Google introduced Project Treble earlier this year. It’s a really useful low-level system change that helps improve the software update delivery by OEMs, and in turn increasing Android adoption rate while slowly reducing fragmentation.

Android has faced the fragmentation problem ever since the beginning. Only a portion of devices running Android will ever be on the latest version of the software. This is because the OEMs have to wait for all the driver updates from hardware manufacturers, plus their own customizations over stock Android, which leads to the delay in releasing software updates.

Only Google’s Pixel and Nexus devices get the latest Android OS updates first. OEMs such as Samsung, LG, Sony, and the others would take much longer, sometimes even a year, to deliver the latest software. For example, the Pixel devices will be getting the Android 8.1 update later this month, while other OEMs are still working on delivering Android 8.0 to their devices.

Hence, going forward, with Android Oreo, Google has made a change that allows OEMs to provide latest software updates simply by updating the Android OS framework. Project Treble separates the Android OS framework from vendor implementations, allowing OEMs to directly update the framework — without any changes made to their customizations.

Google has mandated Treble support for any device launching with Android 8.0 Oreo onboard, however, it’s optional for OEMs to include support for Treble to their existing Android devices which will also receive Android 8.0 Oreo update.

Project Treble supported phones

As mentioned earlier, phones shipping with Android Oreo will support Project Treble. As of now, that’s not a big list. However, Google did say that it is working with some OEMs to bring Project Treble to some flagships that don’t run Oreo out of the box.

Anyway, here’s the list of phones that currently support Project Treble:

  • Google Pixel
  • Google Pixel XL
  • Google Pixel 2
  • Google Pixel 2 XL
  • Sony Xperia XZ1
  • Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
  • Essential PH-1
  • Huawei Mate 10
  • Huawei Mate 10 Pro
  • Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design

This list will definitely get longer, as more devices will launch with Android Oreo instead of Nougat. Most smartphones coming next year will ship with Oreo out of the box, automatically bringing Project Treble with them.

Big name OEMs such as LG, Samsung, Sony, and HTC will most definitely support Project Treble, and could even be currently working with Google to bring it to their current flagships. The Samsung Galaxy S9 is supposed to launch in Q1 2018 with Android Oreo.

OEMs also have the choice to not include Project Treble in their build of Android Oreo update. One of the first companies to openly state that they will not bring Treble to their devices, is OnePlus. In a recent AMA, the company CEO stated that none of their existing devices will support Project Treble.

Google hasn’t yet officially released any information about OEMs that are working with them to bring Treble to their existing smartphones. But we’ll be sure to keep this post updated when new devices with Treble support launch or existing devices get Treble support. Stay tuned..