Ever since the birth of Android, the biggest problem that the Android phone makers have been facing is the Android updates. Phone makers other than Google take more than long to cook an update for their devices. At times, Google is done releasing a new version of Android while the phones from companies like Samsung and LG are still in line to get the previous version of Android. We all witnessed this especially when the Android Pie came out. Google is done with the official announcement of the Android Pie, and phones from other companies are yet to get the Android Oreo.
This is the only downside that the Android Phones have been facing. In 2017, Google realized that this is not something that doesn’t require a solution. Keeping the updates problem in view, Google introduced the Project Treble with Android Oreo. The sole purpose of Project Treble was to enable faster updates on Android phones.
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Understanding the Project Treble
Google re-architectured the Android OS to add the Project Treble support. The Project Treble separates the Android framework from the vendor Hardware Abstraction Layers (HALs). This re-architecture in the Android OS allows the firmware to work with the device’s hardware regardless of the changes made by the vendors.
Previously, the Android OS and the HALs resided in the same partition. With the rework in Android OS, the HALs are now moved to their own separate partition. The communication between HALs and the Android OS has been standardized with this change. This makes it easy for companies to roll out the updates for their phones without waiting for the certification from the hardware vendor.
In easy terms, you can understand it this way: You want to update the Windows on your computer, but the hardware vendor hasn’t provided drivers compatible with the version of Windows you want to install. A change like Project Treble will let you install the Windows on your PC without need an update for the drivers. You are free to install any version of Windows without relying on the drivers this way.
Android Software Update Cycle Before and After Project Treble
Take a look at this cycle to understand it further.
Android Release > Silicon Manufacturer Partners (SoC Makers) > Board Support > Device Makers > SKU > Carriers > End Users
This cycle here means that previously, Google used to release an Android version. The Android version than used to get modified by the Silicon Manufacturer to work with their chips. The same firmware then went through Board Support. After the Board Support, the Device Makers get the tweak the firmware for their devices. The firmware then goes to the Stock Keeping Unit. After the firmware is ready, it visits the Carriers (where the updates are rolled from carriers) and reaches the end user. Now, this is a long process and it makes clear sense why the Android updates were always slow in the past.
The scene has completely changed now. Android OS doesn’t require the vendor implementation anymore. The vendors can take their time for updating the HALs. They don’t have to hold the entire Android OS update. The version released by Google can be picked up by the Device Maker immediately to make it run on their device. Take a look at this chart showing the separation between vendor implementation and Android Framework.
So, the next question is what phones support the Project Treble? Well, I have made this list of Project Treble supported Android phones. Go through the list now to know if your phone has Project Treble support or not.
List of Project Treble supported Android phones
Now there are the phones that launched with Android Oreo running on-board. These are the phones that have the Project Treble support by default. This is because Google requires all new launching Android Oreo-powered phones to support Project Treble. So, if your phone came running on Android Oreo out of the box, it definitely supports Android Oreo. Some of the phones that were updated to Android Oreo have been made compatible with the Project Treble officially by their manufacturers and some phones got the unofficial support. So, below you can see the official Project Treble supported phones and unofficially Project Treble enabled phones as well. Now take a look at what phones support Project Treble.
Officially updated Project Treble devices
- Google Pixel
- The Google Pixel XL
OnePlus
- The OnePlus 5
- OnePlus 5T
Huawei & Honor
- Mate 9
- Huawei Mate 9 Pro
- Mate 10 Lite
- Huawei Nova 2
- Honor 7X
- Huawei Honor 8 Lite and P8 Lite 2017
- Honor 8 Pro
- Huawei Honor 9
- Honor 9i
- Huawei P10
- The Huawei P10 Lite
- P10 Plus
Xiaomi
- Mi Box
- Redmi Note 5 Pro
Other devices
- ASUS Zenfone 4
- Essential Phone
- Sharp Aquos S2
- Razer Phone
Phones that got Project Treble support unofficially
OnePlus
- OnePlus 3
- The OnePlus 3T
LeEco
- Le Max 2
- LeEco Le Pro 3
Lenovo
- Lenovo P2
- ZUK z2 Plus
- Lenovo ZUK Z2 Pro
LG
- LG V30
Motorola
- Moto G5
- Motorola Moto G5 Plus
- Moto Z
- Motorola Moto Z Play
Xiaomi
- Xiaomi Redmi 4A
- Redmi Note 4
- Mi 5
- Xiaomi Mi 5s
- Mi 5s Plus
- Mi 6
- Xiaomi Mi A1
- Mi Mix
- Xiaomi Mi Max 2
- Mi Note 2
- Xiaomi Redmi 3s and 3X
- Redmi Note 3
- Xiaomi Redmi 4X
- Redmi 4 Prime
- Redmi Note 5 and Redmi 5 Plus
ZTE
- ZTE Axon 7
If your phone runs on Android Oreo, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it supports Treble too. That is because not all the phone makers who are updating their phones from previous Android version to Android Oreo are adding the Treble compatibility. One such example is Samsung. The South Korean maker has updated the S8 to Android Oreo but hasn’t added the Treble in it, which of course, is a big disappointment.
These are only a few devices that got the Android Oreo update and also got the Treble Support. Most of the new devices launching these days run on Android Oreo, so those phones already support this fast update project. Listing all the new phones will make this one never-ending list. This list was just to give an idea to the users who updated their phones from Android Nougat to Android Oreo.
If you own an Android Oreo powered the phone and you are not sure whether it supports project treble or not, you can take a look at this method on How to check Android phone for Project Treble support.
More:
- Get Android Pie GSI on any Android phone [Project Treble]
- Download Android Pie GSI on Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus
