Android 8 – also officially known as Android Oreo – represents one of the most significant and comprehensive updates to Google's mobile operating system. With a host of new features, interface changes, security and optimization improvements, and new options for users and developers, Android Oreo is a major step forward in the evolution of Android. Below, we present the most comprehensive analysis with all the new features, in-depth explanations, and unique features of this version so you don't miss a single detail.
What is Android 8 Oreo and why does it make a difference?
Android 8 Oreo is the eighth major release of the Android operating system. Throughout its development and rollout to millions of devices, Google focused on enhancing the speed, energy efficiency, security and user experienceThe arrival of Oreo has meant the integration of advanced technologies, a more intuitive interface, smart shortcuts, and a significant improvement in customization.
The name "Oreo" was chosen by Google as part of its tradition of naming each major Android release after a sweet treat. This also marks a turning point in the system's maturity, which has managed to overcome historical challenges such as fragmentation and slow updates in the Android ecosystem.
Key new features of Android 8 Oreo
Android 8 Oreo includes a surprising number of improvements and new features. Some of the most notable changes include:
- Improvements in notification management, which are now more customizable, hierarchical, visual and interactive.
- Battery optimization and resources, limiting background processes and improving the overall efficiency of devices.
- The new Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode, which allows you to watch videos or video calls in a floating window while using another app.
- New adaptive icon system for a more consistent and customizable look on your desktop.
- Advanced facilities of autocomplete and system-level password management.
- Deep security enhancements, including special permissions, unknown app control, and built-in safe browsing technology.
- Smart text selector and contextual copying that uses artificial intelligence to detect addresses, phone numbers, emails, and offers built-in shortcuts.
- Complete update of the emojis and visual improvements to the interface.
- Project Treble, which facilitates and accelerates operating system updates by manufacturers.
- New features for developers include advanced support for the Kotlin programming language, new APIs, and an improved notification system.
Below, we break down all these innovations in detail, along with the most useful features and all the Android Oreo secrets you should know.
Advanced notification management: channels, badges, and colors
Android 8 Oreo completely revamps the notification system to offer granular control, complete customization, and a much more visual and intuitive presentation. Several advanced features stand out, transforming the way users interact with their ads:
- Notification channels: Now each app can have different notification categories, allowing the user to decide what type of notifications to receive and how (sounds, vibration, priority, etc.)
- Notification Dots: The home screen icons display a small dot to alert you of pending notifications and offer, with a long press, a shortcut to the notification's quick view.
- Snooze notifications: Any notification can be snoozed with a simple gesture, so that it reappears later when the user is available.
- Colorful multimedia notifications: Ads generated by multimedia apps, such as music or video players, adopt the predominant colors of the cover or cover, providing dynamism and facilitating identification.
- Hierarchy and intelligent organization: The notification bar is structured into different levels based on importance: first, current notifications (music, maps, active calls), followed by personal messages, events, reminders, and finally, secondary notifications or suggestions.
Picture-in-Picture (PiP): True multitasking on your mobile or tablet
One of the star features of Android Oreo is the Picture-in-Picture mode, known as PiP. This option allows you to watch videos, make video calls, or navigate Google Maps in a small floating window while using other apps in full screen.
Key advantages of PiP mode:
- Always keep priority content (such as a video call) visible while responding to a message or checking another app.
- Compatible with apps like YouTube, Google Duo, Google Maps, Chrome, and video players.
- The PiP window can be moved and resized on the screen.
- It facilitates productivity and entertainment, making mobile multitasking comparable to the experience of a tablet or PC.
Activating PiP is as simple as pressing the home button while in a compatible app. Android will minimize the main window and present it floating in a corner, ready for further interaction.
Adaptive icons and visual improvements
Another new feature of Android 8 Oreo is the Introduction of adaptive iconsThis feature allows developers to create icons in two layers (base and background) so that they can be displayed correctly on any device and with different skins (circle, square, rounded, teardrop, among others). Users can therefore customize the look of your home screen and enjoy a much more coherent and enjoyable visual experience.
