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The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 on Sprint’s network is now making the jump to Android 9 Pie, reveals a recent report passed along by SamMobile. The latest software package weighs a little over 1.8GB, it includes the January Android security patch and comes as firmware version “N960USQU1CSAA.” The update introduces a wide range of new features, but the most visible change to the end users will likely be the inclusion of the upgraded One UI. This is Samsung’s latest take on its proprietary software based on Android 9 Pie and is meant to replace Samsung Experience. The new One UI comes with numerous changes to the user interface, all of which have been designed around the idea of improving readability and interaction with the smartphone.
Sprint is now the second U.S. carrier to offer the Android 9 Pie update to customers who own the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. The first carrier to launch the update was AT&T who rolled-out the software late last month, while T-Mobile and Verizon are now lagging behind. Whatever the platform, the software is similar in that it introduces the same range of new features, most of which revolve around One UI. The new proprietary software includes a Night mode, while most interactive UI elements have been relocated towards the lower edge of the screen for an easier reach, particularly when using the device with one hand.
In addition, the latest software package includes the new Unicode 11.0 emojis, a floating keyboard featuring customizable size and transparency settings along with the ability to be used in conjunction with every application. With Android 9 Pie and One UI, users will be able to reply to messages directly from the notification panel, take advantage of an updated camera interface and more. Samsung’s solution also comes with a new series of gestures for users who might want to abandon the on-screen navigation buttons in favor of swiping.
Android 9 Pie itself promises various improvements of its own, including the Adaptive Battery feature meant to increase battery life by learning from the user. It also features a new Adaptive Brightness mode which also learns to adapt according to the user’s screen preferences when using individual applications, and applying these personalized settings automatically.
As usual with over-the-air software updates, the Android 9 Pie release for Sprint’s Samsung Galaxy Note 9 should be accompanied by an update notification but users should also be able to trigger the update through the phone’s settings application in the “System Update” section. Before proceeding with the update, users should ensure that their smartphone’s battery is fully charged in order to avoid unwanted reboots during the update process.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the second flagship model to receive the Android 9 Pie update following the Galaxy S9 series and excluding beta releases for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8, both of which are now being tested ahead of widespread distribution. It’s only a matter of time before the other two major U.S. carriers, i.e., T-Mobile and Verizon catch up with AT&T and Sprint, but as usual, the launch dates for major software releases are rarely confirmed so there’s no exact date to look forward to.