z3 Android 9 Pie changelog full of information, suggesting it’ll get the update any day now. This confirms Android 9 for the Moto Z3, new features, and 5G support thanks to a new Moto Mod. Similarly, the Verizon Moto Z3 got Android 9 Pie and support for Verizon’s 5G rollout in June.

We expect most of Moto’s updates to continue into the summer.

Basically, devices like the Moto X4 got it first, and we’re expecting the G6 and Z3 to get it next in the United States. So far, nothing arrived until the Moto X4 update on December 12th, followed by the Moto G6 Plus update on December 31st. We also saw the Motorola One get Pie in December.

All said and done, Motorola just started delivering the first few updates at the end of 2018, and then did nothing in January. And while we’ve seen movement in regions like Brasil, that’s about it. Basically, expect more information and multiple updates within the next few months. We can confirm the Verizon Moto Z3 update right now, but that’s about all. You can check the status and progress overall by clicking here.

We have a feeling Motorola might cancel even more updates, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Motorola Android 9 Beta

Right now we have no information regarding a potential Android P or Android 9 Pie beta for Motorola smartphones. In previous years, Moto was one of the first to offer betas and quickly delivered software to owners. Over the last few years though, that fast delivery disappeared. Communication disappeared too, unfortunately.

If Motorola does do beta problems, they’re internally these days and not available to the public.

What’s New in Android 9 Pie

There are tons of new Android 9 features that you can use to do more with your phone. Users will enjoy bundled and smarter notifications, auto-fill improvements, and tons of “smart” features throughout. Not to mention new gesture navigation controls, digital wellbeing options, Google Assistant improvements, themes, and support for the notch. That’s on top of the usual performance and battery life changes.

Motorola has arguably one of the best gesture control systems for Android. We recommend using that over Google’s new gesture navigation in Android 9. The update specifically mentions a new “intuitive navigation” system with Moto phones on Pie.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of everything that’s new. Then, we’ve also compared it to Android 8 Oreo for those interested.

It’s worth noting that Motorola runs a nearly stock Android experience. It isn’t covered with a skin like Samsung or LG, so it should arrive quickly and run smooth. We believe each Moto update will deliver software and performance improvements, bug fixes, and new features specific to Motorola devices on top of everything else in our link above.

Final Thoughts

At the time of writing this post, most Motorola phones are still running Android 8 Oreo as they’ve been very slow to Pie. Whether that’s the older budget-friendly Moto G5, to the high-end Moto Z3.

We’re hoping the company will release an updated timeline and roadmap of software updates, but that’s just a guess. It’s highly likely that only the eight devices listed above will ever see Android 9 updates.

Considering Google released Android 9 Pie way back in August, we expected updates from Motorola by now, as they’ve done in the past. Unfortunately, users are still left wondering and waiting. Depending on where you live you could already have Pie, or got it in April and May. For everyone else, sorry, be patient, it should be here eventually.

In closing, expect an update here sometime soon. Then, start getting excited about the Android Q update coming in August.

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. Alex Dedrickson

    11/14/2018 at 6:26 pm

    I wanted to read this article because it stated that it would tell you what the Android 9 details were. The article also says “what’s new in Android 9 pie”.nowhere in this entire article does it State exactly what the details are or what’s new in Android 9 pie. It even says here’s a detailed breakdown of everything new.but then the following sentence has nothing to do with what’s new in Android 9 it goes on and on blah blah blah about what happened in August whats going to happen or blah blah blah its the worst article I’ve ever seen in my life that says it is detailing something yet details nothing. I learned absolutely nothing from this article.if you write an article saying that it’s going to detail something and tell you what’s new, detail it and don’t go on and on about nothing to do with the details or what’s new.I don’t normally take the time to reply to an article such as this but really it was that bad.
    Sorry. Alex

  2. Vinsinz

    07/30/2019 at 4:48 am

    Very shady move Motorola. I have a z2 force thru tmo, scored during tmos 1/2 price sale. The mods, including the 5g adaptor, had sold me. As my casual and social entertainment needs changed I’ve enjoyed different mods. The jbl soundboost, the projector, the game controller. You really had me won over with the free Cubs shell despite having already purchased a phone you still ll gave it to me for the cost of shipping. I still have tons of space in my hard drive even without a SD card. The indestructible screen. This phone was created and built to be on my hip for years to come, then you decided to out date my phone with your preferential treatment to the Verizon snobs. I’m loyal as they come to brands and services that don’t let me down or shaft me. The 5g adaptor was the deal sealer that convinced me to purchase this phone. Now I guess I’ll be going back to Lg. My previous 4 phones before this z2 were all Lg. I’ll be selecting number 5 sooner than expected. Great comeback Moto, way not come thru and let down your customers

  3. Luke

    08/18/2019 at 5:19 am

    I hate the update for this phone it ruined the phone. Everything is delayed and the battery drains faster on battery saver! It looks more like any other phone and lost its uniqueness that I valued. It’s not the same phone anymore and if I where you I would not get the update.

  4. No mo moto

    08/30/2019 at 12:44 pm

    This is the worst update . My phone is now slower and the battery drains in half the time. Way to screw your customers.

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