Android 10 went official late August and there are very few devices that already ship with Android’s latest operating system baked in such as the just recently released Pixel 4 phones and OnePlus 7T and OnePlus 7T Pro. For most of us, getting to access Android 10 will be through buying a device that’s set to get updated to Android 10.
Huawei devices
With the trade ban imposed on them since May, Huawei has been doing well if their financial reports for Q3 are anything to go by. They recently saw a 29% growth in smartphone shipments. The trade ban means Huawei can’t use Google-approved Android version but the first reprieve they got allowed them to update existing phones to Android 10. Trade talks between China and the U.S. are going well as Donald Trump recently approved licences that allowed select U.S. Companies to trade with Huawei but only to sell nonsensitive equipment to the Chinese tech giant. It is unclear if the licences extend to software such as Google’s Android.
Anyway here’s a list of the best Huawei devices you can buy in Kenya that are set to be upgraded to Android 10/EMUI 10:
Huawei Nova 5T and Huawei Y9 Prime 2019 are the latest Huawei devices to get Android 10 and EMUI 10 in Kenya.
Samsung
Here are Samsung devices that are set to get Android 10. One UI brought Android Pie and One UI 2.0 will bring Android 10 update.
- Note Series: Note 10/10+, Note 9
- S series: S9/S9+, S10/10+/S10e
- A series: A90 5G, A80, A70 A60, A50/50s, A40, A30/30s, A20//20e, A10/10s/10e, A9 Pro 2019, A9, A7, A6/6+, A8/A9 Star, A8/A9 Star Lite
- J series: J8, J6/J6+, J4/J4+, J7 Duo, J7/J5/J3 2018
- M series: M40, M30/ M30s, M20, M10
- Galaxy Tab series: Tab S5e, Tab S4, Tab A 2019
This is list is preliminary and we’ll keep updating it with new information.
Next year’s Samsung S11 will ship with One UI 2.1 and Android 10 already baked in. Samsung is planning to axe the Note series and merge it with the S series – this means that next year, they won’t be a Note series as the focus shifts to its foldable phone, the Samsung Galaxy Fold. The South Korean tech giant is already working on Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 that could launch in as early as April 2020.
Nokia
Nokia has been quick to begin rolling out updates to its devices. Here is the timeline:
Nokia 8.1(Full review) already got the update. Nokia 9 Pureview(Full Review) and Nokia 7.1(Full Review) are also next in line. The recently launched Nokia 6.2 and Nokia 7.2 too. The Nokia 4.1, Nokia 3.1 Plus(Full Review), Nokia 3.2, Nokia 2.2 will get the update early next year(Q1 2020). HMD will also update the entry-level Nokia 1 Plus, the forgotten Nokia 8 Sirocco and 5.1 Plus.
During Q2 2020, Nokia will update the Nokia 2.1, Nokia 3.1, Nokia 5.1 and Nokia 1.
The yet-to-be-released Nokia 8.2 is also slated to launch with Android 10 already baked in.
Two versions of Nokia 8.2 are expected.
— Nokia anew (@nokia_anew) October 15, 2019
OPPO
The only device we know for sure that is getting Android 10 is the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom(Full Review). Presumably, the recently launched OPPO A9 2020 and A5 2020 will also get the update.
Other OPPO devices slated to get Android 10 and ColorOS 7 include the OPPO F11, the OPPO F11 Pro and the OPPO F11 Pro Avengers Edition.
Read our first impressions, design review, camera review, comparison review with Nokia 8.1(close shave) and full review of the OPPO F11 Pro.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi has started rolling out MIUI 11 with the Android 10 update for several devices together with a roadmap.
- October 22-31: Poco F1, Redmi K20, Redmi Y3, Redmi 7, Redmi Note 7, Redmi Note 7s and Redmi Note 7 Pro.
- November 4-12: Redmi K20 Pro, Redmi 6 Pro, Redmi 6A, Redmi Note 5, Redmi Note 5 Pro, Redmi 5, Redmi 5A, Redmi Note 4, Redmi Y1, Redmi Y1 lite, Redmi Y2, Redmi 4, Mi Mix 2 and Mi Max 2
- November 13 -29: Redmi Note 6 Pro, Redmi 7A, Redmi 8, Redmi 8A and Redmi Note 8
- December 18-26: Redmi Note 8 Pro
TECNO
The TECNO Spark 3 Pro that was in the Android 10 Beta program will presumably get Android 10. It already has.
OnePlus
OnePlus comes close to Pixel phones when it comes to Android updates. With the obvious recently launched OnePlus 7T Pro and OnePlus 7T that ship with Android 10 already, other OnePlus phones set to get Google’s latest operating system that you can purchase in Kenya(PhonePlace Kenya) include: OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 6T.
Where to buy?
Most of these phones you can buy at their respective official retail stores or online. If you’re looking for a device that is set to get Android 10 but don’t want to break the bank(most of the prices for these devices have depreciated), then this list will come in handy.
One More Thing
If you’re looking forward to a new Android 10 device but that’ll come with a pocket-friendly price, then you’ll have to wait until early next year as Google recently required smartphone manufacturers to launch new devices set to be released after January next year to ship with Android 10. This move will force entry-level smartphone manufacturers to up their game and stop launching phones with last years Android version and instead, have Android 10 baked in plus users will also get timely software and security updates.
Google is also planning to launch Android 10 Go later this year.
