Google just announced that you don’t need to own a Pixel phone if you’d like to experience Android P before its public release. There are several partners who will have their flagships participate in the Android P Beta that opens this summer.
It’s a move that makes it possible for developers and curious consumers to try the upcoming version on hardware that doesn’t belong to Google.
The partners listed during the I/O 2018 keynote include Nokia Mobile, Vivo, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Sony, Essential, and Oppo.
Each partner will send their primary high-end phone or a selection from the Android One program into the Android P Beta. The phones include the Nokia 7 Plus, Vivo X21, OnePlus 6, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S, Sony Xperia XZ2, Essential PH-1, and Oppo R15 Pro.
As everyone knows, fragmentation has always been a major issue for Google. The number of Android devices currently on Oreo, the latest version that launched last summer, remains embarrassingly-low. By bringing in a few partners, Google hopes it’ll encourage them and other brands to roll out software updates much faster.
The Android P Beta is available today, and you can enroll online as long as you have a Pixel phone or one of the devices listed above.