In addition to the icons, Oreo includes:
- smoother animations and consistent when displaying the notification bar and quick settings.
- The Settings app has been redesigned to make it cleaner, simpler, and better organized by general categories.
- Completely revamped emojis, with over 2.000 redesigned to meet current standards and be easily recognizable.
Smart Text Selector and Copy Less: Artificial Intelligence at the Service of Usability
The classic copy and paste process in Android evolves significantly with the Copy Less function and smart text selectorThese features use machine learning to automatically detect selected content:
- Intuitive selection: When you double-tap a word like an address, phone number, email, or web page, Android automatically selects all relevant text without having to drag selection controls.
- Contextual actions: Once the text is selected, shortcuts appear to open the address in Google Maps, make a call, or compose an email, as appropriate.
- Smart Tips: If, for example, you search for an address on Yelp and, when talking to a contact, you type “It’s in…”, the system suggests pasting the address automatically, speeding up the conversation and avoiding repeating steps.
Autofill features: One-click passwords and forms
The well-known Google Chrome autocomplete makes the leap to Android Oreo and integrates natively into the entire system, allowing:
- Autofill login details (username and password) in applications and websites.
- Automatically fill out registration forms, addresses, payment methods, and more, securely and quickly.
- Use compatible third-party services for password management, in addition to Google's own account synchronization.
- Manage and customize the autocomplete service from the system settings.
Thanks to the autocomplete API, the login and form-filling experience becomes more fluid, secure, and efficient, avoiding forgotten credentials and the tedious process of hand-entering repetitive information.
Gesture controls: new shortcuts and custom actions
Android Oreo incorporates and improves gesture controls, allowing you to manage the device in faster and more intuitive ways, such as:
- On-screen gestures: Draw a letter (for example, a “C”) to open the address book or any assigned application.
- Gestures on the fingerprint reader: quick access to notifications and customizable features (depending on manufacturer and model).
- Development of specific actions through accessibility and compatible apps, allowing each user to adapt gestures to their needs.
This not only improves accessibility, but also streamlines everyday tasks, especially on large devices or when quick access to certain functions is required.
Advanced battery management and background process optimization
One of the main focuses of Android Oreo is the optimization of autonomy and performanceThe system introduces strict limitations and rules for applications running in the background:
- Restriction of background processes and services: Apps that are not actively being used have their activities limited to avoid unnecessary consumption of CPU, data, and battery.
- Fewer unjustified activations: Thanks to wakelocks and service optimization, the device remains in real standby mode for longer.
- Notifications of ongoing processes: The user can know which apps maintain active services, improving control and transparency.
As a result, devices with Android 8 Oreo show a clear improvement in battery life, especially on models with more modest hardware.
Project Treble: Fragmentation solution and faster update
One of Android's biggest historical challenges has been fragmentation and slow updates from manufacturers. Project Treble It is a technical innovation that separates the operating system layer from each manufacturer's own drivers and hardware.
- Layer independence: Android updates without having to wait for processor manufacturers to adapt their drivers.
- Faster, more comprehensive updates: Manufacturers can deploy Android 8 (and later versions) more quickly and easily.
- Future assured: The groundwork is being laid for Android to receive improvements and patches much more quickly and efficiently.
This advancement has a direct impact on the user experience, as it reduces the gap between the official release of a version and its availability on different models and brands.
Advanced security and control of unknown applications
Android Oreo has taken a qualitative leap in the field of security and user protection:
- Advanced permission management: Apps must request special access permissions visibly and explicitly (for example, to send premium SMS or install other apps).
- Installing unknown applications: The general "Unknown Sources" option has disappeared; now, it's possible to individually authorize which apps are allowed to install APKs, avoiding risks and controlling the source of each installation.
