Android 8.1 Announced: Here’s All That’s New

Android 8.0 Oreo OS is barely a couple of months old and Google has just announced another major update today – the Android 8.1 OS update is on it’s way. Google has announced that the developers preview for this update to Android Oreo is now out and the final version would be out by December.

This is a rather strange and a surprising move because even last years’ Android 7.0 and 7.1 OS updates are yet to reach a majority of devices while Google is actually two steps ahead with this Android 8.1 update. However, let us now take a look at all that’s new with this update:

What’s New in Android 8.1

This update to Android Oreo brings out a number of changes and tweaks, let us take a quick look at all of them which have been discovered so far:

Oreo gets a new icon

Difference in icons (Via Android Police)

The icon that used to appear on top of the device during system updates was simply concentric circles. However, this has now been changed as the Android 8.1 icon is now a circle with small lines around it. This is a refreshing change and it looks more like an Oreo cookie.

Settings get a search bar

The Android 8.1 Oreo OS update has brought forward another change to the way the settings menu looks and feels. A search bar now appears on top of the settings menu which makes it easier for users to find their desired settings. A pretty handy feature!

Support for the Dark Theme

Android 8.1 brings the dark theme to more devices (Image: Android Police)

Earlier this month we reported that there was a hidden ‘dark mode‘ in Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones. In Android Oreo, the system theme automatically changes to light or dark based on your wallpaper’s color. This was a feature exclusive to the Pixel 2 in the past but with the Android 8.1 OS update, it has now been expanded to the original 2016 Pixel phones too (Possibly the Nexus 5X and 6P as well).

Keep Wi-Fi On During Sleep Removed

The Android Oreo OS gave the users an option to turn the Wi-Fi off when the phone would detect the user has fallen asleep. This was a feature which would potentially save a lot of battery life. However, with Android 8.1, it has been removed.

A New Easter Egg

The new Android 8.1 Easter Egg (Image: Android Police)

One of the first things that we tend to check out every time a new Android OS update comes out is the Easter egg that it brings in. Tapping the OS version in the about phone in settings a few times would usually show a graphic, which gets updated with every update. The Android 8.1 update removes the concentric circles of Oreo from here too, and bring us an actual Oreo cookie as seen above.