LG V20 starts receiving unexpected Android 9.0 Pie update
LG wants to turn the page to a new chapter in its software support book, but before kicking off Android 10 rollouts for the likes of the G8 ThinQ and V50 ThinQ, the company is not done updating some of its old phones to the previous major OS version.
LG even relinquished the responsibility to deliver regular security patches all the way back in January, so you can imagine our surprise at seeing the Android Pie build applied to all three network-locked V20 versions in Korea earlier today (via Reddit). Of course, this doesn't guarantee an impending international rollout, but if history is any indication, that's exactly what will follow in a few months.
Obviously, the V20 is pretty outdated from a number of standpoints, ranging from its highly experimental design to the Snapdragon 820 processor under the hood, but an Android 9.0 upgrade could be able to breathe new life into an ancient flagship that's still faster and sharper than many "modern" mid-rangers.
In case you're wondering, the Korean Pie changelog is rather lengthy, including everything from Digital Wellbeing tools to new battery saving functionality, improved security, and a bunch of small but notable UI tweaks.
While the 2017-released G6 and V30 continue to wait for their official Android 9.0 promotions in US unlocked variants (as well as a couple of carrier-specific models), LG is taking care of an even older high-end device with a totally surprising Pie-flavored goodie pack. The V20 was one of the first handsets to launch running Android 7.0 Nougat out the box back in the fall of 2016, but after making the jump to Oreo, the somewhat unconventional 5.7-incher was not really expected to receive any other important updates.
The G7 ThinQ, for instance, scored its first slice of Pie at the beginning of the year, keeping US-based users waiting for a taste of the same treat up to seven additional months. Such a long wait might feel excruciating for LG V20 owners considering Android 10 has already been out for a while now, but this is the textbook definition of a "better late than never" scenario.
Obviously, the V20 is pretty outdated from a number of standpoints, ranging from its highly experimental design to the Snapdragon 820 processor under the hood, but an Android 9.0 upgrade could be able to breathe new life into an ancient flagship that's still faster and sharper than many "modern" mid-rangers.
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