We've talked at length about how well HMD Global has handled software updates for its current generation of smartphones. Few companies are able to deliver what this company has when it comes to updating the growing number of devices it sells. The Nokia 8.1 is one of the smartphones that HMD Global is using to develop its version of Android Q while also maintaining a public beta build for its users. Early this morning it was announced that these devices could now test out the company's latest version of Android Q (which is based on version 5 of the developer preview).
HMD Global brought the successor of the Nokia 8 series to market in early December of last year. While it is true that the company does have a number of devices with different names for sale, some of them are rebranded versions of a previous smartphone's hardware. So when we talk about the Nokia 8.1, it is actually a smartphone the company launched only in China called the Nokia 7X. They took that hardware, installed Android One (based on Android 9 Pie) and sold it in other markets with a different name.
This can sometimes cause confusions but in HMD Global's case, it can also allow them to test beta builds of Android on it (since Android One is so close to stock). So, earlier today, Juho Sarvikas, the Chief Product Officer at HMD Global, announced on Twitter that owners of the Nokia 8.1 were now able to test out the latest beta of Android Q (commonly referred to as Android Q Beta 5). You can see from the video embedded in the tweet that this update brings the new Google Assistant corner gesture that Google recently added.
Those who own the smartphone and are willing to test out this version of Android Q should head on over to the smartphone developer page on the Nokia website. From there, you can sign in to your account and enroll your device in the latest Android Q beta.