Essential Phone update: Android Q available; Sprint’s May patch also fixes Bluetooth audio issue and improves shutdown responsiveness

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May 10, 2019: As promised, Android Q beta is available for the Essential Phone. The phone is part of the more than 15 non-Pixel devices that will be taking part in testing Q ahead of its projected August 2019 release date.

Elsewhere, Sprint is also rolling out a new update that installs May 2019 security patch. Besides the improved security, the new update, which is arriving as version PQ1A.190105.058, also includes Bluetooth fix for audio routing and stability fix to improve shutdown responsiveness.

April 01, 2019: The Essential Phone, even though it might not get a successor anytime soon, is having some good times as far as software updates are concerned. The Sprint variant of the handset has recently received a new update that not only installs April 2019 security patches but also brings adjustments to the minimum brightness and volume settings.

The update, which is rolling out over the air, has version PQ1A.190105.045, which is still based on Android Pie. Yes, the Essential Phone will also get an update to Android Q when the stable version arrives later this year.


Original article below:

The Essential Phone launched with lots of expectations, both from the makers and consumers. However, things have been quite rough along the way, which is pretty normal for any novice entity. As time progresses, though, the Essential Phone has gotten better all thanks to the impressive software support team and it’s even going to get better.

Essential Phone update timeline

Date Software version Changelog
06 May 2019 PQ1A.190105.058 | Android 9 May 2019 security patch, Bluetooth fix for audio routing, and stability fix to improve shutdown responsiveness
04 Mar 2019 PQ1A.190105.024 | Android 9 March 2019 security patch and support for Digital Wellbeing
04 Feb 2019 PQ1A.190105.014 | Android 9 February 2019 security patch, improved performance and bug fixes, and modem security patches
07 Jan 2019 PPR1.181005.116 | Android 9 January 2019 security patch
03 Dec 2018 PPR1.181005.099 | Android 9 December 2018 security patch
05 Nov 2018 PPR1.181005.076 | Android 9 November 2018 security patch and support for Essential Audio Adapter HD
01 Oct 2018 PPR1.181005.034 | Android 9 October 2018 security patch, restores settings for customizing the notch area
04 Sep 2018 PPR1.180905.036Android 9

Download: OTA || Fastboot

September 2018 security patch
06 Aug 2018 PPR1.180610.091 | Android 9

Download: OTA || Fastboot

Installs Android 9 Pie stable OS and August 2018 security patch
04 July 2018 OPM1.180104.267 | Android 8.1 July 2018 security patch and Android Auto stability improvements
07 May 2018 OPM1.180104.166 | Android 8.1 May 2018 security patch
07 Apr 2018 OPM1.180104.141 | Android 8.1 April 2018 security patch, support for Bluetooth 5.0, fixes for network modem for better connectivity, and improved handling of external game controllers
13 Mar 2018 OPM1.180104.092 | Android 8.1 Installs Android 8.1 Oreo stable, March 2018 security patch, and fixes slow scrolling jitter problem
14 Feb 2018 OPM1.180104.010 | Android 8.1 Installs Android 8.1 Oreo beta, February 2018 security patch, and bug fixes
06 Dec 2017 NMJ32F | Android 7.1 Fixes for International LTE Roaming, KRACK, and other bugs
15 Nov 2017 OPM1.170911.130 | Android 8.0 Installs Android 8.0 Oreo beta (later canceled in favor of Oreo 8.1)
14 Oct 2017 NMJ03B | Android 7.1 Fixes bugs, improved performance, updates the camera app and further includes some framework changes
14 Sep 2017 NMI30E | Android 7.1 Pre-installed

Essential Phone Android Q update

  • Android Q update confirmed

Through one of its Reddit AMAs held every month, Essential confirmed that the PH-1 will be upgraded to Android Q in 2019. Google is expected to launch Q developer preview in Q1 2019 and follow it with a stable rollout in August 2019 or maybe earlier, which is when we can expect the PH-1 to receive the Q update.

Q will be the third and last major OS upgrade for the device.

RelatedAndroid Q: Expected name, features, and more

Essential Phone Android 9 Pie update

  • Stable update released on August 6, 2018
  • Public beta testing had started in May 2018

Thanks to the support for Google’s Project Treble, the Essential Phone received Android Pie stable OTA at the same time as the Google Pixel and Pixel 2.

Related: The best Android Pie features

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to drop by the comments section and we’ll jump in with the help you need.

Posted by
Kapil Malani

A die-hard Liverpool FC fan, Kapil is a big fan of Batman, Android and street Cricket. In that order, probably. Email: kapil@theandroidsoul.com

1 Comment

  1. I just bought an essential phone and it’s running 8.1. When I check for updates, it says I’m up to date. Hir can I update to 9? The phone doesn’t work with Android Auto but apparently the issue was fixed with 9 !

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