Essential Releases Android 8.1 Update for Essential Phone!

Essential just pushed the Android 8.1 update to the Essential Phone! The stable version!

The news comes as a bit of a surprise, since they only recently announced the Android 8.1 beta, with OTA-opt-in support. Not that we’re complaining over here – we love updates.

The update is arriving to all right now as build OPM1.180104.092 with the March security patch. If you are in the beta, the update weighs in at 275.8MB. If you aren’t, well, I don’t know what the size is. I’ll have to let someone not on the beta let us know in the comments. Either way, expect a decent-sized update to Oreo!

Here’s the changelog:

New Features Include:

• Smart text selection, instant apps, picture-in-picture
• Faster startup and app sign-in
• Google Play Protect security scans

Essential Products Features Include:

• Google Security Patches 2018-03
• Dynamic Calendar and Clock icons
• Slow Scrolling Jitter Fix

To grab it, head into Settings>System>System update.