Sony started to push the latest Android 9 Pie and October security update for its "old flagship" Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact models on October 12, much earlier than previously expected in November. The author also immediately upgraded the machine on hand to the latest system (version number: 52.0.A.3.27, consistent with the new flagship XZ3 system version number), See if Sony's "Pie" is really delicious.

Hearsay gestures

One of the highlights of Google's update of Android 9.0 Pie is the direct built-in gesture operation in the system, which directly turns the three diamond keys of traditional Android into a "pill", and the multi task interface has also made a new card design, which can be said to be the biggest difference between Android 9.0 and the previous system. However, Sony does not know whether it is in love with the original three King Kong keys. In the update of XZ2/XZ2 Compact, it did not add this gesture to it. Instead, it followed the original style and only added the action option of double clicking the power key in the settings - wake up Google Assistant, open the camera or no operation.

As for Sony's official announcement that it would stop the development of the current Xperia Home Launcher and switch to a new one, it was predicted that the purpose was to increase gesture operations. At least it was not realized on XZ2 and XZ3 at present, but the original one. There are also advantages to this approach, because Google has added transition animations related to gesture operations in 9.0, but the third-party launchers are temporarily unable to call. This problem exists on the oxygen OS based on Pie after adding 6. Sony "castrated" them and then started coding. When using third-party launchers such as Nova, the transition animations can be displayed normally, without being unable to call.

Change of status bar

In the system before Android 8.0 Oreo, Sony has carefully built in the setting options of different icons on the status bar. The system icons that can be hidden will be hidden by the author, who doesn't care much about notifications, so as to obtain more notification display space. Basically, except for the signal bar, the system icons can be hidden. However, after the update to 9.0, I can only tell you regrettably that there is only one item that can be customized now: whether to display the power percentage, and the rest, including the time on the left, the signal bar on the right, and the battery, are fixed and cannot be adjusted.

In addition, the style of the pull-down status bar has naturally changed to a new style, which is basically the same as the Pixel series of my son, but Sony doesn't know what style it has taken, and only provides the XZ2/XZ2 Compact with a dark style. Pixel's pull-down status bar can automatically switch between light and dark colors according to the change of wallpaper. It is reasonable to say that this is set specifically for the OLED screen of XZ3, but your XZ2/XZ2 Compact is from the LCD screen, so there is no need to be lazy.

Versatile navigation bar

If Sony did not introduce gesture operation for compatibility, then in terms of actual performance, the "traditional" bottom navigation bar of XZ2/XZ2 Compact after Android 9.0 is just a joke with users. On Android 9.0, the default background color of the navigation bar is no longer black, but white. Maybe it's because Google made improvements due to the Pixel series screen burning (laugh). At the same time, corresponding APIs have been made for developers to adapt, but it is not clear why. The performance of this new bottom navigation bar on XZ2/XZ2 Compact can be said to be "neurotic".

For the built-in app of the system, compatibility is generally no problem. We can see what the normal performance of the navigation bar should look like. The white background is in harmony with Google's favorite bright material design.

However, apps such as Alipay and Speedtest that have not been adapted have adopted the same black background as the original Oreo, which is a familiar look. Although it is not beautiful, it is at least not unexpected.

However, some apps similar to the international version of microblog show amazing performance. Somehow, a black line has been added between the navigation bar and the tap bar, which can be said to be very eye-catching. What's more surprising is that this black line may occasionally disappear automatically. Every time you open the international version of microblog, you can't guess what will appear. It's amazing!

The performance of WeChat next door is slightly "stable", and there is no problem on the main interface, but as long as you switch to the circle of friends or open some specific pages, there will be automatic black line isolation. Compared with the international version of Weibo, you don't know where the "high" is.

However, these are not the most "disgusting" people. Let's open Spotify and there is a big black bar between the bottom bar and the navigation bar, just like the existence of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa. How can people listen to music? Of course, after the new system is updated, there will be a period of "pain" before the app adapts to it. But these problems are not so serious for Pixel, his son, but there are so many cases in XZ2/XZ2 Compact. Sony's responsibility must not be ignored.

What about other functions?

Google has brought App Actions, Slices, Adaptive Battery and other functions to Pixel series through AI in 9.0, but not all manufacturers will add them to their models. Sony introduced AI functions for the new flagship XZ3 on IFA. For example, functions such as Side Sense, raising the horizontal phone to automatically turn on the camera and so on have not been lowered to XZ2/XZ2 Compact. It can be seen that only Adaptive Battery has been added to improve the endurance, and Google's Digital Wellbeing, which is also in beta, cannot be installed. Fortunately, Sony is not totally heartless. The camera part is completely updated to the same version as the XZ3, and the Ambient display similar to AOD has also added the expression and picture custom display at the bottom, which is consistent with the XZ3.

However, in terms of daily use, there are still many imperfections in the system, such as occasional problems with Bluetooth connection, and suspended animation in some apps. However, better transition animation and improved endurance are commendable.

Upgrade or not?

Unlike Sony's push upgrade for its models in the past, this update of Android 9 Pie is obviously an unfinished product. The lack of many new features of the system, coupled with compatibility problems, especially the variety of navigation bar styles, will really make people feel uncomfortable in daily use. Although better fluency and endurance are both advantages that promote people to upgrade, they are not much better than Oreo. Personally, I think it would be better to stay in Oreo's firmware for the time being. Let's see if Sony will add some new features when updating later.

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