Preparing to enter the flagship mobile race this year is Huawei’s P20 and P20 Plus, which are already making waves globally. Expected to be the face of the Chinese tech giant in the western markets, some interesting facts about the Huawei P20 have surfaced as the launch date gets closer.

We’ve already highlighted the winning features of the smartphone – from its tri-camera setup on the rear to the iPhone X-style notch at the front. Huawei also plans to clone Apple’s Face ID feature with its upcoming Point Cloud Depth Camera. The latest report from XDA reveals that on the software side, you can expect Huawei to pack nothing but the latest that Google has to offer.

Based on the firmware files that have leaked out, the Huawei P20 and P20 Plus, codenamed “EMILY” and “CHARLOTTE”, respectively, will feature Android 8.1 Oreo right out of the box. Even months after the release, Google Pixel/Nexus devices are the only smartphones to sport the latest firmware, with the exception of the Nokia 8 of course.

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The firmware files also confirm that the Android 8.1 version will be a part of the EMUI 8.1 ROM. Huawei’s latest push for smarter AI, along with features like a floating navigation dock and improved productivity are some elements you can look forward to with the release of the P20 and its variants.

The Huawei P20 is allegedly going to house the latest Kirin 970 chipset, which packs its very own NPU (Neural Processing Unit). Since Android 8.1 now gives third-party apps access to make the most out of the Neural Networks API, this creates more room for real-world applications, such as better photography.

You might be wondering why you need to know about the P20 right now when the MWC event is just a few days away. That’s because it seems unlikely that you’ll get to see the flagship in action this month, as Huawei plans to unveil it later in March at a grand event in Paris.