- Google Safe Browsing (WebView): Google Chrome's malicious website protection technology is integrated into the system, improving security when browsing from any application.
These changes protect the device from external threats and improve trust in the Android environment.
Updated emojis and visual improvements
Android 8 Oreo introduces a complete update to the emoji design:
- Over 2.000 redesigned emojis: abandoning the old "drop" design and adopting a more universal, rounded and recognizable style.
- Backward Compatibility: Thanks to the EmojiCompat library, new emojis can be used on older versions of Android if developers update their apps.
- Visualization and access improvements: Greater consistency across platforms (Android, iOS, WhatsApp), facilitating communication and global understanding.
In addition to emojis, the user interface features improvements to smoother animations, icons in the status bar, new margins, and a cleaner look in the Settings and Notifications apps.
Compatibility and upgradeable devices: Which phones can get Android Oreo?
Android 8 Oreo compatibility has become one of the most frequently asked questions among users. Google and major manufacturers have worked to offer the update to as many devices as possible. Generally speaking, Android 8 Oreo is available on:
- Google: Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel C.
- Nokia: Nokia 3, Nokia 5, Nokia 6, Nokia 8.
- OnePlus: OnePlus 3, OnePlus 3T, OnePlus 5.
- Samsung: Wide variety of Galaxy models (S7, S8, Note 8, A3, A5, A7, J5, J7, Tab S3, etc.)
- Sony: Xperia XA1, XZ, X Performance, XZ Premium, X Compact, L1, among others.
- HTC: U Ultra, 10, U11.
- Lenovo/Motorola: Moto Z2 Force, Z2 Play, G5, G5 Plus, G5S, among others.
- Huawei and Honor: Mate 9, P10, Honor 9 and more.
- LG: G6, G6+, Q6, V20, G5.
- BQ, Xiaomi, Essential, Sharp, Kyocera and other manufacturers have also announced compatibility on various models.
The update can arrive via OTA or through beta programs and manufacturers, depending on the case.
Connectivity, performance and other advanced features
Android 8 Oreo goes far beyond connectivity and performance, including next-generation features:
- Wi-Fi Aware (Neighbor Awareness Networking – NAN): allows compatible devices to communicate with each other directly over Wi-Fi, without the need for a network with Internet access.
- Bluetooth 5.0 and multimedia advancements: Expanded compatibility, new Sony LDAC codec for improved wireless audio quality, advanced music library browsing, and improved connectivity with wearables and accessories.
- Multiscreen: allows you to connect the device to external displays to display different applications simultaneously, with resolutions adapted to each display.
- Keyboard navigation: It is now possible to navigate the entire interface using tabs and arrow keys, ideal for convertibles and Chromebooks.
- Automatic Wi-Fi reconnection: The system can automatically turn on Wi-Fi when it detects a known location or network, helping to save battery and mobile data.
Additional features and small details that make the difference
Beyond the major new features, Android 8 Oreo incorporates numerous details that improve the daily user experience:
- Add custom tones and sounds: For the first time, it's easy to set any audio file as a ringtone or notification without the need for third-party apps.
- Paste as plain text: option to paste text without any formatting, facilitating integration into any app or message.
- Neural Network API: that enables deep learning and machine learning apps to run efficiently and natively.
- Accessibility improvements: new options for users with visual, hearing or motor difficulties.
- Easter-egg: In the “About phone” section you will find a hidden animation featuring an octopus, in reference to the number 8.
- Improvements to the update system: Support for streaming updates, minimizing internal memory space issues when installing new versions.
Android 8 Oreo has marked a qualitative leap forward in the Android universe, addressing critical issues such as security, battery life, update speed, and user customization. With the integration of artificial intelligence, new interfaces, performance optimization, and developer tools, Oreo consolidates Android as a mature, innovative platform ready to adapt to the demands of users around the world. If you have the opportunity to update your device, don't hesitate to take advantage of all the benefits Android Oreo offers.