The newly released Android 9 (or 9.0) Pie version of the world’s most popular mobile operating system is so feature-packed that Google isn’t listing any emoji changes among its top improvements, revisions, and additions.
In contrast, the official Android 8.0 Oreo webpage features a “fully redesigned” emoji set as an essential add-on, alongside Autofill, Smart text selection, Picture-in-Picture, Notification Dots, and Android Instant Apps functionality.
Android Pie is all about “harnessing the power of artificial intelligence” with Adaptive Battery and Adaptive Brightness, as well as App Actions, Slices, intuitive gesture-based navigation, your “digital wellbeing”, and various privacy and security enhancements. But a whopping 157 new emojis are also supported on Pixel devices and the Essential Phone, including ideograms depicting red-haired men and women, people with curly hair, silver hair, and bald people.
Both DC and Marvel fans should be pleased to see the Superman and Mister Sinister-inspired superhero and supervillain emoji designs in the final version of Android 9, while fresh additions in the animal, foodstuff, body parts, science objects, and household paraphernalia categories include kangaroo, lobster, badger, mango, tooth, lab coat, broom, skateboard, and firecracker representations, among many others.
We’re not quite sure what you’d want to express by way of a safety pin or flying disc emoji, for instance, but it’s easy to understand why Google is ready to make the toy squirt gun standard at last in lieu of the controversial (and serious-looking) pistol.
Another important change that will either silence criticism or cause a stir is the adoption of gender-inclusive designs for family and “couple with heart” emojis. These no longer suggest it’s obligatory for a man and woman to be in love and raise children, which a certain part of the US political scene may find infuriating.
Keep in mind it’s probably going to take quite some time to receive these emoji updates (and many more) with Android Pie, depending on your device’s manufacturer and carrier, while Samsung’s phones are not eligible for this particular revision to begin with due to their use of a proprietary emoji font.
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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